Viva Raw Dog and Cat Food Recalled Nationwide Due to Listeria Monocytogenes Contamination

Dog and cat foods, including the Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Cats, Viva Pure Turkey, and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies have been recalled. (Courtesy of Viva Raw, LLC)

Dog and cat foods made by a North Carolina-based company are being recalled nationwide because of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, according to a notice issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on July 1.

Hillsborough-headquartered Viva Raw LLC is voluntarily recalling Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground, Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked, Viva Turkey for Cats, Viva Pure Turkey, and Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies, because of the potential health risks they pose to people and their pets, the notice said.

The items are sold as frozen 1-lb bricks in clear vacuum packaging and are manufactured under Lot 21244. Only products from Lot 21244 are affected.

They were distributed directly to consumers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and do not have expiration dates, according to the notice.

Viva Raw is notifying customers who were shipped any turkey or beef & turkey products for puppies between May 16 and June 28, 2024, about the recall, the notice stated.

The Listeria monocytogenes contamination was discovered during a facility inspection conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA).

“All products produced in Lot 21244 were slated for destruction,” the FDA notice said. “However, we have since learned some of the product from this lot was inadvertently released from the warehouse.”

No illnesses related to the contaminated lot have been reported to date, according to the notice.

Consumers who have any of the items impacted by the recall are being asked not to touch the contaminated food product with bare hands, and instead put on gloves or use paper towels to place the products into a sealed plastic bag and throw them into the garbage.

Customers should also make sure to sanitize areas that may have come into contact with the contaminated food items, according to the notice.

They should also move the food away from children, pets, and wildlife.

“Do not sell or donate the recalled products,” the notice on the FDA’s website advised. “Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals.”

Individuals who purchased the recalled items can contact Viva Raw via email to get a refund.

What Is Listeriosis?

Eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an infection that can be serious and sometimes fatal in those with weakened immune systems, as well as pregnant women and their newborns, and adults aged 65 or older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Humans can also be exposed to Listeria monocytogenes through the handling of contaminated products, bowls, or utensils, or through contact with pets that have eaten contaminated products, according to the FDA.

Infection in humans can lead to symptoms that typically begin within 24 hours, including high fever, headache, diarrhea, and nausea. The severity of symptoms depends on the individual infected and the part of the body affected.

In pets, symptoms are similar and can range from mild to severe diarrhea, anorexia, fever, nervousness, muscular and respiratory signs, miscarriage, depression, shock, and in severe cases, death. According to the FDA, pets can be infected without displaying symptoms.

Listeria monocytogenes illnesses in pets are rare, the FDA noted.