Salmonella Recall: Which Elite Treats Chicken Chips Are Affected and What to Do
A single lot of Elite Treats Chicken Chips for Dogs is being pulled because of possible Salmonella contamination—here's how to identify it, protect your family, and get a refund.
Which Elite Treats Chicken Chips are being recalled?
Elite Treats, LLC of Boca Raton, FL, is recalling one specific lot of its 6-ounce "Elite Treats Chicken Chips for Dogs" bags. The affected bags are marked with lot number 24045 and an expiration date of 04/2027 on the back side of the black and gold package. No other lots or sizes are included in this recall. The recall was announced on February 24, 2026. If you have a bag that carries that exact lot number and expiration date, it should not be fed to your dog. The product was sold to Florida Hardware, LLC, which distributed it to feed stores in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. If your bag matches the description, stop using it immediately and follow the disposal and return guidance from the company.
How can people get Salmonella from contaminated dog treats?
People can be exposed to Salmonella through several routes when handling recalled pet food. Directly touching the contaminated treats is the most obvious path—if you don't wash your hands afterward, the bacteria can transfer to your mouth or other surfaces. You can also be exposed by contact with your pet after it has eaten the product, since the bacteria can be present on its fur, saliva, or feces. Even surfaces that have touched the food, such as bowls, utensils, or countertops, can harbor the bacteria and cause infection if you touch them and then touch your face or food. The risk of human illness increases if you do not thoroughly wash your hands after handling the product or having contact with an exposed pet, and if you do not properly clean and sanitize all contaminated surfaces. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration published the recall notice on February 24, 2026, with these warnings.
What are the symptoms of Salmonella infection in humans?
Healthy people infected with Salmonella may experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis (an infection of the heart muscle), arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Young children, elderly individuals, and people with weakened immune systems are more vulnerable to severe infection. You can become exposed by handling the contaminated treats, touching a pet that ate them, or coming into contact with surfaces like bowls, utensils, or countertops that have touched the food. If you develop these symptoms, the infection can be serious, so monitor yourself closely and be aware that the risk is higher for vulnerable groups. The recall notice specifically warns that people can get sick from handling the product or having contact with an infected pet. To reduce your risk, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after any exposure and clean any surfaces that may have been contaminated.
How should I clean surfaces and bowls that touched the recalled treats?
Wash all pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers with hot, soapy water, then sanitize them with a diluted bleach solution or a pet-safe sanitizer. Countertops and other surfaces that may have come into contact with the product should be wiped down with a disinfectant effective against Salmonella. It's important to do this immediately after disposing of the recalled bag and any utensils or scoops you used. The bacteria can survive on surfaces for hours or even days, so sanitizing everything that touched the food is critical. Because infected pets can shed Salmonella through feces and saliva, also clean any areas where your dog has eaten or eliminated, and wash pet bedding or toys that could have been contaminated. Elite Treats advises that you always wash and sanitize your hands after handling recalled food or any utensils and surfaces that come into contact with it. The recall notice specifically mentions bowls, utensils, and countertops as common contamination points.
Why was this recall issued if no one has gotten sick?
The recall was issued because a third-party laboratory found Salmonella contamination in a related lot of the same product—a lot that had not yet been released commercially. This finding triggered a precautionary recall of the one released lot, even though no illnesses have been reported. The company took this action on February 24, 2026, after the lab test flagged the contamination. Salmonella is a serious pathogen that can cause severe illness in both pets and people, so the presence of it in a related batch raises concerns that the released lot may also be contaminated. Since infected pets can carry the bacteria without showing symptoms, the risk extends beyond direct consumption. The recall is a preemptive measure to protect public health, and the company is urging consumers to return or dispose of the affected bags and monitor for symptoms.
Compiled from published reference material: www.greatpetcare.com
