I've used about 8 bags of this with no issues. Chicken variety (OnlyNaturalPets branded Stella&Chewy).
Ling, Miss Scarf & Barf, didn't throw it up. I don't know if habit or not, but MK & Ling both drink water right after eating in the kibble dishes (kibble & the FD from Stella&Chewy or the NV brand are fed in the same dishes. I try to alternate & leaning slowly more & more to the freeze dried.) Scooter eats it too, but she doesn't drink water afterwards (she's more wet food eater and kibble/FD is dessert).
One thing for sure with cats, there's no truer words than YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary)
forgot your ?... I think the risks are way less for the freeze dried than kibble based on the ingredient panel and the batch test results they post on their website for salmonella & e-coli. Yup, I check the batch #'s. If I could find a kibble with the same ingredient panel & posted test results, I'd use it.
One thing, MK likes me to leave it chunkier, Ling & Scooter like the finely crunched the most. On occassion, I'll see MK or Scooter leave with a chunk to dine elsewhere.

Oh and.. I'd rather Scooter eat the FD than the FF wet. So far she's stubbornly pro wet foods of FF/Friskies.