ANSWERS Pet Food is voluntarily recalling several of its products "out of an abundance of caution" due to potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination.
The dog food was recalled after the FDA tested samples of the brand's pet food, which tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria. The products being withdrawn are sold in 4-pound half-gallon cartons and include:
- Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs, best by May 6, 2026 — Lot code BUBD MAY 06, 2026
- Straight Beef Formula for Dogs, best by January 31, 2026 — Lot code BUBD JAN 31, 2026
- Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs, best by January 2, 2026, and Mar. 11, 2026 — Lot codes BUBD JAN 02, 2026 and BUBD MAR 11, 2026
FDA guidelines recommend any product from the listed lots that has not yet been consumed be thrown away or destroyed so children, pets and wildlife cannot access it. Areas that may have come in contact with any contaminated food should be sanitized.
FDA Advisory issued on September 23
On September 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cautioned pet owners that samples of two ANSWERS Pet Food products, made by Lystn, tested positive for Salmonella. A third product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono). A fourth product tested positive for Salmonella and L. mono. The FDA said it collected and tested unopened retail samples of products after receiving three consumer complaints of illness in dogs that ate the products.
ANSWERS noted in its response that this was "a misrepresentation of the facts."
"ANSWERS requested information on the reported complaints, and the limited information provided by the FDA was that one consumer filed a series of three complaints," the company said in its response. "When ANSWERS additionally requested supporting documentation, the FDA would not discuss the complaints further, and said ANSWERS would have to file a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to learn more of the complaints."
ANSWERS internal investigation found no research tying the alleged health problems reportedly suffered by the dogs in the complaint to the consumption of pet food alleged to contain pathogens. "These lots of our products were distributed to many other end users with no reported health complaints," said the company. "ANSWERS is unaware of any confirmed illnesses in humans or animals directly tied to and caused by the implicated product lots referenced in the September 23, 2024, FDA Advisory."
The company said it had notified distributors, retailers and the public prior to the FDA releasing its Public Advisory. ANSWERS said it will continue investigating the FDA report with further data collection, testing and analysis as its number one priority is to bring healthy, safe raw pet food products to market.
