Dog and Cat Foods Recalled Due to Salmonella and Listeria Contamination

The items were sold via retail stores across nine states, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts.

An image of the recalled Puppy Mix from Blue Ridge Beef. Courtesy of the FDA

North Carolina-based Blue Ridge Beef is withdrawing thousands of pounds of pet food from the market following concerns about bacterial contamination, according to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The recall is applicable to 1,080 pounds of the company’s Kitten Mix and 1,380 pounds of Puppy Mix products, the company said in an April 11 announcement published by the FDA. The items, sold in two-pound packages, were determined to be contaminated with salmonella and listeria.

“Pets with Salmonella or Listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting,” the announcement said.

“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. If your pet has consumed the recalled product(s) and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.”

The Puppy Mix comes with the lot code # N25 1230, and the Kitten Mix, lot code # N26 0114. The impacted products were distributed between Jan. 3 and Jan. 24 this year.

They were sold in retail stores across nine states—Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

The issue of bacterial contamination came to light after a consumer complained about an animal illness following product consumption.

Samples were collected and tested by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in March. This month, Blue Ridge was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that the samples had tested positive for listeria and salmonella.

“Consumers who have purchased these products are urged to return them to the place of purchase or destroy the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. Do not sell or donate the recalled products,” the announcement said.

“Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, 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 Epoch Times has reached out to Blue Ridge for comment.

Blue Ridge had earlier recalled foods due to bacterial contamination.

On Jan. 31, the FDA announced that the company was withdrawing 5,700 pounds of dog food from the market, citing the presence of salmonella. Earlier that month, Blue Ridge pulled out 1,350 pounds of cat food from six states, warning about the same issue.

Risk of Infections

The April 11 Blue Ridge recall warned of risks to humans handling the contaminated pet products.

“Healthy people infected with Salmonella or Listeria should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever,” the announcement said.

“Rarely, Salmonella and Listeria can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, listeria is the third leading cause of death in the United States from foodborne illnesses.

The agency estimates that 1,600 people get infected with listeria annually in the country, with 260 individuals dying from the infection.

Meanwhile, salmonella is estimated to cause 1.35 million infections annually, with contaminated food being the main source of the illnesses. Salmonella is also one of the leading causes of foodborne illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the country as well as globally.

“Chicken is a major source of Salmonella infection. In fact, more than 1 in every 25 packages of chicken at the grocery store is contaminated with Salmonella,” the agency said.

According to a Feb. 13 report from the Public Interest Research Group, hospitalizations and deaths from contaminated food doubled last year.

The jump in numbers came as “recalls from Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli increased by 41 percent,” the report said.

“Nearly 1,400 people became ill from food they ate in 2024 that was later recalled—98 percent of them from just 13 outbreaks, a stunning fact that shows the consequences of companies producing or selling contaminated food. All but one of the 13 outbreaks involved Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli.”