If your cat eats frozen raw food delivered to your door, take a few minutes today to look in your freezer. In late October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a public warning about two lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats after the food tested positive for Salmonella. Food Safety News reported on Oct. 27 that the FDA recommended a recall of the two lots and that the company, Arrow Reliance Inc., which does business as Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, has refused to start one.
Without a recall, the job of finding and removing affected food falls to owners. Below we cover what the FDA said, how to tell whether you have the product, how to clean up safely, and what the case shows about feeding raw diets.
What the FDA warned about
According to Food Safety News, the warning covers two lots of one product:
- Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 12731, manufacturing date July 8, 2026
- Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 12493, manufacturing date April 2, 2026
The product is sold frozen through an online subscription service, in 2-pound packages divided into four units. The labels carry no expiration date. Frozen food can sit in a freezer for months, so food from either lot may still be in homes even though the April lot was made more than half a year ago.
The warning followed a consumer complaint. Two cats became ill after eating the food and one needed hospitalization. Both cats recovered after they stopped eating it.
How to check your freezer, step by step
If you buy any Darwin’s product, here is a simple process based on the FDA’s guidance:
- Find the packaging. Look at every package of Darwin’s cat food in your freezer, including partly used ones pushed to the back.
- Check the lot number. Compare each lot number with 12731 and 12493. If the packaging is gone and you cannot confirm the lot, treat the food as suspect.
- Do not feed it. If you have an affected lot, stop feeding it right away, including to other pets in the house.
- Dispose of it securely. The FDA advises throwing the food away in a secure container so pets, children and wildlife cannot reach it.
- Clean and sanitize. Clean and sanitize bowls, scoops, storage containers, counters, freezer shelves and anything else the food touched.
- Wash your hands. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling the food or cleaning up.
If you have questions about a specific package, contact the seller. If you think your pet got sick from a food product, you can report it to the FDA. Reports help regulators spot patterns.
Signs to watch for in your cat
Salmonella can make pets sick, but some animals carry the bacteria without obvious symptoms and can still shed it in saliva and feces. Owners commonly report signs such as vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever, decreased appetite, lethargy or unusual tiredness, and abdominal discomfort. Cats are good at hiding illness, so subtle changes like hiding more, skipping meals, or unusual litter box habits are worth noting.
If your cat ate food from either lot and shows any of these signs, or if you are simply worried, call your veterinarian. Tell them what your cat ate, roughly when, and the lot number if you have it. Your vet can advise whether an exam or testing is needed. This article is general information, not a substitute for professional veterinary care.
Why this matters for people in the home, too
Contaminated pet food is not only a risk to pets. People can be exposed when handling raw food, cleaning bowls, scooping litter, or touching surfaces a pet has licked. Young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system are generally at higher risk from foodborne bacteria.
The broader history of this manufacturer shows why that matters. Food Safety News reported that in August 2026 the Department of Justice filed a complaint seeking to shut down the company. The complaint cites a 4-year-old boy who developed kidney failure. According to the report, third-party testing of the family’s unopened food found Salmonella and a type of E. coli known as STEC that matched a sample from the child. The complaint seeks a permanent injunction barring the company’s owner, through Arrow Reliance Inc., from making or selling raw pet food. It alleges violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, including failure to follow preventive controls requirements. These are allegations in an ongoing legal matter.
If anyone in your home becomes ill after handling pet food, contact a health care provider and mention the possible exposure.
A pattern worth knowing about
Food Safety News described the October warning as part of a longer history. It reported six contamination instances since 2023, plus several pathogen findings before that. In 2024, FDA investigators found Salmonella at the company’s facility in Tukwila, Washington. From 2016 through January 2026, the FDA received 49 consumer complaints about sick pets fed the company’s raw food. Those complaints involved 34 dogs, five of which died, and 35 cats, four of which died.
The company has made raw pet food since 2004. Many owners have fed its products for years. The history does not mean every package is contaminated, but it is information owners deserve when choosing what goes in the bowl.
Subscription food needs a little extra attention
Subscription delivery is convenient. New boxes arrive on schedule and go straight into the freezer, often on top of older ones. That makes it easy to lose track of which lot you are feeding. If you subscribe to any frozen pet food, make a habit of checking lot numbers when each box arrives, keeping older packages in front so they are used first, and checking your account or email for safety notices from the seller. If a warning comes out and no recall follows, as in this case, you may not get a message from the company, so news reports and FDA announcements may be your main source of information.
If you feed a raw diet: safer handling habits
Some owners choose raw diets for their pets and feel strongly about it. Whatever you feed, these general habits reduce risk at home:
- Keep it frozen until use and thaw in the refrigerator, not on the counter.
- Use dedicated tools. Keep separate scoops, cutting boards and containers for pet food, and wash them in hot, soapy water after each use.
- Pick up leftovers. Do not leave raw food sitting out. Discard what your pet does not finish.
- Wash bowls after every meal and sanitize feeding areas regularly.
- Mind the face licks. Pets that eat raw food may carry bacteria in their mouths. Be especially careful around young children and anyone with a weakened immune system.
- Track your lot numbers. Save a photo of each package’s label so you can check quickly if a warning or recall comes out.
- Talk to your vet. Your veterinarian can help you weigh the benefits and risks of any diet for your pet’s age, health and household.
What to watch
A few things are worth keeping an eye on in the coming weeks:
- Whether a recall is issued. The FDA recommended a recall, and Food Safety News reported the company refused. Any change would be announced publicly.
- The Justice Department case. The outcome of the government’s complaint could determine whether the company can keep making raw pet food.
- Additional warnings. Given the history described above, check for updates if you buy from this manufacturer.
The bottom line
Check your freezer for Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lots 12731 and 12493. If you find either one, throw it away securely, clean everything it touched, wash your hands, and call your veterinarian if your cat seems unwell. A few minutes of checking can protect both your pets and the people who love them.
At Boston Made Pets, we believe informed owners make the best decisions. For the love of pets, keep an eye on food safety news and keep your vet’s number handy.
Source: Food Safety News
Quick check
How much did you catch? Tap a question to see the answer.
1. Which product and lot numbers does the FDA warning cover?
Answer: Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, Lot 12731 (manufactured July 8, 2026) and Lot 12493 (manufactured April 2, 2026).
2. Why might affected food still be in people’s homes?
Answer: It is sold frozen through an online subscription in 2-pound packages, the labels carry no expiration date, and frozen food can sit in a freezer for months.
3. What does the FDA advise owners to do with the implicated food?
Answer: Throw it away in a secure container, clean and sanitize any pet supplies or surfaces it touched, and check freezers for the affected lots before feeding any Darwin’s product.