Mid America Pet Food has agreed to pay $5.5 million to resolve a class action lawsuit alleging the company sold pet food contaminated with salmonella — a bacteria capable of causing serious illness and death in animals. The settlement covers consumers who purchased products under the Victor Super Premium, Wayne Feeds, Eagle Mountain, and Member's Mark brands before the company issued a series of recalls in late 2023.
The claims deadline of February 5, 2026, has now passed.
How It Got Here
The trouble began in the fall of 2023, when the FDA identified potential salmonella contamination in products manufactured at Mid America's Mount Pleasant, Texas facility. The company responded with a cascade of recalls — expanding the scope in late October and again on November 9, 2023, to capture additional recipes across all four of its major brands. All told, more than 30 varieties of dog and cat food were pulled, covering any products with "best by" dates before October 31, 2024.
Consumers sued, alleging the contaminated food made pets sick and killed others, and that Mid America failed to adequately warn buyers about the risks. The company denied wrongdoing but agreed to settle rather than face the costs and uncertainty of trial — a standard posture in cases like this.
Who Was Covered
The settlement class included any U.S. resident or entity that purchased at least one affected product between October 31, 2022, and February 29, 2024. Businesses that bought the food for resale were excluded, as were anyone who had already settled directly with the company.
What Claimants Could Receive
The settlement offered two tracks of compensation: one for pet injuries or deaths, another for the food purchases themselves.
On the pet injury side, claimants with documented veterinary records, invoices, and related paperwork could recover 100 percent of their verified losses, up to $100,000. Those who could only provide a signed declaration — no hard documentation — were eligible for $50 if their pet became ill, or $100 if it died.
Breeders with documented business losses could also claim up to $100,000, but were required to submit business records including sales figures, profit and loss statements, tax records, and a copy of their commercial license or state or federal permit that was valid when the animals were affected.
For food purchases, consumers with receipts, invoices, shipping records, or other proof of payment were entitled to full reimbursement of what they spent. Those without documentation could still file and receive $20 per bag for up to two bags — a maximum of $40.
One claim form per household covered both categories.
The Fine Print on Payments
Actual payment amounts depended on total claim volume. If enough valid claims were filed to push the total above the $5.5 million fund, individual payouts would be reduced proportionally. Payments could be issued by check or electronic transfer, and checks carried a 90-day cashing window.
Distribution was set to follow the February 6, 2026, final approval hearing, pending resolution of any appeals and completion of claims processing.
The Deadline Has Passed
The claim filing deadline was February 5, 2026. Anyone who did not submit a claim by that date forfeited their right to payment under the settlement and, critically, lost their ability to sue Mid America Pet Food separately over the same contamination issue.
The court-approved settlement administrator had been handling claims through MidAmericaPetFoodSettlement.com, with mail submissions directed to 1650 Arch St., Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103. The administrator's phone line, 1-888-559-4088, remains a point of contact for questions about claim status.