One frozen raw dog food lot tested positive for Salmonella, sickened multiple dogs, and is now under a targeted national recall.
Story Snapshot
- Oma’s Pride recalled one lot of Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe after a positive Salmonella test.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) acted after a consumer complaint and lab confirmation.
- Illnesses have been reported in dogs; no human illnesses were reported at the time of the FDA update.
- Raw and frozen pet foods carry higher Salmonella risk across the industry, not just one brand.
The recall: what was pulled and why it matters now
Oma’s Pride, based in Avon, Connecticut, issued a voluntary recall of one lot of its Woof Complete Canine Chicken Recipe, a frozen raw dog food, after a product sample tested positive for Salmonella during U.S. Food and Drug Administration testing.
The agency said it opened the case after a consumer complaint and then confirmed contamination through laboratory analysis. The company’s update clarified that the illnesses tied to this recall involved dogs only and that no human illnesses had been reported at the time of the notice.
Dog food sold in 11 states recalled over deadly Salmonella contamination fears https://t.co/eXCQR4oh6g pic.twitter.com/WwJHgiaV1o
— New York Post (@nypost) August 14, 2026
Retailers and distributors were directed to stop selling the affected lot, and pet owners were told to check their freezers and not to feed the recalled food to their pets.
The FDA recall log shows this action under the company’s legal name, Miller Foods, Inc., with Salmonella contamination listed as the reason.
The narrow scope suggests a lot-limited issue, which fits how companies and regulators often contain risk without implying a plant-wide failure. That makes sense and protects consumers faster while further testing continues.
Salmonella stakes for pets and people
Dogs that eat Salmonella-contaminated food can develop diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and lethargy. Some dogs show no signs but still shed bacteria, which can spread to people, especially kids, older adults, and anyone with a weak immune system.
Handling raw pet food increases the risk of exposure if hands, counters, or pet bowls are not cleaned thoroughly. The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend raw diets because contamination is more common in raw foods than in cooked foods.
Raw pet food is a personal choice. But the math on risk is not political. If you feed raw, use strict hygiene every single time. Wash hands with soap. Clean and disinfect surfaces. Store raw food sealed and frozen.
Thaw in the fridge, not on the counter. Keep pet bowls and scoops separate from family dishes. Small steps beat big regrets, and they cost nothing but a few minutes.
Why raw and frozen gets flagged more
Heat kills bacteria. Raw products skip that kill step, so the margin for error is thin. Reviews of recall data over two decades show Salmonella behind almost a quarter of all pet food recalls, and most of those were the most serious class, which means a reasonable chance of health harm.
Peer-reviewed research and federal guidance also flag raw and frozen pet diets as the segment with the highest Salmonella findings, which is why federal health agencies advise against feeding raw. Those numbers explain why a single positive test triggers a fast, visible response.
This pattern is not unique to Oma’s Pride. The FDA’s recall and advisory pages list other raw brands that pulled select lots for Salmonella or Listeria concerns in recent years.
The through-line is not brand identity but process control. Raw makers must manage risk at every point: sourcing, grinding, mixing, packaging, and cold-chain handling.
Many invest in tighter testing and sanitation. Even then, raw’s risk is never zero. Buyers should weigh that risk against their goals for pet nutrition and choose with eyes open.
How to respond if this food is in your freezer
Stop feeding the recalled lot right away and secure the bag so pets cannot reach it. Clean any area where the food touched, including the freezer shelf, with hot, soapy water, then a disinfectant. Wash your hands after cleaning. If your dog has diarrhea, fever, or low energy, call your veterinarian and mention the recall.
If anyone in the home shows stomach symptoms after handling pet food, call your doctor. Report issues to the FDA; consumer reports often start these investigations.
Going forward, set a simple safety routine. Check lot codes before opening. Keep a dedicated pet-food bin and scoop. Wash bowls daily. For households with kids, immunocompromised adults, or seniors, consider cooked or heat-processed diets to lower risk.
That choice aligns with the federal guidance and the recall data trend line. Freedom to choose comes with duty to manage risk. A clean counter and a quick label check honor both.
Sources:
foxbusiness.com, fda.gov, usatoday.com, newsweek.com, dogfoodadvisor.com, pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, vetstreet.com
