Darwin’s Cat Food FDA Advisory: Two Salmonella Lots, Two Sick Cats, No Recall

On October 26, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued an advisory urging cat owners to check their freezers. Two lots of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats tested positive for Salmonella, and two cats that ate food from the affected lots became ill.

There is an important distinction at the heart of this story: this is an FDA advisory, not a recall. The FDA said it recommended that the manufacturer, Arrow Reliance Inc., recall the product, but the firm has not initiated an adequate recall. That leaves the practical work — checking lot codes, disposing of the food safely, and watching for symptoms — with cat owners.

The Short Answer: Check These Two Lots

The advisory covers only two lots of Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats:

• Lot 12731, MFG Jul 08 2026
• Lot 12493, MFG Apr 02 2026

The product is sold in 2-pound frozen white and clear plastic packages with green and black labeling, in a four-unit configuration. The lot code appears on the front of the lower-left unit. There is no expiration date on the package, so the lot code is the key identifier. The food was sold by subscription.

If your package does not match one of those two lot codes, it is not covered by this advisory. If it does match, do not feed it to your cat, and do not assume that freezing or refrigeration has made it safe — neither kills Salmonella.

What Happened to the Cats

According to the FDA advisory, two cats that consumed the affected food developed gastrointestinal illness. One of the cats was hospitalized. Both cats recovered after their owners stopped feeding the product.

Salmonella in cats can cause vomiting, diarrhea, reduced appetite, fever, and lethargy. Some cats may carry the bacteria without obvious symptoms, which is one reason hygiene around raw pet food matters even when a pet looks well. If your cat ate one of the affected lots and develops symptoms, contact your veterinarian and mention the Darwin’s product and lot code.

Why This Is an Advisory, Not a Recall

A recall is an action by the manufacturer to remove a product from the market. An FDA advisory, by contrast, is the agency warning the public directly. In this case, the FDA said it recommended a recall by Arrow Reliance Inc., but the firm has not initiated an adequate recall. The advisory therefore functions as the warning owners need to act on, even though no recall has been carried out.

That distinction also matters for anyone searching for a recall notice for these lots. The absence of a recall announcement does not mean the food is safe — it means the formal recall step has not happened, while the FDA’s testing and illness findings stand.

A History That Adds Context

This is not the first time Darwin’s products have drawn FDA attention. On August 11, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice filed a complaint seeking a permanent injunction against the firm. And on July 29, 2025, the FDA issued an earlier advisory over E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in Darwin’s products. For context, our earlier report on Darwin’s pet food covered that earlier FDA action and the issues it raised.

That history does not change the scope of the October 2026 advisory — it still covers only the two lots listed above — but it does explain why some owners will greet this warning with particular concern.

What to Do If You Have One of These Lots

Do not feed the food to your cat, and do not give it to another pet or donate it. Dispose of it in a secure container so that pets, children, and wildlife cannot reach it.

Then clean up thoroughly. Disinfect surfaces, bowls, scoops, and any supplies that touched the food, and wash your hands well after handling it. Raw pet food can spread bacteria to people as well as pets, so keep it away from human food preparation areas.

Before you throw the package away, photograph the front panel and lot code. That record can help your veterinarian, and it preserves the lot information if you need to refer back to it later. Watch your cat for gastrointestinal symptoms, and seek veterinary advice promptly if any appear.

Bottom Line

Check your freezer for Darwin’s Natural Selections Chicken Recipe for Cats, lots 12731 and 12493. If you have either lot, stop feeding it, dispose of it securely, clean everything it touched, and monitor your cat. This advisory covers only those two lots — but for those two lots, the FDA’s message is clear.

Source: FDA advisory, October 26, 2026.