Dog Food Recall 2022: Select Freshpet Product Pulled Over Salmonella Concerns

Freshpet is voluntarily recalling one lot of a certain dog food product because they may be contaminated with salmonella. It may pose a risk to both humans and their pets.

The recall affects Freshpet Select Fresh From the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe that came in 4.5-lb bags and had the Lot number 10/29/22, according to the company announcement on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website. The lot was supposed to be destroyed, but "a small portion" of it ended up being shipped to certain retailers in the past two weeks.

Salmonella can affect both the pets eating an affected product as well as the humans that handle them, especially if they are children, elderly or immunocompromised and did not wash their hands properly after exposure to the product or the environment that has been contaminated with salmonella.

Pets with salmonella may appear lethargic and have decreased appetite. They may also develop symptoms such as fever, diarrhea and vomiting, though the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) noted that not all pets that have salmonella will appear sick.

On the other hand, people may develop symptoms such as nausea, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal cramps and fever. These symptoms typically begin some 12 to 72 hours after the infection, noted the AVMA. Those who develop such symptoms after coming in contact with the product are advised to contact their health care provider.

"Freshpet has received no reports of illness, injury, or adverse reaction to date, and has issued this recall because of our deep commitment to the safety of our pet parents and their dogs," the company noted.

The recall affects the Freshpet Select Fresh From the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken Recipe with UPC Code 627975011673 and Sell By Date of "10/29/22 L3." These were sold at "limited" Walmart stores in Alabama and Georgia, and at certain Target stores as well as other retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Vermont and West Virginia, the company said.

"Please call us if you have any of the recalled product," the company noted. "No other Freshpet products or lot codes are impacted by this recall."

Those who may have bought the recalled item are being advised to stop feeding it to their dogs. Instead, they should "dispose of it immediately." Those whose pets have eaten the product and developed symptoms should contact their veterinarian.

Customers who would like to determine if the product in their possession is affected by the recall or who would like to request for a reimbursement should click the "Get Started" button at the bottom of the Freshpet recall page. They may also contact the company at 1.800.285.0563 for any questions or if they would like to report any adverse reactions.

"The safety of pets and pet parents and the quality of our products are of the greatest importance, and we value the trust placed in Freshpet," noted the company announcement.