The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced a company's voluntary recall of batches of both cat and dog food after random sample testing detected the presence of salmonella and listeria.
Viva Raw, a company that produces USDA-approved raw pet food for cats and dogs, confirmed the voluntary recall in a statement published on the company website. Three duck recipe products have been recalled: Viva Duck for Dogs (ground), Viva Duck for Dogs (chunked) and Viva Pure Duck (for cats and dogs). Newsweek has contacted Viva Raw for comment by email.
The affected products come from Lot 22853, which was first shipped on October 24, 2023, with the last of this lot distributed on December 6, 2023. Sold in the form of frozen 1-pound brick of food presented in clear vacuum packaging, this particular lot was shipped to more than 1,500 customers. At the time of writing, Viva Raw said it has received only one complaint related to the lot.
In a letter to customers, Viva Raw co-founders Jenn Wu and Zach Ao said: "The health of your pet has always been Viva's #1 priority and we have always been committed to making safe & transparent pet food. We started this company to change the industry and make the best pet food available."
The co-founders added: "We have conducted a detailed root-cause analysis in our USDA facility to ensure we continue to exceed the highest industry food safety standards & will continue to push the boundaries for how safe, fresh pet food is made."
Anyone with products from the lot is being asked to complete an online response form. Viva will then reach out to provide a full refund. The company is also asking that customers affected ensure they destroy the food "in a way that children, pets and wildlife cannot access."
"Make sure you do not touch the contaminated food product with your bare hands. While wearing gloves or using paper towels, place the contaminated food in a sealed plastic bag and throw it in the garbage," the company said. "Then you will need to sanitize your kitchen and any other area that may have come in contact with the contaminated product."
Anyone concerned that their pet may have been infected with salmonella or listeria should look out for the key symptoms, which include lethargy, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and bloody diarrhea.
In some cases, pets may exhibit signs of decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Not every pet infected with either will exhibit symptoms but could pose a risk as carriers capable of infecting other animals or humans. Anyone with a pet who has consumed the recalled pet food should contact their veterinarian if they have any concerns.
Although salmonella and listeria monocytogenes are capable of directly affecting the animals eating the products, it also presents a risk to humans handling them. Anyone concerned they may have become infected with salmonella should look out for the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.
In rare cases, salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Anyone experiencing signs of any of these conditions after handling the product is advised to contact their healthcare provider.
The simplest and most-effective way for pet owners to ensure they do not become infected is by thoroughly washing their hands after handling pet products and disinfecting any surfaces exposed to them.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Jack Beresford is a Newsweek Senior Internet Culture & Trends Reporter, based in London, UK. His focus is reporting on ... Read more
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
