Popular Small Animal Food Recalled Over Salmonella Concerns & Humans Are Also at Risk

As pet parents, we know that the most important part of caring for our pets is making sure they have good food. Without a good diet, everything else might as well go out the window: it affects everything.

Unfortunately, sometimes, things happen and the food that we thought was safe for our pets turns out not to be so. Recalls happen all the time, and it's important to be paying attention - you never know when something might happen.

Recently, a very popular brand has issued a recall: Vitakraft's Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food. They're recalling the product over confirmed salmonella concerns after testing in Minnesota came back positive for the bacteria. The contaminated bags look like this on the front:

If you have a bag, there are 5 things to check :

1. The size: the recall effects the 25oz bags.
2. The expiration date: 10/18/2025
3. The lot number: 417429
4. UPC code: 0-87535-40060-4
5. The state you purchased the product in: contaminated bags have been distributed in Florida, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North and South Carolina, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

If you've purchased a bag you think might be contaminated, turn it around and look for the lot number and UPC code in this area:

As of right now, there have been no cases of actual illness reported because of contaminated food for animals or humans. The testing done in Minnesota caught the bacteria, and the product has since been pulled from all shelves, even in non-affected states, as they investigate further.

How to Tell if You or Your Pet Has Contracted a Salmonella Infection

While Vitakraft has assured everyone that no one has reported any illness yet, it's still important to recognize potential signs. In humans, you'll find yourself feeling nauseous, dizzy, and potentially lightheaded. Other symptoms like diarrhea, fever, and cramps are also common - and symptoms may take as many as 48 hours to fully develop.

If your hedgehog has eaten contaminated food, you'll notice that they're:

1. Lethargic
2. Experiencing diarrhea
3. Refusing food and water
4. Vomiting
5. Becoming weak/breathing extra hard

If you've caught the symptoms in time, you should take your hedgehog in to see an emergency vet, who will be able to help devise a plan to get them on the mend (usually lots of fluids and rest). Humans typically get over the infection on their own within a few days, but people with severe symptoms as well as  immunocompromised individuals and children/the elderly should seek medical attention immediately. Better safe than sorry!