Viva Raw LLC, a North Carolina-based company that makes human-grade dog and cat food, has recalled its products in all 50 states (and DC) in America.
Some of the company’s food was found to be contaminated with _Listeria monocytogenes_, a potentially fatal infection.
The Health Risk
_Listeria monocytogenes _can cause fatal illnesses in pets who eat contaminated products and in healthy humans it can cause fever, aches, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.
In pregnant women, _Listeria _infection can lead to miscarriage, while the infection can be fatal for the very young, very old and immuno-compromised.
The Recalled Products
The Viva recall is limited to products with the lot code 21224. The products were distributed as frozen 1LB bricks in vacuum packaging, and do not have expiration dates.
The five product types being recalled are Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Casts, Viva Pure Turkey, and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies.
How Contamination Was Discovered
An FDA statement from Viva LLC says, “The issue was discovered during a facility inspection conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and The North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA).”
The statement adds, “The FDA tested samples of Viva Turkey for Dogs and found samples from Lot 21244 were positive for _Listeria monocytogenes_. All products produced in Lot 21244 were slated for destruction. However, we have since learned some of the product from this lot was inadvertently released from the warehouse.”
How Lysteria Contamination Occurs
Lysteria infection can happen from handling or eating contaminated products, touching contaminated surfaces and/or being in contact with an infected animal.
The FDA added, “Risk of human illness from _Listeria monocytogenes_ contaminated pet food increases if people do not thoroughly wash their hands after handling the food or having contact with their pet, or by not thoroughly cleaning contaminated surfaces.”
What To Do With Contaminated Products
Those with the recalled products in their possession should contact Viva LLC and then destroy the products.
The FDA says the contaminated products should not be handled without gloves and should be disposed of in a way that does not make the products accessible to children or pets.
How To Contact Viva
Anyone who has questions about the recall, or has Lot 21244 products in their possession, should either email Viva Raw via [email protected] or ring them at (919) 371-8882 between 9am-5pm EST Monday to Friday.
Viva Raw will notify all customers who were shipped Turkey or Beef & Turkey for Puppies products between May 16th and June 28th, 2024. Anyone whose pet consumed the recalled products should contact their veterinarian.
Not The First Viva Recall
Viva Raw had previously issued a recall in February 2024 for products with the lot code #22853.
The recall was prompted by _Salmonella _and _Listeria monocytogenes _contamination and impacted products that had been distributed to 1,500 customers.
Previous Dog Food Recalls
Just last week, popular dog treat provider TDBBS recalled over 3,500 bags of dog treats due to the potential presence of foreign metal objects in the food.
Meanwhile, Pedigree dry dog food faced a recall in May due to similar concerns about metal presence – with over 300 bags pulled from shelves.
Recalls Don’t Just Impact Pets
It’s not just pets impacted by recalls, with a sharp increase in human food and drink recalls recorded this year.
In recent weeks, recalls have been made for Snapchill coffee, Charles Boggini Company sodas, Hy-Vee cream cheese spreads and cookies and cream mixes, and lead-contaminated children’s applesauce pouches
