A popular online pet food company has recalled five of its products amid fears of a presence of listeria, it has emerged.
Viva Raw, located in North Carolina, has recalled five turkey-based cat and dog food products over risk of bacteria contamination, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has confirmed, adding that the affected products were distributed to pet owners in all 50 states and in Washington DC.
The products included in the recall were shipped as frozen, one-pound bricks in clear packaging. An expiration date was not listed on the packaging.
The FDA warned that listeria can cause ‘serious and sometimes fatal infections’ in pets that consume contaminated products.
Humans can also be exposed to the bacteria by handling contaminated products or coming in contact with pets that have consumed them.
Viva Raw has recalled its Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Cats, Viva Pure Turkey and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies.
The recalled products were all manufactured under Lot 21244 which was exposed to Listeria monocytogenes, the FDA reported.
Viva Raw, which ships fresh pet food to customers on a subscription basis, said that samples from Lot 21244 tested positive for the bacteria.
All products produced from the lot had been ‘slated for destruction’ but the company said some items were ‘inadvertently released from the warehouse’ to customers.
‘Viva Raw is notifying all customers who were shipped any Turkey or Beef & Turkey for Puppies products between May 16th and June 28th, 2024,’ the FDA press release states. ‘No illnesses related to this lot have been reported to date.’
Any one who purchased products under the recall are encouraged to contact Viva Raw for a refund. They are also advised to destroy the food products to ensure that children, pets and other wildlife are not contaminated by the bacteria.
Pet illnesses from listeria infection are rare, according to the FDA, and those infected may not exhibit any symptoms.
However, some infected animals may show symptoms of diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervousness, muscular and respiratory issues, miscarriage, depression, shock and death.
‘Pets exposed to contaminated food can be infected without showing symptoms. Infected pets, even if they do not show symptoms, can act as carriers and transfer L. monocytogenes through their feces and saliva into the home environment and to people and other pets in the household,’ the FDA said.
‘If your pet has eaten the recalled product(s) and has symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection, please contact your veterinarian.’
Humans who have been infected by listeria may include nausea, vomiting, aches, fever and diarrhea.
The FDA says pregnant women are more susceptible to infection and that the bacteria can cause a miscarriage. Younger people, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems are also at higher risk of getting sick.
The agency added: ‘FDA recommends humans do not touch the contaminated food product with bare hands. While wearing gloves or using paper towels, place the contaminated food in a sealed plastic bag and throw it in the garbage.
‘Areas that may have come in contact with the contaminated product should be sanitized. Do not sell or donate the recalled products.’