A significant recall of raw dog food products has expanded to include contamination concerns that pet owners across the Northeast should take seriously. Raaw Energy, a raw dog food manufacturer, is recalling products made between July 17, 2025, and December 23, 2025, plus one additional batch from March 31, 2026, due to potential listeria contamination. Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can pose serious health risks to both pets and the humans who handle their food.

What Symptoms Should Pet Owners Watch For?

If your dog has consumed contaminated raw dog food, understanding the warning signs is critical. Infected dogs may display symptoms including vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fever, and lethargy. However, one particularly concerning aspect of listeria contamination is that pets can be infected without showing any symptoms at all. Even asymptomatic dogs can shed the bacteria through their feces and saliva, potentially spreading it to other animals or family members in the household.

In severe cases, listeria infection can lead to meningitis, miscarriage in pregnant animals, and even death. This is why the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has urged pet owners to treat all affected products as potentially contaminated and dispose of them immediately.

Which States and Products Are Affected?

The recalled Raaw Energy products were distributed across nine states in the Northeast region. The affected states include Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The recalled products come in distinctive packaging: 2-pound or 5-pound clear plastic tubes sealed with metal clips, or frozen in cardboard boxes holding five to 20 tubes with white stick-on labels identifying the product flavor, ingredients, and date codes.

According to FDA testing conducted on samples collected by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, some finished products tested positive for listeria monocytogenes, while others tested negative. However, because not all food was tested, the FDA is treating all products from the affected date ranges as potentially contaminated.

How to Protect Your Dog From Contaminated Raw Food

• Check Your Purchase Date: Review any Raaw Energy raw dog food in your home and verify the manufacturing date code on the packaging. Products made between July 17, 2025, and December 23, 2025, or the March 31, 2026, batch of Beef and Turkey Medley are included in the recall.
• Dispose Safely: If you have recalled products, dispose of them in a secure manner so they cannot be accessed by people or animals. Do not simply throw them in the trash where pets or wildlife might access them.
• Monitor Your Pet's Health: Watch for symptoms of listeria infection including vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog shows any of these signs.
• Practice Food Safety Hygiene: If you handle raw dog food, wash your hands thoroughly after feeding your pet and clean any surfaces or bowls that come into contact with the food to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria to your household.

The manufacturer temporarily halted all dog food production on May 21 to evaluate current issues and implement corrective actions. Pet owners are advised against using, selling, or consuming any of the recalled products and should discard them immediately to reduce the risk of illness.

This recall underscores an ongoing concern within the raw pet food industry regarding food safety protocols and contamination risks. Raw diets for dogs have grown in popularity among pet owners seeking what they perceive as more natural feeding options, but they come with inherent food safety challenges that differ from processed kibble or canned foods. The FDA continues to monitor pet food safety and issues recalls when contamination is detected, but pet owners remain responsible for verifying the safety of products they purchase and feed to their animals.

If you have questions about whether your dog's food is affected, you can contact Raaw Energy directly or check the FDA's official recall alert for the complete list of affected product flavors and date codes. Your veterinarian can also provide guidance on safe feeding practices and alternative options if you need to switch your dog's diet due to this recall.