FDA says cat owners should check one corner of frozen Darwin’s packages for these Salmonella flagged lots
The FDA warned cat owners on Oct. 26 not to feed two lots of Darwin’s chicken recipe after Salmonella was found in tested samples.
Cat owners who keep Darwin’s raw food in the freezer have a very specific place to look. On October 26, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned people not to feed cats two lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats after samples tested positive for Salmonella.
The affected food was tied to a consumer complaint
The FDA said it collected and tested samples after receiving a complaint involving two cats that developed gastrointestinal illness after eating Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats. According to the advisory, one of those cats was hospitalized after eating food from one of the two affected lots. Both cats recovered after they stopped eating the product.
The agency said Arrow Reliance, Inc., which does business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, was advised to recall the two lots that tested positive. At press time, the company had not started what the FDA described as an adequate recall and had not publicly addressed the advisory.
The warning affects frozen 2 pound packages sold online through Darwin’s subscription service. The packaging is white and clear plastic with green and black labeling, and each 2 pound package is split into four separate units. There are no expiration dates on the labels.
Owners are being told to check the lot code printed on the front of the lower left unit. The two identified lots are lot 12731, manufactured Jul 08, 2026, and lot 12493, manufactured Apr 02, 2026.
What cat owners should do now
The FDA says not to feed the food to pets and not to donate it. Instead, it should be thrown away in a secure container so other animals, including wildlife, cannot get into it. If you moved the food into another container, no longer have the front lower left unit with the code, or cannot read the code, the agency says to discard it.
The advisory also calls for thorough cleanup. That includes disinfecting bowls, utensils, food containers, food prep surfaces, and any refrigerator or freezer areas that may have touched the food. Floors, pet bedding, and toys should be cleaned and disinfected too. The FDA also says cat feces should be cleaned up from litter boxes, yards, or other places where people or animals could be exposed, and hands should be washed well after handling the food or cleaning contaminated items.
Salmonella can make both pets and people sick, and the FDA notes that children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are especially vulnerable. Freezing or refrigerating contaminated pet food does not kill the bacteria.
Cats with vomiting, diarrhea, fever, loss of appetite, or lower activity should be seen by a veterinarian promptly. People with diarrhea, fever, or abdominal cramps should contact a healthcare provider. Even cats that do not look sick can carry Salmonella and spread it through feces and saliva, so the FDA advises prompt cleanup, handwashing, avoiding contact with saliva, and disinfecting surfaces your cat or the food may have touched. Owners who think their cat got sick after eating the food can also file a report through the FDA’s Safety Reporting Portal.
