Mid America Pet Food Settlement 2026: Payout Tiers, Claim Deadline, and Payment Status
Quick Answer
- Mid America Pet Food agreed to a $5.5 million settlement after Salmonella contamination in Victor, Wayne Feeds, Eagle Mountain, and Member’s Mark pet food.
- Payouts range from $40 for no-proof purchase claims to up to $100,000 for fully documented pet injury claims.
- The claim deadline was February 5, 2026, and it has passed, so new claims are no longer accepted.
Introduction to the Mid America Pet Food Settlement
The Mid America Pet Food settlement is a $5.5 million class action resolution for pet owners who bought recalled pet food or whose animals got sick from Salmonella contamination. The settlement received final approval from a New York federal court on February 6, 2026.
If you bought Victor, Wayne Feeds, Eagle Mountain, or Member’s Mark pet food during the recall period, you may have been part of the settlement class. The recall covered 35 specific products with best-by dates before October 31, 2024, manufactured at Mid America’s Mount Pleasant, Texas facility.
This article explains what the settlement covers, how the payout tiers work, what documentation different claims required, and what happens now that the filing window has closed. One detail that stands out: the FDA issued a warning letter to Mid America in November 2024, after the recall, citing continued Salmonella-positive samples at the plant.
The Facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Case Name | Filardi v. Mid America Pet Food LLC (consolidated with Andersen et al v. Mid-America Pet Food, L.L.C.) |
| Court | U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York (lead case); originally filed in Eastern District of Texas |
| Case Number | 7:23-cv-11170 (S.D.N.Y.); 5:23-cv-00140 (E.D. Tex.) |
| Status | Final approval granted February 6, 2026. Payments pending. |
| Settlement Fund | $5.5 million |
| Est. Per Person | $40 (no-proof food purchase) to $100,000 (documented pet injury) |
| Claim Deadline | February 5, 2026 (PASSED) |
| Exclusion Deadline | January 7, 2026 (PASSED) |
| Final Approval Hearing | February 6, 2026 (COMPLETED) |
| Administrator | Angeion Group |
| Proof Needed | None for no-proof tier. Vet records required for documented injury claims. |
Is the Mid America Pet Food Settlement Legitimate?
Yes, the Mid America Pet Food settlement is legitimate and court-approved. Judge Nelson S. Román granted final approval on February 6, 2026, in the Southern District of New York.
The settlement resolves claims that Mid America sold pet food contaminated with Salmonella Kiambu. The FDA and CDC investigated seven human cases linked to the products, six involving children one year old or younger. One person was hospitalized.
Only two objections were filed against the settlement, and the court overruled both. The judge noted the objectors bore “indicia of fraud” and lacked standing. No class members submitted requests for exclusion.
For context on how to read that: a settlement with almost no opt-outs is like a store return where nearly every customer accepts the refund. It does not mean the payout was generous. It means the alternative, continued litigation against a company facing its own financial and operational challenges, looked worse to the people involved.
Key Takeaway: The settlement is legitimate and final, but the small number of objections does not mean the payout was large, only that class members preferred certainty over continued litigation.
How Much Can You Get from the Mid America Pet Food Settlement?
Payout amounts depend on which tier you qualify for and what documentation you provide. The settlement created five distinct compensation tiers.
| Tier | Description | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Documented Pet Injury | Vet records, bills, diagnosis linked to recalled food | 100% of approved losses, up to $100,000 |
| Documented Pet Death | Vet records confirming death from Salmonella | 100% of approved losses, up to $100,000 |
| Declaration Pet Illness | Sworn statement, no vet records | $50 per affected pet |
| Declaration Pet Death | Sworn statement, no vet records | $100 per pet |
| Documented Food Purchase | Receipt, invoice, or proof of payment | 100% of purchase price |
| No-Proof Food Purchase | Attestation only | $20 per bag, up to 2 bags ($40 max) |
You could qualify for more than one tier depending on what you bought and what happened to your pet.
The $100,000 maximum was only available to people who could fully document veterinary expenses. That cap matters mostly for cases involving extensive hospitalization or multiple affected animals. A dog owner whose pet needed a week of IV fluids and antibiotics could submit several thousand dollars in vet bills and expect full reimbursement if approved.
The $40 no-proof cap exists because most people do not save pet food receipts. The settlement administrators built in that floor to provide at least some recovery for everyone affected.
Reality Check
Settlement payments are never released before final approval and the resolution of any appeals. No legitimate administrator will text you asking for bank details to “release your funds.” Filing a claim in this settlement was free. Anyone charging you a fee to file a Mid America Pet Food claim is not legitimate.
How Do You File a Mid America Pet Food Settlement Claim?
The claim deadline was February 5, 2026, and it has passed. New claims are no longer being accepted.
If you filed before the deadline, here is what the process looked like:
- Visit the official settlement website at midamericapetfoodsettlement.com.
- Check the covered products list to confirm your purchase qualifies.
- Complete the online claim form through the settlement portal.
- Select your compensation tier based on purchase proof and pet injury documentation.
- Upload supporting documentation if claiming documented losses or injury.
- Submit before the deadline (February 5, 2026 at 10:00 AM EST).
- Keep your confirmation number for tracking.
The settlement administrator, Angeion Group, was responsible for processing claims. The official settlement website remains the best source for status updates.
If you missed the deadline, you cannot file now. The only exception would be if you never received proper notice and can prove it, but that is a legal argument, not a simple claim.
Who Was Eligible for the Mid America Pet Food Settlement?
You may have qualified if you bought recalled Mid America pet food between October 31, 2022, and February 29, 2024, or if your pet got sick or died after eating it. The settlement class covered all U.S. residents who purchased covered products during that window.
The recalled brands included:
- Victor Super Premium Dog and Cat Food
- Wayne Feeds Dog and Cat Food
- Eagle Mountain Pet Food
- Member’s Mark pet foods (Sam’s Club brand, manufactured by Mid America)
Excluded from the settlement class were resellers, Mid America officers and directors, anyone who previously settled directly with the company, and the judges involved in the case.
If you bought any of these brands during the class period, you likely qualified, even if you no longer had the bag or lot number. The settlement accepted sworn attestations for the no-proof tier.
What Is the Current Status of the Mid America Pet Food Settlement?
The settlement is approved and closed to new claims, but payments have not yet been distributed. As of September 22, 2026, no confirmed payment date has been announced.
The sequence from here follows a pattern common to class action settlements. Final approval was granted on February 6, 2026. Then any appeals would need to be resolved. Only after that does the administrator calculate final pro rata amounts and begin distributing payments.
According to court records, the case was terminated on February 6, 2026. However, a docket entry from August 2026 shows a motion to dismiss being denied in a related appellate matter. That suggests some post-approval legal activity continued after the final judgment.
If you filed a claim and want to check your status, contact the settlement administrator through the official settlement website. You may need your claim confirmation number.
Key Takeaway: The deadline to file has passed, final approval is complete, but payment distribution is still pending with no confirmed date.
How Did the Mid America Pet Food Salmonella Recall Happen?
The recall unfolded in three waves during fall 2023 after FDA and CDC testing found Salmonella contamination at Mid America’s Mount Pleasant, Texas facility.
The timeline:
- September 3, 2023: Initial recall announced for one lot of Victor Hi-Pro Plus.
- October 30, 2023: Expanded recall of Victor Super Premium Dog Food, Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula.
- November 9, 2023: Further expansion to include additional recipes across Victor, Wayne Feeds, Eagle Mountain, and Member’s Mark brands.
In total, 35 dog and cat food products were recalled, all with best-by dates before October 31, 2024. The products were sold nationwide in retail stores and online.
The FDA and CDC investigated seven human cases of Salmonella Kiambu infection. Six of the seven cases involved children one year old or younger. Three cases reported feeding Victor pet food to their pets.
The lawsuit was filed by dog owners whose animals became severely ill and were ultimately euthanized. The plaintiffs alleged Mid America marketed the foods as safe and nutritious while they were contaminated.
What Does the FDA Warning Letter Say About Mid America Pet Food?
The FDA issued a warning letter to Mid America Pet Food on November 22, 2024, after inspecting the Mount Pleasant facility. The letter cited continued Salmonella-positive samples and inadequate corrective actions.
Key findings from the warning letter:
- 17 finished product lots collected between December 20, 2023, and January 29, 2024, tested positive for Salmonella.
- 10 positive samples were collected after the company conducted intensive cleaning and sanitation operations from December 23 to 25, 2023.
- The company failed to conduct root cause analyses when finished products tested positive.
- The company released affected product lots to interstate commerce without assessing food safety impacts.
This matters for claimants because it shows the contamination was not a one-time slip. The FDA found systemic problems with the company’s food safety controls that continued after the recall.
What Happens Next with the Mid America Pet Food Settlement?
The remaining steps are administrative and follow a predictable sequence. Here is the expected timeline:
Completed February 6, 2026: Final approval hearing held, settlement approved.
Expected late 2026: Resolution of any appeals (some appellate activity reported in August 2026).
Expected 2026-2027: Settlement administrator calculates pro rata amounts and prepares distribution.
Expected 2027: Payments issued via Venmo or Zelle to approved claimants.
The exact payment date depends on the court’s timeline for any post-approval motions and the administrator’s processing capacity. With a $5.5 million fund and potentially thousands of claims, even a small pro rata reduction could affect individual payouts.
If you filed a claim, watch for email from the settlement administrator. Update your contact information if it has changed since you filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Mid America Pet Food settlement still accepting claims?
No. The claim deadline was February 5, 2026, and it has passed. The settlement is no longer accepting new claims.
How much will I receive from the Mid America Pet Food settlement?
Payments range from $40 for no-proof purchase claims to up to $100,000 for documented pet injury claims. The final pro rata amount has not been determined.
When will Mid America Pet Food settlement payments be sent?
No payment date has been confirmed as of September 2026. Payments typically follow final approval and resolution of any appeals.
What if I missed the February 5, 2026 deadline?
You cannot file a new claim now. The only exception would be if you never received notice and can prove it through a legal argument.
Do I need proof of purchase to get paid?
No for the $40 no-proof tier. Yes for the 100% purchase price reimbursement tier. Documentation requirements vary by claim type.
Was my pet’s illness covered by the settlement?
If your pet got sick or died after eating recalled Mid America pet food, you may have qualified. Declaration-only claims paid $50 for illness and $100 for death.
Can I still opt out of the Mid America Pet Food settlement?
No. The exclusion deadline was January 7, 2026. If you did not opt out by then, you are bound by the settlement terms.
Who is the settlement administrator for the Mid America Pet Food settlement?
Angeion Group is the settlement administrator. The official settlement website is midamericapetfoodsettlement.com.
