By Dr. Lisa Park, DVM — Veterinarian specializing in geriatric dog care
Dog Food Recall Alert March 2026: Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli Found — What Pet Owners Must Know
If you feed your dog food from Young Again Pet Food or products manufactured by Mid America Pet Food LLC, please stop and read this immediately. A wave of dog food recalls in March 2026 has put pet owners across the country on high alert. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported multiple pet food contamination events involving dangerous pathogens — Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli — that can seriously harm both dogs and the humans who handle their food.
As a veterinarian who has spent over a decade specializing in senior dog care, I want to give you the clearest, most actionable information possible. This is a public health situation, and the facts matter.
Which Brands and Products Are Affected?
Young Again Pet Food — Recalled for Salmonella
Young Again Pet Food has issued a recall for Salmonella contamination. The dog food tested presumptive positive for Salmonella bacteria, as confirmed by the FDA’s Enforcement Reports. The recalling firm is Pretty Bird International of Stacy, Minnesota.
The specific recalled product is:
- Product: Young Again Dog Food, Core Health — for breeds 30 pounds and up
- 10 lb bag UPC: 7 16432-92570
- 25 lb bag UPC: 7 16432-92574 2
- Best By Date: October 28, 2026 (10/28/26)
- Distribution: Sold nationwide at the retail level
- Quantity involved: Approximately 4,375 pounds
This product was sold across the country. If you have this food in your home — check those UPC numbers and best-by dates right now.
Mid America Pet Food LLC — Additional Recall Concerns
Mid America Pet Food LLC has been named in the current wave of FDA recall notices as part of a broader roundup reported March 21–22, 2026. The FDA has flagged contamination concerns including Salmonella and other pathogens across multiple product lines in this period.
I always recommend checking the FDA’s official recall page directly for the most current and complete list of affected Mid America Pet Food products, as recall notices are updated as new information becomes available.
Nestlé Purina PetCare — Mentioned in Recall Roundup
Nestlé Purina PetCare products have been mentioned in connection with the March 2026 recall roundup reported by multiple news outlets including PIX11. Please check FDA.gov directly for confirmed details on any specific Purina products, as this situation continues to evolve.
Understanding the Pathogens: What You’re Dealing With
Salmonella
Salmonella is a bacterial pathogen capable of causing severe gastrointestinal illness in both animals and humans. In dogs, Salmonella infection can cause:
- Vomiting and diarrhea (sometimes bloody)
- High fever and lethargy
- Loss of appetite and rapid dehydration
- In severe cases: septicemia (bloodstream infection), which can be life-threatening
In humans who handle contaminated pet food, Salmonella causes food poisoning with symptoms including diarrhea, stomach cramps, fever, and nausea. People with compromised immune systems, the elderly, pregnant women, and young children face significantly higher risk of serious complications.
Listeria monocytogenes
Listeria is a particularly dangerous pathogen for several reasons. First, it can survive — and even grow — in refrigerated conditions, making contaminated pet food storage especially hazardous. In dogs, Listeria infection can cause neurological symptoms and severe systemic illness. In humans, listeriosis can lead to meningitis and septicemia. Pregnant women are especially vulnerable: Listeria can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, and neonatal infection.
E. coli
E. coli contamination in pet food represents a serious risk to both dogs and the people in the household. Certain strains — particularly Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) — can cause severe illness including hemorrhagic diarrhea and, in serious cases, acute kidney failure. Some of the most devastating pet food contamination events in history caused acute kidney failure in thousands of dogs. This is not a pathogen to take lightly.
Symptoms to Watch for in Your Dog
If your dog has been eating any recalled product, monitor closely for these symptoms over the next 7–10 days:
- Vomiting — especially repeated or projectile
- Diarrhea, including bloody or mucus-streaked stools
- Lethargy, unusual weakness, or loss of interest in activity
- Loss of appetite or complete food refusal
- Excessive drooling
- Fever (normal canine temperature is 101–102.5°F)
- Abdominal pain — hunching over, reluctance to be touched on the belly
- Neurological signs: stumbling, disorientation, confusion (especially concerning with Listeria)
- Decreased urination or changes in urine color — potential signs of kidney stress
If your dog shows any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms resolve on their own. Bacterial contamination can progress quickly, especially in puppies, senior dogs, and immunocompromised animals.
Health Risks for the Humans in Your Household
This is information that many pet owners don’t fully appreciate: contaminated pet food poses a direct health risk to you and your family — even if your dog appears healthy.
Pets can shed Salmonella and other pathogens in their feces without showing visible illness. That contamination can spread to floors, rugs, furniture, food preparation surfaces, and other pets. Children who play on the floor or are in close contact with pets are at particular risk.
Humans handling recalled pet food may develop:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps (Salmonella/E. coli)
- Fever and muscle aches
- In serious cases: bloodstream infection or meningitis (Listeria)
Seek medical attention if you develop food poisoning symptoms after handling recalled products, especially if you are pregnant, elderly, or immunocompromised.
What to Do Right Now If You Have Recalled Product
- Stop feeding the recalled product immediately. Remove it from your pet’s reach.
- Secure the packaging for disposal or return. Double-bag or securely wrap the food so other animals and people can’t access it.
- Return it to the store for a full refund — most retailers will honor recall returns without a receipt. Or dispose of it in a secured outdoor trash container.
- Disinfect all contact surfaces: bowls, scoops, storage containers, and the floor area where food was served. Use soap and hot water, then disinfect.
- Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling the food, cleaning supplies, or your pet.
- Monitor your dog for symptoms over the next 7–10 days. Even symptom-free dogs may be shedding bacteria.
How to Report Pet Food Safety Issues to the FDA
If your pet becomes ill after eating recalled food, your report helps protect other pets and families. The FDA depends on consumer and veterinarian reports to identify patterns and act on contamination events quickly.
Ways to report:
- Online: FDA Safety Reporting Portal
- Phone: 1-800-FDA-1088 (1-800-332-1088)
- Your veterinarian can also submit reports directly through professional veterinary channels
When reporting, include: the product name, UPC code, best-by date, place of purchase, symptoms observed in your pet, onset timing, and whether any humans in the household became ill.
How to Stay Ahead of Future Recalls
Recalls happen year-round across all pet food categories. Building a simple habit of checking takes minutes and can make a real difference.
- Bookmark the FDA animal recall page: fda.gov/animal-veterinary/recalls-withdrawals — check it each time you open a new bag of food.
- Sign up for FDA email recall alerts at FDA.gov so notifications come to you automatically.
- Follow FoodPoisoningBulletin.com for timely, thorough reporting on food safety issues including pet food.
- Note your pet food’s UPC and best-by date each time you buy — a quick photo on your phone makes it easy to compare against any future recall notice.
- Follow your pet food brand on social media — companies often announce recalls through official channels before broader media coverage.
Safe Pet Food Handling: Year-Round Best Practices
Regardless of active recalls, these practices reduce your household’s risk every day:
- Wash hands before and after handling pet food, filling bowls, or cleaning up after your pet
- Keep pet food stored in its original bag or a clean airtight container, away from human food preparation areas
- Use dedicated scoops and utensils for pet food — never the same ones used for human food
- Wash pet bowls daily with hot water and dish soap; bacteria accumulate on unwashed bowls rapidly
- Keep children away from pet feeding areas, and always ensure hand-washing after contact with pet food or bowls
- Refrigerate opened wet food and discard after 3–5 days
- Do not kiss your dog on the mouth if they are showing GI symptoms or if their food may be contaminated
Final Thoughts from Dr. Lisa Park
In my years of practice, I’ve seen what contaminated food does to dogs — the confusion of a family whose healthy dog suddenly can’t stand up, the grief when we can’t turn things around quickly enough. The March 2026 recall wave is serious, and I want every pet parent to have the information they need to act fast.
If you have Young Again Pet Food Core Health in your home matching the affected UPCs and best-by date: stop feeding it today. If you have any Mid America Pet Food products or Purina items flagged in current recall notices: check the FDA page now.
When in doubt, contact your veterinarian. We are here for exactly these moments — before they become emergencies.
Stay updated at: fda.gov/animal-veterinary/recalls-withdrawals
— Dr. Lisa Park, DVM, is a veterinarian with over 15 years of clinical experience, specializing in geriatric dog health. She practices in the Pacific Northwest.
Sources: U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Enforcement Reports; FoodPoisoningBulletin.com (Linda Larsen, March 21, 2026); PIX11 News. Information current as of March 25, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary advice for any individual animal. Contact your veterinarian for guidance specific to your pet’s health.