More than 400,000 pounds of Raaw Energy dog food are now under a voluntary recall, with products sold in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and several other states. If you keep this brand in your freezer, this is the kind of recall that calls for checking date codes now, not later.
Raaw Energy, a New Jersey-based company, said it is recalling dog food produced between July 17, 2025, and December 23, 2025, along with one additional Beef and Turkey Medley batch dated 3.31.26. The company said the recall involves possible Listeria contamination. In its explanation, Raaw Energy said, “While not all products from this period tested positive, this action is being taken out of an abundance of caution.”
That broad date range matters because this is not limited to one flavor or one shipment. The FDA’s updated advisory lists a long roster of affected products and date codes, including items such as Chicken Medley, Salmon, Dog’s Best Friend, Beef and Chicken, Beef and Turkey Medley, and others in 2-pound and 5-pound clear plastic tubes. Owners can compare what is in their freezer against the FDA’s full affected-product table.
The additional batch to watch for is Beef and Turkey Medley in 5-pound tubes with the date code 3.31.26. That lot sits outside the July-to-December 2025 production window, so it is easy to miss if you assume only older packages are affected.
The FDA said eight samples of Raaw Energy dog food tested positive for “one or more types of pathogenic (harmful) bacteria.” The bacteria named in the agency advisory are Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella, and Campylobacter jejuni. In a May update, the FDA also said the New Jersey Department of Agriculture tested four additional samples from the recall period and all four were positive for Listeria monocytogenes.
Distribution was a little different from a typical pet-food recall. These products were not sold in stores. Raaw Energy food was ordered online and picked up in person by customers. Supplemental reporting tied the recall to distribution in Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The food was sold frozen in clear plastic tubes with date codes printed on white stickers on both the tube and the outer box.
What owners should do right now
The FDA’s advice is straightforward: stop feeding any recalled product and throw it away in a secure container where children, pets, and wildlife cannot get to it. Do not donate it. If you no longer have the package or cannot read the date code, the FDA says to throw the food away.
Cleanup is part of the recall response, not an optional extra. The FDA says households that had the recalled food should clean and disinfect pet supplies and household surfaces that may have had contact with the food or the pet. That includes storage containers, bowls, utensils, food-prep surfaces, bedding, toys, floors, and the refrigerator or freezer. The agency also says to clean up pet feces in places where people or other animals could be exposed, and to wash hands thoroughly after handling the food or contaminated items.
One practical point owners sometimes miss: freezing does not eliminate these bacteria, according to the FDA. So if the food has been sitting in your freezer for months, that does not make it safe.
The FDA says people with symptoms tied to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, or Campylobacter exposure should contact a health care provider. The agency also says pet owners should consult a veterinarian if their dog has symptoms after eating recalled food. In its advisory, the FDA notes that pets may get sick, but they also may carry bacteria and spread it in the home without appearing ill.
Raaw Energy said it temporarily stopped all dog food production effective May 21, 2026, while it evaluates and corrects current issues. But for buyers, the more immediate question is simpler: is any recalled tube or box still in your home?
If you have ever portioned this food into another container, stored it loose, or tossed the box, treat that as a warning sign to be extra careful. Verify the product list, check the date stickers on any remaining packaging, and treat cleanup as part of the recall response, not just disposal. What dog product actually made your life easier, and which one disappointed you? Share your take in the comments.
By Maya Thompson — Service-journalism editor who has tested dog gear, pet-home products, and owner-safety tools for seven years.
