🐾 Freshpet Dog Food Recalls Explained
For owners who choose Freshpet over traditional kibble, the brand’s identity—freshness, refrigeration, and human-grade ingredients—implies a premium safety promise. But what happens when that promise breaks down not in the factory, but after the problem has been caught?
Freshpet’s two Salmonella-related recalls (2021 and 2022) both involve a deeply concerning pattern: the accidental shipping of products already flagged for destruction. This article tackles the unspoken questions: How did this happen twice? What risks are involved? And what should pet parents be doing now?
🔑 Key Takeaways: What Smart Consumers Need to Know
| ❓ Question | ✅ Quick Answer |
|---|---|
| How many recalls has Freshpet had? | Two documented recalls – June 2021 and June 2022. |
| Why were the recalls issued? | Potential Salmonella contamination in one product lot each year. |
| What caused the error? | Internally flagged products were mistakenly shipped. |
| Is there a 2025 recall? | No. That claim is false and AI-generated misinformation. |
| How risky is Salmonella? | Can cause severe illness in pets and humans, especially in vulnerable groups. |
| Has Freshpet improved since the last recall? | No public evidence of a major fix to its logistics protocol has been shared. |
❗ What Exactly Happened in the Recalls—and Could It Happen Again?
Both Freshpet recalls follow the same sequence: a contaminated product lot was identified and flagged internally but still ended up on store shelves. This wasn’t a manufacturing error—it was a logistics failure. The risk wasn’t in how the food was made, but in how it was handled post-inspection.
📦 Recall Timeline Snapshot
| 📅 Date | 🐶 Product | 🧪 Issue | 🚚 Error Point | 📍 Retailers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2021 | Small Dog Bite Size Beef & Egg (1 lb) | Potential Salmonella | Flagged batch shipped | Publix (FL, GA, SC), Target (AZ, CA) |
| June 2022 | Fresh From the Kitchen Home Cooked Chicken (4.5 lb) | Potential Salmonella | Flagged batch shipped | Walmart, Target (Northeast + PR) |
🧠 Insight: The identical cause—”designated for destruction but inadvertently shipped”—indicates a likely failure in inventory quarantining or labeling systems, not manufacturing. This is not just a mistake—it’s a pattern.
🦠 Is Salmonella in Dog Food Really That Dangerous?
Yes. Even in small amounts, Salmonella is a zoonotic pathogen, meaning it affects both pets and humans. It’s especially risky for:
- Young children
- Elderly adults
- Immunocompromised individuals
- Multi-pet households, where one dog can spread bacteria to others
🧪 Symptoms to Watch For
| 🐕 In Dogs | 👨⚕️ In Humans |
|---|---|
| Lethargy | Nausea |
| Vomiting | Diarrhea |
| Bloody diarrhea | Fever |
| Loss of appetite | Abdominal cramps |
💡 Hidden Risk: Dogs can be asymptomatic carriers, meaning they show no illness but still spread bacteria through saliva, feces, and shared water bowls.
🧻 Why Do Consumers Report Illnesses When the Company Says “None Were Reported”?
Freshpet officially states that “no adverse events were reported.” But consumers often post disturbing claims online—from vomiting to pancreatitis and even pet deaths.
🎭 Why the Discrepancy Exists
| 📢 Consumer Story | 🧾 What Counts Officially |
|---|---|
| “My dog got sick after eating Freshpet” | ❌ Not an official adverse event |
| Vet-confirmed Salmonella diagnosis with food sample from same batch | ✅ FDA-verified report |
| Online posts on forums, Facebook, or blogs | ❌ Not counted |
| Filed report through FDA Safety Reporting Portal | ✅ Counted in safety data |
⚠️ The Result: There’s a reporting gap—the FDA only acts on medically and scientifically verified cases, even if hundreds of anecdotal reports exist. This creates a mistrust gap between companies and concerned pet parents.
🧪 Did the 2025 Freshpet Recall Actually Happen?
No. It’s fake.
A viral article from a low-authority website claimed a “Freshpet recall in February 2025.” But upon investigation, the report:
- Repeated word-for-word details from the June 2022 recall
- Listed the exact same retailers and lot codes
- Has no FDA backing, no SEC mention, and no Freshpet public filings referencing it
🚨 How to Spot Fake Recalls
| 🚩 Red Flag | 💡 What It Means |
|---|---|
| Article date is in the future | Likely a content-generation error |
| No FDA link | Not an official notice |
| Vague source attribution | Not verifiable |
| Details are recycled from past recalls | Low-quality misinformation |
🔍 Use This Link: FDA Recall Search Tool — always cross-check before sharing.
🧼 How Can I Handle Freshpet Products Safely—Even If There’s No Recall?
Fresh pet food, like raw meat, must be treated carefully. The high moisture and protein content make it a natural breeding ground for bacteria if not stored or served correctly.
🧽 Essential Handling Tips for Freshpet (and all fresh pet food)
| ✅ DOs | ❌ DON’Ts |
|---|---|
| Wash hands thoroughly after touching food or packaging | Leave product out for hours at room temperature |
| Store food at 40°F or below (in the fridge) | Use product past its “Sell By” date |
| Clean food bowls after each use | Mix with unrefrigerated leftovers |
| Use dedicated scoops or utensils | Let food touch countertops or raw food prep areas |
💡 Pro Tip: If your dog doesn’t finish their portion, refrigerate leftovers immediately—within 2 hours.
🔍 What Should I Do If I Think I Have a Recalled Product?
If you suspect your product is part of a recall, don’t guess—verify. Use the packaging to locate the lot code and Sell By date, which are usually printed on the bag seal or side panel.
🆘 What to Do If You Have a Suspect Product
| 🔍 Step | 🧾 What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Check the Lot Code | Matches recall batch (e.g., 10/29/22 L3) |
| Verify Sell By Date | Matches specific date in recall notice |
| Locate the UPC Code | Usually starts with 627975… |
| Contact Freshpet | 1-800-285-0563 or online recall form |
| Dispose safely | Double bag, discard in trash—not compost or animal feed |
📦 Never return recalled food to stores—they may already be under protocol to pull inventory.
🧠 Final Tips for Consumers Who Want to Stay Proactive
Here’s how you can stay informed, vigilant, and empowered in a food safety landscape where automation and complexity can create dangerous blind spots.
📚 Smart Owner’s Recall Toolkit
| 🧰 Action | 🧠 Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Bookmark FDA Recall Page | Reliable, up-to-date recall source |
| Photograph lot codes before storing food | Helps if packaging is thrown away before illness |
| Report illness via FDA’s portal | Creates official data that triggers oversight |
| Don’t rely solely on brands’ email alerts | Emails may go to spam or arrive late |
| Educate others about false recall posts | Misinformation spreads faster than recalls |
FAQs
❓“If Freshpet knew the food was unsafe, how could it still end up in stores? Isn’t that a regulatory failure?”
Not quite. This is where many consumers get understandably frustrated—but the responsibility is squarely corporate, not regulatory. Freshpet did detect the problem internally and marked the affected lot for destruction. That part of their process worked. The failure occurred during logistics execution—the step where inventory is supposed to be blocked from shipment and flagged in fulfillment systems.
Here’s where things went wrong:
| 🔍 Checkpoint | ✅ Expected Action | ❌ What Failed |
|---|---|---|
| Post-production QA | Test results identify contamination | Successful |
| Lot designation | Product labeled “Do Not Ship” | Executed |
| Inventory segregation | Batch is removed or isolated | Breakdown occurred |
| Warehouse scanning | Should reject flagged inventory | Inadvertently cleared |
| Shipment to retailers | Blocked by control systems | Bypassed or missed |
This wasn’t a single human error—it points to a systems-level failure, such as:
- A flaw in warehouse software not flagging contaminated lots correctly
- Poor barcode differentiation between cleared and quarantined product
- Inadequate staff training or bypassed protocol during peak fulfillment
Until Freshpet discloses a robust root cause analysis, the full sequence is speculative—but the pattern across two years confirms it’s systemic, not coincidental.
❓“If the recall only covered one batch, why are there so many customer illness reports online?”
This gets to the heart of a major problem in pet food safety reporting: underreporting versus anecdotal noise.
Online reports—while emotionally compelling—don’t meet the strict evidentiary threshold required for official tracking unless they’re supported by:
- A veterinarian’s diagnostic confirmation
- A matching lot code
- A retained food sample for lab testing
Unfortunately, most consumer complaints lack at least one of these components. However, that doesn’t mean the reports are baseless. They may reflect:
| 💬 Anecdotal Pattern | 🧠 Possible Explanation |
|---|---|
| Sudden GI distress after eating | Could be a sensitivity, spoiled product, or pathogen exposure |
| Symptoms in multiple dogs in a household | Cross-contamination from shared bowls or surfaces |
| Onset of pancreatitis or vomiting | Could relate to storage errors, improper temp handling, or high fat intake |
Important Note: Many illnesses blamed on pet food could also result from temperature abuse after purchase, such as leaving Freshpet in a hot car or fridge fluctuations.
Still, the volume of online claims, especially around batches adjacent to the recall, suggests a broader QA issue may have gone undetected.
❓“Can I still trust Freshpet if I feed it to my dog every day?”
You can—but it requires a different kind of vigilance. If you continue to use Freshpet, your role shifts from passive consumer to informed co-participant in food safety. That means:
- Inspecting packaging every time before opening: Look for bloating, sliminess, or off-smells.
- Logging lot codes weekly: Even taking a quick photo gives you a record if you need to cross-reference later.
- Storing within 30–40°F and using within 7 days of opening (unless otherwise stated).
- Not trusting retailer fridges blindly—check temperatures yourself.
🧪 Daily Freshpet User Checklist
| 🔍 Checkpoint | ✅ Action to Take |
|---|---|
| Sell-by date | Confirm it hasn’t passed or cut too close |
| Package integrity | No swelling, leaking, or greasy residue |
| Smell check | Clean, slightly meaty aroma—nothing sour or sulfuric |
| Storage log | Fridge should hold at ≤ 40°F consistently |
| Feeding utensils | Use only clean, pet-dedicated scoops/spoons |
Bottom line: Continued use of Freshpet requires active monitoring and hygiene rigor, especially since you’re handling raw-style, high-moisture foods daily.
❓“Could Freshpet be linked to heart disease like other grain-free foods with peas?”
This is a crucial and complex topic. While peas are present in some Freshpet recipes, they are not currently named in any formal FDA alert or investigation result linking Freshpet to canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, here’s what you need to know:
| 📋 Ingredient | 🧬 DCM Concern? | 🧠 Context |
|---|---|---|
| Peas / Legumes | Under FDA review | Present in many boutique or grain-free diets |
| Taurine levels | May be lower in certain diets | Deficiency is a known DCM trigger |
| Freshpet’s stance | Not directly implicated | Offers both grain-inclusive and grain-free options |
No scientific data links Freshpet specifically to increased DCM risk. That said, pet parents with large breeds or breeds predisposed to DCM (like Dobermans, Boxers, Golden Retrievers) should:
- Consult their vet about taurine supplementation
- Choose Freshpet SKUs that are grain-inclusive and high in animal protein
- Avoid rotating in grain-free variants as the sole diet long-term unless medically necessary
FDA has not confirmed causation, only correlation, but caution is wise until the agency provides conclusive guidance.
❓“How do I report a problem with Freshpet to the FDA?”
Filing a report is the single most powerful step a pet parent can take to escalate a concern into regulatory visibility. But the process has to be specific and supported by documentation.
🧾 FDA Reporting Guide for Pet Food Issues
| 📌 Step | 🛠️ What to Prepare |
|---|---|
| Visit: https://www.safetyreporting.hhs.gov | Official reporting portal |
| Collect product info | Lot code, UPC, sell-by date, product name |
| Document symptoms | Dates, onset time, vet diagnosis if available |
| Save a sample | Freeze portion of food for possible testing |
| Keep packaging | It confirms origin, distributor, and batch |
Pro Tip: Call your vet first—then file the report. The FDA prioritizes cases with clinical documentation, even from general practice veterinarians, not just specialists.
❓“Are there safer alternatives to Freshpet that still offer a refrigerated, gently cooked option?”
Yes, but the alternatives come with different trade-offs—usually in price, sourcing, or availability. The refrigerated/fresh sector is still evolving, but several brands are building strong reputations for safety and transparency.
🥩 Fresh-Style Alternatives Overview
| 🐶 Brand | 🌡️ Storage | 📋 Pros | ⚠️ Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Farmer’s Dog | Freezer to fridge | Vet-formulated, made-to-order, no recalls | Pricey; subscription only |
| JustFoodForDogs | Refrigerated/frozen | Transparent sourcing, in-store kitchens | Limited SKUs in stores |
| Nom Nom | Frozen | AAFCO-tested, excellent digestibility | Subscription-heavy; plastic packaging waste |
| Raised Right | Refrigerated/frozen | USDA-certified, home-cooked look | Lower calorie density; availability varies |
💡 Tip: Transition slowly if switching, as fresh diets can differ drastically in fat, fiber, and protein ratios—your dog’s GI system needs time to adjust.
❓“Why would refrigerated pet food even have Salmonella? Isn’t it supposed to be safer than dry kibble?”
Refrigeration slows bacterial growth—it doesn’t sterilize. Unlike kibble, which is cooked at high temperatures that kill most pathogens, Freshpet’s gently cooked products are designed to preserve nutrients through minimal heat processing. This lower heat profile helps retain vitamins but doesn’t guarantee microbial elimination.
🧪 Why Fresh Foods Can Still Carry Pathogens
| 🔍 Factor | 🧬 How It Contributes |
|---|---|
| Low-temp cooking | May not reach pathogen kill thresholds (e.g., 165°F for poultry) |
| Post-cook contamination | Occurs during cooling, slicing, or packaging phases |
| Cold chain logistics | A breach during transit or storage allows bacterial growth |
| High moisture content | Creates a more inviting environment for Salmonella and Listeria growth than dry kibble |
Insight: The perception of freshness often leads consumers to treat this food casually, when in reality, it must be handled more like raw meat. The risk doesn’t stem from the brand concept—it’s in the execution of safe handling and post-production controls.
❓“How long can Freshpet sit in my fridge before it becomes unsafe?”
Freshpet states that its food should be used within 7 days of opening, but that assumes ideal refrigeration conditions (≤ 40°F). In practice, many household fridges fluctuate and experience door-related temperature swings.
📆 Safe Storage Timeline for Freshpet
| ❄️ Storage Condition | 🕒 Max Safe Time | ⚠️ Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Unopened, sealed, fridge at 38°F | Until “Sell By” date | Must remain unopened and below 40°F |
| Opened, resealed, fridge at 39°F | 5–7 days | Use within 5 if fridge fluctuates |
| Left out at room temp (70°F+) | 2 hours | After that, risk of spoilage rises rapidly |
| Transported unrefrigerated | <1 hour ideal | Especially risky in summer or enclosed cars |
💡 Tip: Keep a fridge thermometer in the area where pet food is stored. Many home fridges spike to 45–50°F near the door, which can cut shelf life in half and allow bacteria to flourish.
❓“How do I know if my store keeps Freshpet cold enough before I buy it?”
There’s no regulation requiring pet food retailers to maintain logs or temperature records for Freshpet coolers. That means you must be your dog’s safety inspector.
🛒 In-Store Safety Checklist for Refrigerated Pet Food
| 🧊 Checkpoint | ✅ What to Look For | 🔍 Red Flag Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Product feel | Cold to the touch; firm if sealed in log form | Slight warmth or condensation on interior bag |
| Cooler temp | Digital display (ideal: 34°F–38°F) | No thermometer? Ask an employee directly |
| Product condition | No bloating, leaks, or frost (from refreeze) | Bulging packages, loose seals, oily residue |
| Stock rotation | Newest dates placed at back | If front-facing packs expire in <5 days, rotate them to check integrity |
🧠 Reminder: If a fridge has internal condensation or the walls feel warm, that entire unit may have malfunctioned. Choose another package or store.
❓“If my dog has eaten Freshpet for years without issue, does the recall mean I should switch brands now?”
Not necessarily—but it depends on your tolerance for risk. The two recalls affected isolated batches and were not widespread contamination events. However, they do expose a systemic weakness in Freshpet’s supply chain that hasn’t been publicly addressed with a verified fix.
🔍 Key Decision Factors
| 🎯 Criteria | 🤔 What to Evaluate |
|---|---|
| Your dog’s health status | Is your dog immunocompromised, elderly, or very young? These dogs have higher vulnerability to Salmonella. |
| Your confidence in storage | Can you guarantee consistent refrigeration from store to bowl? |
| Your vet’s feedback | Some vets prefer gently cooked or prescription diets for sensitive dogs. |
| Your lifestyle | If you travel often, a shelf-stable or freeze-dried food may provide better risk control. |
💬 Advice: If you stay with Freshpet, do so with heightened oversight, and keep a plan B on hand in case of another fulfillment or safety issue.
❓“Are there ways to reduce risk if I want to keep using Freshpet?”
Yes—there are practical steps you can take to reduce both the risk of contamination and the consequences if your dog were to get sick. Think of it as creating a “food safety buffer zone” in your kitchen and fridge.
🧼 Risk Mitigation Tactics for Continued Freshpet Use
| 🧰 Strategy | 💡 Execution Tip |
|---|---|
| Use pet-only food containers | Store opened Freshpet in a sealed, BPA-free container, not just the bag |
| Clean food bowls daily | Use hot, soapy water or dishwasher—not just a rinse |
| Avoid cross-contact | Don’t prep dog meals on the same surface used for raw human food without full sanitation |
| Use portioned feeding | Don’t scoop food back into storage once it’s touched the bowl or air |
| Log batch info weekly | Take a photo of every package’s lot code + sell-by date before use |
🧠 Consider keeping 2–3 days’ worth of backup food (freeze-dried, shelf-stable, or canned) on hand in case you need to switch suddenly due to spoilage or product unavailability.
❓“Could the repeat recall indicate a deeper company culture issue?”
It’s a valid concern. Two separate recalls with identical failure causes—shipping lots marked for destruction—suggest an internal culture not prioritizing operational vigilance.
🚨 Operational Culture Audit Clues
| ⚙️ Indicator | 🧠 Implication |
|---|---|
| Same error repeated within 12 months | Suggests CAPA (Corrective and Preventive Actions) were either superficial or poorly enforced |
| No public announcement of systemic changes | Lack of transparency about logistics reforms raises ongoing risk |
| Increasing production capacity but recurring QA issues | Growth may be outpacing internal process maturity |
📢 Conclusion: When a company continues scaling without overhauling or hardening its logistics integrity, mistakes move from accidental to systemic. The recall might have been voluntary, but the erosion of trust is involuntary—and harder to fix.
❓“What’s the real difference between a voluntary and a mandatory pet food recall?”
The distinction is not just legal—it’s structural. A voluntary recall means the company, often after internal testing or consumer complaints, alerts the FDA and chooses to remove the product themselves. A mandatory recall happens when the FDA steps in, typically after a company refuses to act, and forces the product off the market.
📊 Recall Type Breakdown
| 📋 Type | 🧠 Definition | 🚨 Trigger | ⚖️ Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voluntary Recall | Manufacturer-initiated, with FDA cooperation | Internal testing, supplier error, consumer report | FDA assists but doesn’t force |
| Mandatory Recall | FDA-compelled removal of a product | Imminent risk to health + company refusal to comply | FDA invokes legal authority (RAFDAA) |
Key Insight: The fact that Freshpet chose to recall these products indicates they detected the issue independently, but it also raises questions about why those products escaped the disposal process to begin with—twice.
❓“My dog ate from a Freshpet batch that wasn’t recalled but got sick. What can I do?”
You’re not alone. Many pet owners encounter this confusing gray zone. If the batch doesn’t match a recall but your pet showed symptoms, the best course is documentation and reporting.
📒 What To Do Immediately
| 🐾 Step | 🔍 Details |
|---|---|
| Visit your vet | Ask for stool sample analysis and mention the brand, lot code, and timeline of symptoms |
| Preserve the food | Keep it in a sealed bag or container in the freezer; don’t throw it away |
| Note batch details | Take photos of the lot number, UPC, and sell-by date |
| Report to the FDA | File an adverse event through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal |
| Contact Freshpet | Use their hotline or website to initiate a consumer concern report |
📌 Tip: If possible, request your vet submit the case to the Pet Food Complaint System directly, which carries more clinical weight than a consumer report alone.
❓“Can I trust Freshpet again after two recalls?”
Trust is earned not by perfection, but by transparency and evolution. What’s concerning here isn’t the existence of two recalls—it’s that both resulted from the same type of failure: logistical mismanagement of identified-at-risk batches.
📊 Post-Recall Brand Trust Matrix
| 🤝 Trust Factor | ✅ Freshpet’s Strengths | ⚠️ Concerning Gaps |
|---|---|---|
| Recall Transparency | Prompt disclosure, clear batch info | No visible process overhaul after 2021 |
| Public Safety Reports | No confirmed pet deaths via FDA channels | Anecdotal illness claims still uninvestigated |
| Manufacturing Oversight | USDA-inspected kitchens | Logistics gap allowed contaminated lots to ship—twice |
| Communication | Posted recall on FDA database, brand site, and retail partners | Consumers reported not receiving notification emails (2022) |
Verdict: If you continue using Freshpet, monitor every package, verify sell-by dates, and have a backup food option prepared. Trust may be cautiously extended—but only if the company demonstrates visible improvements in quality control over time.
❓“How do I decipher the ‘lot code’ on Freshpet packaging?”
Lot codes may look like random numbers, but they follow internal manufacturing logic. Understanding them is crucial for product verification during any recall.
🔍 Lot Code Decoder for Freshpet
| 🧾 Code Example | 🧠 Interpreted As | 🗓️ Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
10/29/22 L3 | Sell-by date: Oct 29, 2022, Plant code: L3 | Used to trace product back to manufacturing location & production day |
1421FBP0101 | Batch number tied to recipe (FBP = Freshpet Beef Product), day code 1421 (likely year+day-of-year) | Connects to internal quality checks and ingredient sourcing traceability |
Pro Tip: Keep a photo log of your dog’s food bag—UPC, lot code, and sell-by. It’s your best evidence if adverse effects occur.
❓“Are there safer alternatives with better recall records?”
If you’re now questioning Freshpet, several other brands may suit your dog’s needs with different risk profiles. But each comes with its own benefits and trade-offs.
🌟 Comparative Snapshot of Fresh Food Alternatives
| 🐶 Brand | 🌡️ Storage | 📈 Recall History | 🔬 Formulation Method | 🧪 WSAVA Transparency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freshpet | Refrigerated | 2 voluntary recalls (2021, 2022) | Gently cooked, then chilled | Partial |
| The Farmer’s Dog | Frozen | No official recalls | Custom vet-formulated | Partial |
| Nom Nom | Frozen | 1 minor recall (2021) | Vet-designed, pre-portioned | Moderate |
| JustFoodForDogs | Refrigerated/Frozen | Recall in 2018 due to compounding pharmacy error | Open-kitchen batch prep | Strong |
| Sundays for Dogs | Shelf-stable (air-dried) | No recalls, but consumer complaints of mold | No synthetic additives | Partial |
Recommendation: If cold-chain logistics worry you, consider air-dried or freeze-dried options. They bypass refrigeration entirely while preserving nutrients. However, they may be costlier per serving and have different nutrient profiles.
❓“What illnesses should I watch for after feeding a recalled lot?”
Salmonella is sneaky—dogs may not show immediate symptoms. Watch for both gastrointestinal and behavioral changes, especially over 48–72 hours.
🧬 Symptoms of Salmonella in Dogs (Post-Recall)
| ⚠️ Symptom | 🧠 Why It Happens |
|---|---|
| Vomiting | Body’s first line defense against ingested toxins |
| Bloody or loose stool | Gastrointestinal lining irritated or inflamed |
| Lethargy / Depression | Systemic inflammation, dehydration |
| Loss of appetite | Pain, nausea, or low-grade fever |
| Fever (103°F+) | Immune response to infection |
| Abdominal pain | Cramping from intestinal distress |
📞 When to Act: If you see 2 or more symptoms lasting beyond 24 hours, consult your veterinarian immediately and bring the packaging. Time is critical—especially for puppies, seniors, or immune-compromised dogs.
