FDA warns pet owners after salmonella found in frozen cat food

By
FOX Local
Published October 27, 2026 9:10 AM CDT

The advisory applies specifically to subscription-sold packages. (FDA)

The Brief

    • The FDA is warning consumers not to feed Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats to their pets after two samples tested positive for Salmonella.
    • The advisory says two cats fell ill  and one was hospitalized after consuming the food.
    • Owners should immediately discard the contaminated product in a secure container away from wildlife, thoroughly disinfect all bowls, food prep surfaces, freezers, and pet items, safely dispose of pet feces, and practice strict hand hygiene.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is alerting pet owners to not feed their cats Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats after two samples tested positive for Salmonella. 

What we know:

The FDA says the testing was done after a complaint from a pet owner whose two cats developed gastrointestinal illness, with one of them ending up hospitalized after eating food from one of the two affected lots. Both cats recovered after they stopped eating the products, the FDA said.

Darwin’s Natural Pet Products are sold online through a subscription service and product lot codes are printed on the front of the lower left unit of the package. 

The affected variety and lot codes are:

  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for CatsLot 12731, MFG Date: Jul 08, 2026
  • Lot 12731, MFG Date: Jul 08, 2026
  • Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for CatsLot 12493, MFG Date: Apr 02, 2026
  • Lot 12493, MFG Date: Apr 02, 2026

What you can do:

The FDA says if you have any of the affected food products, stop feeding it  to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it.

In addition, the FDA says consumers who have had the products in their homes should clean and disinfect all pet supplies, including all storage containers, bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with, including your refrigerator or freezer. 

Pet owners should also clean up the pet’s feces in yards, parks, or other places where people or other animals may become exposed and thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces. 

What is Salmonella?

  • Type of Germ: Salmonella is a bacterium—not a parasite or virus—that frequently contaminates food and water.
  • How It Spreads: People typically get infected by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water, or by touching infected animals (like poultry, reptiles, or amphibians) and their environment or feces.
  • Common Symptoms: According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), symptoms include diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps, which usually start 6 hours to 6 days after swallowing the bacteria.
  • Duration: Most people recover without medical treatment within 4 to 7 days.

The Source: This article includes information from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  This story was reported from Orlando.

RecallsPets and Animals