The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning dog owners in eight states after some Blue Ridge Beef raw dog food was found to be contaminated by salmonella, prompting a recall of 5,700 pounds of the product.
Newsweek reached out to Blue Ridge Beef by email for comment.
Why It Matters
Blue Ridge Beef's Natural Mix, which comes in 2-pound rolls, was recalled on Friday after testing positive for salmonella earlier this week. Salmonella is a bacterial infection that can make both people and pets sick, with a variety of symptoms.
What To Know
The raw dog food product was distributed between January 3 and 24 in retail stores in eight states: Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee and Rhode Island. The recalled product has a UPC of 854298001054 and a lot number of N26/12/31.
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Recalls are often issued for food products that have been contaminated by salmonella. The bacterium causes food poisoning disease in an estimated 1.2 million people in the U.S. each year, according to an August 2024 study, and dog food is no exception.
In people, salmonella infection can cause the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. In more serious cases, salmonella can cause arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.
In pets, salmonella can cause lethargy, diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets might have a decreased appetite or abdominal pain.
Common food sources affected by salmonella infection include raw and undercooked meat, raw fruits and vegetables, unpasteurized dairy products and raw or undercooked eggs.
In December, Blue Ridge Beef's Puppy Mix was also contaminated by salmonella, prompting a similar recall.
What People Are Saying
The FDA said in the recall: “Salmonella 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.”
What Happens Next
If consumers have Blue Ridge Beef's Natural Mix in their home, the FDA encourages them to return it to the store where it was purchased or to dispose of it in a way where it won't come in contact with people, pets or wildlife.
The product should not be fed to pets, and any surfaces that the product has touched should be cleaned thoroughly, including pet food bowls, cups and storage containers.
