FDA Urges Recall of Certain Pet Foods Due to Salmonella, Listeria

Only one brand has been recalled

Aaron Kassraie,

AARP

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Published September 24, 2024

/ Updated September 25, 2024

a bulldog eating pet food out of a yellow bowl

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a “do not feed” advisory on certain pet foods sold by Darwin’s Natural Selections and Answers Pet Food after samples tested positive for salmonella and listeria.

Although most pets don’t become ill from salmonella or listeria, the germs can spread throughout the home from their stool and saliva, potentially infecting humans.

Salmonella infections in people can lead to severe symptoms such as high fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea and dehydration, and in some cases can be fatal. Listeria, which is especially dangerous for individuals 65 and older, can cause similar symptoms, including high fever, vomiting and bloody diarrhea, and can also be life-threatening.

The affected products

Following the FDA’s warning, Answers Pet Food issued a recall of the following products sold in 4-pound cartons:

ANSWERS Pet Food Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs

UPC: 856554002102
Best if used by: May 6, 2026

ANSWERS Pet Food Straight Beef Formula for Dogs

UPC: 856554002072
Best if used by: Jan. 31, 2026

ANSWERS Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs

UPC: 856554002065
Best if used by: Jan. 2, 2026, and March 11, 2026

Consumers who would like a refund should send a receipt and a picture of the product to info@answerspetfood.com along with the retailer’s information.

The following Darwin’s Natural Selections products are on the FDA’s “do not feed” list but have not been recalled. These products are sold in 2-pound white and clear plastic packages, each containing four units. The dog food packages have blue labeling and the cat food packages feature blue and green labeling. Lot codes are located on the front of the lower left unit, and the dates reflect when the products were manufactured:

Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Cats

Lot No: 10832, July 25, 2024
Lot No: 10856, Aug. 4, 2024
Lot No: 10890, Aug. 13, 2024

Darwin’s Natural Selections Antibiotic & Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Dogs

Lot No: 10828, July 24, 2024
Lot No: 10844, July 30, 2024
Lot No: 10887, Aug. 12, 2024

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Darwin’s Pet Products told AARP that it had already notified customers affected by the FDA’s notice, which impacted around 3 percent of its customer base. The company also stated that it had stopped shipping the cited products once it became aware of the FDA’s testing.There have been no illnesses associated with any of the cited products.

In an online statement, the company called the FDA’s actions "wholly unnecessary" and claimed they were "ultimately based on flawed regulatory decision-making."

There have been no illnesses associated with any of the cited products.

Advice for pet owners

If you have any of these products, the FDA says to stop feeding them to your pets immediately. Dispose of the food in a secure container to prevent other animals or wildlife from consuming it. If these products were in your home, be sure to thoroughly clean and disinfect all pet supplies, including containers, bowls, utensils and any surfaces the food or your pet may have touched. Always wash your hands after handling the food or cleaning contaminated areas.

Salmonella poses a higher risk to pets with existing health conditions, as well as puppies and kittens. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite and low activity, according to the CDC.

Listeria infections in pets, while rare, can cause serious illness and even death, especially in animals that are young, pregnant, older or have weakened immune systems. Symptoms can range from mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever and respiratory issues to pregnancy loss, shock and death.

Pets do not need to show symptoms to pass listeria or salmonella to humans. Both pathogens can be shed through an infected pet’s stool and saliva, spreading bacteria throughout your home even if the animal is asymptomatic.

Editor's note: This story, originally published Sept. 24, 2024, has been updated.

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Aaron Kassraie writes about issues important to military veterans and their families for AARP. He also serves as a general assignment reporter. Kassraie previously covered U.S. foreign policy as a correspondent for the Kuwait News Agency’s Washington bureau and worked in news gathering for USA Today and Al Jazeera English. 

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