Northwest Naturals Voluntarily Recalls Two Frozen Raw Pet Food Products After FDA Detects Salmonella and Listeria
On August 28, 2026, Northwest Naturals of Portland, Oregon, voluntarily recalled 53 cases (1,272 lbs) of Frozen Chicken Recipe cat food and 19 cases (684 lbs) of Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe after FDA testing detected Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination. The recall, affecting products distributed to retail stores nationwide, reignites the raw vs kibble dog food safety debate and highlights supply chain traceability challenges for pet food wholesale suppliers and distributors. No illnesses in pets or humans have been reported to date.
- Company
- Northwest Naturals (Portland, Oregon, USA)
- Recall Date
- August 28, 2026 (FDA publish date same)
- Products Recalled
- Frozen Chicken Recipe cat food (2 lb bag, Lot B-5, UPC 087316384956, Best By 01/26/2028) — 53 cases / 1,272 lbs; Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe (6 lb bag, Lot B-19, UPC 087316380392, Best By 01/25/2028) — 19 cases / 684 lbs
- Pathogens Detected
- Salmonella (cat food); Salmonella + Listeria monocytogenes (dog food)
- Distribution
- Retail stores nationwide (USA)
- Illnesses Reported
- None as of August 28, 2026
- Discovery Method
- FDA sample collection and testing
- Total Recall Volume
- 1,956 lbs across 72 cases
What Happened
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a recall alert on August 28, 2026, announcing that Northwest Naturals had voluntarily recalled two frozen raw pet food products after agency testing detected dangerous bacterial contamination. The Frozen Chicken Recipe cat food (2 lb bag, Lot B-5) tested positive for Salmonella, while the Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs Chicken Recipe (6 lb bag, Lot B-19) tested positive for both Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella. A total of 1,956 pounds across 72 cases were affected, distributed to retail stores nationwide.
Consumers who purchased products from the affected lots were instructed to stop feeding them to their pets immediately and return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Northwest Naturals established a consumer hotline at 1-866-637-1872 for questions.
Background
This is not the first time Northwest Naturals has faced a recall. In December 2024, the company recalled its Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, or H5N1 bird flu). That earlier incident, which affected indoor cats in Oregon, drew national attention to the food safety risks inherent in raw pet food diets. The August 2026 recall involving Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes further the recurring safety challenges associated with raw frozen pet food formats.
The current recall also coincides with a separate pet food safety event: A Place for Paws LLC recalled its Beef Lung Treats for Dogs (Lot 559) due to possible Salmonella contamination, as reported in the FDA’s August 29 recall roundup. The clustering of pet food recalls in the same reporting window suggests heightened regulatory vigilance.
Industry Context
The recall reignites the ongoing raw vs kibble dog food debate. Raw frozen diets have grown in popularity among pet owners seeking more natural, nutrient-dense alternatives to conventional kibble, but the format carries inherent food safety risks that differ from thermally processed pet foods. The freeze dried vs raw dog food comparison also comes into focus, as freeze-dried products undergo a pathogen-reduction step that raw frozen products do not.
For the B2B pet food supply chain, the recall has immediate operational implications. Pet food wholesale suppliers and pet product distributors carrying Northwest Naturals products must execute retail withdrawals, trace lot numbers through their distribution networks, and notify downstream retailers. These actions test the ness of pet supply chain solutions — particularly lot-level traceability and cold-chain logistics management, which are critical for frozen raw products.
The FDA has emphasized that safe handling practices are essential for anyone handling raw pet food, including thorough handwashing, surface sanitization, and separation from human food preparation areas. The agency noted that infected but otherwise healthy pets can become carriers, transmitting pathogens to other animals or household members.
Market & Business Impact
While the recall volume is relatively small (1,956 lbs), the reputational impact extends beyond the affected lots. Northwest Naturals now has two recalls within an 18-month period — HPAI in 2024 and dual pathogen contamination in 2026 — which may erode consumer confidence in the brand and, by extension, in the raw frozen pet food category.
For pet product distributors, the event highlights the importance of supplier vetting protocols and contractual recall-response obligations. Distributors carrying multiple raw pet food brands may face increased insurance premiums and tighter cold-chain compliance requirements. The recall also creates a temporary opening for competing formats — kibble, freeze-dried, and wet — to capture shelf space vacated by recalled products.
Companies & Brands Involved
- Northwest Naturals — Portland, Oregon-based manufacturer of frozen raw pet food for cats and dogs. The brand has been a notable player in the raw pet food segment for over a decade.
- FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) — Conducted the sample collection and testing that triggered the recall. The agency published the recall alert on August 28, 2026.
- A Place for Paws LLC — Separate but concurrent recall of Beef Lung Treats (Lot 559) for Salmonella, reported in the same FDA window.
Data & Evidence
| Product | Lot | Weight | Cases | Pathogen | UPC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frozen Chicken Recipe (cat) | B-5 | 1,272 lbs | 53 | Salmonella | 087316384956 |
| Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs | B-19 | 684 lbs | 19 | Salmonella + L. monocytogenes | 087316380392 |
Source: FDA.gov recall alert, August 28, 2026. No illnesses reported. FDA conducted the testing. Products distributed nationwide to retail stores.
What This Means
The Northwest Naturals recall is a reminder that the raw pet food category remains under heightened FDA scrutiny. For pet food wholesale suppliers, the event reinforces the need for pet supply chain solutions — including lot-level traceability, rapid retail withdrawal capabilities, and clear communication protocols with downstream distributors and retailers. As the raw vs kibble dog food debate continues, safety incidents like this may accelerate the shift toward freeze-dried alternatives, which offer similar nutritional profiles with reduced pathogen risk. The clustering of recalls (Northwest Naturals + A Place for Paws) in the same reporting window also suggests that the FDA may be conducting targeted sampling of raw pet food products, which could yield additional recalls in the coming weeks.
- Northwest Naturals recalled 1,956 lbs of frozen raw pet food (72 cases) across two products after FDA testing found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes — the company’s second recall in 18 months.
- The cat food (Lot B-5) was positive for Salmonella only; the dog food (Lot B-19) was positive for both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes — no illnesses reported.
- For pet product distributors and pet food wholesale suppliers, the recall tests lot-level traceability and cold-chain recall-response capabilities.
- The event may accelerate consumer shift from raw frozen to freeze-dried or kibble formats, where pathogen risk is more easily controlled.
- Concurrent recall of A Place for Paws Beef Lung Treats suggests FDA may be conducting targeted raw pet food sampling.
What should I do if I purchased the recalled Northwest Naturals products?
Stop feeding the product to your pets immediately. Check your freezer for products matching Lot B-5 (Frozen Chicken Recipe cat food, 2 lb bag, UPC 087316384956, Best By 01/26/2028) or Lot B-19 (Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs, 6 lb bag, UPC 087316380392, Best By 01/25/2028). Return any unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Contact Northwest Naturals at 1-866-637-1872 (Mon-Thu, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Pacific Time) with questions.
How does this recall affect the raw vs kibble dog food debate?
This recall adds to the growing body of safety incidents involving raw frozen pet food. While raw diets offer nutritional benefits, they carry inherent pathogen risks — Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and in Northwest Naturals’ 2024 case, avian influenza. Kibble and freeze-dried products undergo thermal or lyophilization processes that reduce pathogen risk. Pet owners considering raw vs kibble or freeze dried vs raw dog food should weigh nutritional preferences against food safety considerations and their household’s risk profile (particularly vulnerable members such as pregnant women, elderly, and immunocompromised individuals).
- Primary — FDA.gov, “Northwest Naturals Voluntarily Recalls Two Raw Pet Food Products Because of Possible Salmonella & Listeria Monocytogenes Health Risk,” August 28, 2026. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/northwest-naturals-voluntarily-recalls-two-raw-pet-food-products-because-possible-salmonella
- Secondary — eFoodAlert, “Recalls and Alerts: August 29, 2026.” https://efoodalert.com/2026/08/29/recalls-and-alerts-august-29-2026/
- Secondary — RecallTimes, “1,956 Lbs. of Northwest Naturals Raw Pet Food Recalled Over Salmonella Risk,” August 28, 2026. https://recalltimes.com/northwest-naturals-raw-pet-food-recall-2026
- Secondary — Clean Life News, “Raw Pet Food Recall Exposes a Hidden Food Safety Risk,” August 29, 2026. https://www.cleanlifenews.com/news/article/raw-pet-food-recall-exposes-a-hidden-food-safety-r-7aeea395
