Pet owners across the U.S. are being warned about a major recall involving several dog and cat food products due to the risk of contamination with dangerous bacteria.

If you have any of the following products in your home, it’s crucial to stop using them immediately.

What’s Happening?

Multiple brands of pet food, including popular raw and freeze-dried varieties, have been recalled due to the presence of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. These bacteria pose serious health risks to both pets and their human caregivers.

Recalled Products: Here’s a comprehensive list of the products involved in this recall, including the brands and batch numbers you need to look for:

• Darwin’s Natural Pet Food:
  • Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Dogs – Batch #09062023
  • Natural Selections Duck Recipe for Cats – Batch #09102023
  • Natural Selections Turkey Recipe for Dogs – Batch #08032023
• We Feed Raw:
  • Beef Recipe – Lot #11082023
  • Turkey Recipe – Lot #09162023
• Bravo Packing, Inc.:
  • Performance Dog Frozen Raw Pet Food – Lot #020723
  • Green Tripe Frozen Raw Pet Food – Lot #07152023
• Darwin’s ZooLogics:
  • ZooLogics Chicken with Vegetables for Dogs – Lot #09082023
  • ZooLogics Duck with Vegetables for Dogs – Lot #08092023

These products have been recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella or Listeria, both of which can cause serious illness in pets and even humans who handle the food.

Why Is This a Serious Concern?

Contaminated pet food can lead to severe health problems for your pets, such as:

• Salmonella: Causes vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), abdominal pain, and fever in pets. It can also be passed to humans, especially young children, elderly individuals, and people with compromised immune systems.
• Listeria monocytogenes: Affects both pets and humans. Pets may exhibit symptoms like lethargy, fever, and difficulty breathing. In humans, it can cause fever, muscle aches, nausea, and in severe cases, life-threatening complications.

Even if your pet is not showing immediate symptoms, you should take action right away to protect their health and prevent potential illness.

What Should You Do Now?

1. Check Your Pet’s Food: Carefully inspect the packaging of your pet food for any of the batch numbers listed above. If you have any of the recalled products, do not feed them to your pets.
2. Dispose of the Food Safely: Wrap the recalled pet food securely in a sealed plastic bag and dispose of it in an outdoor trash bin to prevent any risk of contamination to others.
3. Clean Thoroughly: Disinfect any surfaces, bowls, utensils, and storage containers that may have come into contact with the recalled pet food. Use hot, soapy water or a disinfectant recommended for bacteria removal.
4. Monitor Your Pets: Keep a close eye on your pets for symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or lethargy. If any signs of illness occur, contact your veterinarian immediately.
5. Seek Medical Attention for Yourself: If you or anyone in your household experiences symptoms after handling the recalled pet food (nausea, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea), consult a healthcare provider right away.

Preventative Steps Going Forward

• Stay Updated on Recalls: Check the FDA’s pet food recall alerts regularly to stay informed about any future recalls. You can also sign up for email notifications directly from the FDA.
• Choose Safe Pet Food Brands: Stick with reputable brands that have a history of producing safe and reliable pet food products. Always research any new food you introduce to your pets.
• Handle Raw Pet Food Safely: Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw pet food, and always sanitize your pet’s bowls after every meal. This will help reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

Your Pets Rely on You for Their Health and Safety!

This nationwide recall is a serious reminder of the importance of staying vigilant about what we feed our pets. Their health and safety depend on the choices we make. If you have any of the recalled products in your home, take immediate action to ensure your pets and family remain safe.

For more information on this recall or to see if other products are affected, visit the FDA’s official recall page.