RECALL: Dangerous Discovery in Pet Treats

Recall alert with an exclamation mark on a red background — HUGE RECALL ALERT

A Florida pet treat company’s products have been pulled from shelves across five states after laboratory testing revealed salmonella contamination, exposing both pets and their owners to potentially deadly bacterial infections.

Story Snapshot

Elite Treats voluntarily recalled Chicken Chips for Dogs after third-party testing detected Salmonella in a related product lot
The contaminated treats were distributed across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina through regional feed stores
FDA warns the bacteria pose serious health risks to both pets and humans, particularly children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals
No illnesses reported yet, but infected pets can transmit Salmonella to household members even without showing symptoms

Florida Company Initiates Voluntary Recall

Elite Treats, LLC, a Boca Raton-based pet treat manufacturer, recalled a single lot of its Chicken Chips for Dogs on February 24, 2026. The affected products come in 6-ounce black and gold bags bearing lot number 24045 with an expiration date of April 2027.

Third-party laboratory testing identified salmonella contamination in a related but commercially unreleased product lot, prompting the company to issue the recall as a precautionary measure. The contaminated treats were distributed through Florida Hardware, LLC to feed stores across the southeastern United States.

Dog treats recalled over fears of salmonella contamination, FDA says https://t.co/KvZNBYPEJ4

— FOX Business (@FoxBusiness) February 25, 2026

Dual Health Threat to Pets and Families

The FDA issued comprehensive warnings about the bacteria’s dangerous transmission pathways. Pets consuming contaminated treats may develop lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting, reduced appetite, and abdominal pain. More concerning, infected animals can carry and transmit salmonella through feces and saliva to household members without displaying any symptoms themselves.

This silent carrier status makes monitoring particularly challenging for families. Human exposure occurs through handling contaminated products, direct contact with affected pets, and touching contaminated surfaces including food bowls, utensils, and countertops.

Serious Human Health Complications

Salmonella infections can cause serious and sometimes deadly health consequences in humans, according to FDA guidance. Vulnerable populations, including young children, elderly individuals, and those with compromised immune systems, face heightened risk.

While most infections produce standard gastrointestinal symptoms, rare complications include arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. The agency emphasized thorough handwashing and rigorous surface sanitization as essential preventive measures for households potentially exposed to contaminated products.

Growing Industry Safety Concerns

This recall adds to mounting Salmonella contamination incidents plaguing the pet food industry. The FDA’s recall database documents multiple recent cases involving other manufacturers, including Raw Bistro’s frozen beef dog food and Foodynamics’ freeze-dried pet treats.

These recurring contamination events raise questions about quality control standards and manufacturing oversight across the sector. While no illnesses have been reported in connection with Elite Treats products, the proactive identification through third-party testing demonstrates the importance of rigorous safety protocols.

Pet owners should immediately dispose of recalled products and contact Elite Treats for refund information while monitoring their animals for symptoms.

The limited geographic distribution and single lot identification suggest the contamination remained contained, but families must remain vigilant about pet food sourcing and manufacturer transparency.

This incident underscores why consumers should demand accountability from companies producing products that enter their homes and affect their loved ones, both two-legged and four-legged. With government bureaucracy often reacting slowly to safety threats, third-party testing proved critical in catching this contamination before widespread exposure occurred.