The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the recall of a pet food sold in seven states.
Concerns about the potential presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes led Viva Raw of Charlotte, North Carolina, to voluntarily recall two lots of dog and cat foods, according to an Aug. 25 FDA advisory.
“The potential for contamination was identified after routine testing was conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture,” the FDA stated. The recall is applicable to Viva Ground Beef for Dogs, Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies, Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs, Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs, Viva Chicken for Cats, and Viva Pure Chicken.
The product is distributed in frozen 1-pound bricks in clear vacuum packaging and the lot numbers 21495 and 21975 are printed at the top of packaging.
The products were distributed from July 2 to Aug. 21 directly to consumers nationwide and to a small number of select retailers in New York, Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, California, and Arizona.
“Salmonella and Listeria can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products,” the FDA said.
Company leaders did not respond to requests for comment.
Viva Raw cat food Courtesy of FDA
The potential for contamination was identified after routine testing was conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, according to the FDA however, no illnesses in dogs, cats, or humans have been reported to date.
The FDA urged pet owners to contact a veterinarian if their cat or dog has consumed the recalled product and exhibits Salmonella or Listeria infection symptoms, such as lethargy, diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, fever, or vomiting.
“Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans,” the FDA further stated.
Additional instructions offered by the FDA include disposing of the pet food in a way that is not accessible to children, pets, or wildlife, by not reselling, feeding, or donating the recalled products to other animal,s and by washing and sanitizing a pet’s food bowls, water cups, and storage containers.
“Always ensure you wash and sanitize your hands after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food,” the FDA added.