Pet food recalls spark concerns about dangerous salmonella, listeria infections

Multiple recalls of pet food this week have sparked fears of bacterial infections.

The Food and Drug Administration has issued two separate recalls — one for dog and cat food and another for hedgehogs — over fears of contamination that could cause illness and, in some cases, potentially death.

Viva Raw LLC of Hillsborough, North Carolina, is voluntarily recalling some cat and dog food products due to potential listeria monocytogenes health risk to both people and pets.

According to the recall notice posted on the FDA website on Monday, July 1, the affected products were all manufactured under Lot 21244 and include:

• Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground
• Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked
• Viva Turkey for Cats
• Viva Pure Turkey
• Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies

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Only products with that lot number are affected, and Viva Raw is notifying all customers who were shipped any Turkey or Beef & Turkey for Puppies products between May 16 and June 28, 2024, according to the notice.

Listeria monocytogenes can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in pets, the FDA noted.

Though these illnesses in pets are rare, infected pets may experience symptoms including mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervousness, muscular and respiratory signs, miscarriage, depression, shock and death.

Pets exposed to contaminated food can become infected without showing symptoms and can also act as carriers.

Infected humans may experience some or all of the following symptoms, according to the FDA: nausea, vomiting, aches, fever and diarrhea. It can also lead to meningitis and other potentially fatal illnesses.

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A Listeria infection can result in miscarriage, making pregnant people exceptionally vulnerable.

The pet products have no expiration date and were distributed in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

No related illnesses have been reported to date, but the notice advises contacting Viva Raw at info@vivarawpets.com for a refund on any remaining product, then destroying the food “in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access.”

The FDA recommends discarding the products while wearing gloves or using paper towels and not using bare hands.

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Vitakraft Sun Seed Inc. of Weston, Ohio, has voluntarily recalled various lots of Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food and Vitakraft Vita Smart Hedgehog Food due to a potential Salmonella health risk, the company announced on June 28.

According to the notice on the FDA website, the recalled products were distributed in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The affected products can be identified by the following lot numbers:

• UPC #: 0-87535-40060-4
  • 417429 (exp: 10/18/2025)
  • 406118 (exp: 5/04/2025)
  • 407265 (exp: 5/22/2025)
  • 407849 (exp: 6/09/2025)
  • 409133 (exp: 6/20/2025)
  • 410999 (exp: 7/17/2025)
  • 415624 (exp: 9/21/2025)
  • 419647 (exp: 11/20/2025)
• UPC #: 0-51233-34792-9
  • 409175 (exp: 6/28/2025)
  • 411084 (exp: 7/20/2025)
  • 412635 (exp: 8/18/2025)
  • 415713 (exp: 10/09/2025)
  • 417491 (exp: 10/18/2025)

Pets with salmonella may become lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting –though some may only experience decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected pets without symptoms can be carriers.

Otherwise healthy but infected humans should monitor for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.

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