Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips Dog Treats recall: Potential Salmonella Contamination

Recall published 1+ years ago

Potential Salmonella Contamination

Gaines Family Farmstead Pet food & treats — recalled pet food & treatsGaines Family Farmstead Pet food & treats — recalled pet food & treats (photo 2)
2 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Salmonella contamination

Salmonella is what triggered this notice. The bacteria transfer readily from hands and surfaces, which is why the clean-up matters as much as the disposal.

What the notice says: Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Why it matters: Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States. It spreads easily from a contaminated product to hands, taps, cloths and other food in the same kitchen.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes salmonellosis as diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps that usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure and last about four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. Children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. Seek care for diarrhoea with a high fever, bloody stools, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine, a dry mouth or dizziness when standing.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
November 22, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Gaines Family Farmstead
Product type
Pet food & treats
Distribution
Alabama, Florida, Georgia
Reports of harm
This is the only lot number identified as potentially contaminated, no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem and Gaines has made every effort possible to recover the potentially contaminated products.

Products covered by this recall

Chicken Chips Dog Treats

What the company announced

Gaines Pet Treats LLC, of Birmingham, AL is voluntarily recalling 204, 5-ounce bags of "Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips" treats for dogs due to the possibility of Salmonella contamination.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The recalled "Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips" were distributed through online retailers and into several small independent pet retailers in Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

The product comes in a 5-ounce bag marked on the back side with lot number 20061124 and an expiration date of 12/11/25. This is the only lot number identified as potentially contaminated, no illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem and Gaines has made every effort possible to recover the potentially contaminated products.

The potential for contamination was noted after a third party tested and identified contamination in a related, unreleased lot of the same product.

Consumers who have purchased 5-ounce bags of “Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips” stamped with lot 20061124, should cease using them and may contact Gaines at [email protected] for an immediate refund or replacement.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 3 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 20061124

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 12/11/25

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 5 ounce

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Salmonella

Gaines Family Farmstead — Salmonella is what triggered this notice. The bacteria transfer readily from hands and surfaces, which is why the clean-up matters as much as the disposal.

  1. Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.
  2. Bag it and bin it, or take it back to the store — do not feed it to pets or livestock either.
  3. Wash your hands with soap and water after handling the pack, and wash any dish, utensil or surface it touched in hot soapy water.
  4. If you repackaged or froze it, check the freezer too. Salmonella is not killed by freezing.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased 5-ounce bags of “Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips” stamped with lot 20061124, should cease using them and may contact Gaines at [email protected] for an immediate refund or replacement.

Company contact: Gaines Pet Treats LLC — Consumers: Gaines, [email protected]

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Gaines Family Farmstead pet food & treats recalled?

Potential Salmonella Contamination Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: lot code 20061124; best-by date 12/11/25. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased 5-ounce bags of “Gaines Family Farmstead Chicken Chips” stamped with lot 20061124, should cease using them and may contact Gaines at [email protected] for an immediate refund or replacement.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Alabama, Florida, Georgia.

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