By Robin Foster HealthDay Reporter
Health Day
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 27, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Blue Ridge Beef, a maker of raw pet foods, announced it will recall some of its products for kittens and puppies due to possible contamination of salmonella and listeria.
After being notified earlier this month by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services that health officials had found salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes among several products, the North Carolina company has recalled certain bulk pet foods Kitten Grind, Kitten Mix and Puppy Mix, the US Food and Drug Administration said in a news release.
The recalled products, mostly sold in the states of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, North Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia, were distributed between November 14 and December 20, the FDA said. So far, no illnesses related to the recalled products have been reported, the FDA said.
Potentially contaminated products have use by dates of N24 1114 through N24 1224. Those dates, as well as lot numbers, can be found on the silver tabs on the end of the products, which are in the tubes .
Salmonella and listeria infections can affect both pets and people, and people can become infected while handling contaminated pet products. Thoroughly washing your hands and cleaning surfaces that come into contact with the products are advised, the FDA said.
Symptoms of salmonella and listeria infection for humans can include nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More severe cases of salmonella infection can result in arthritis, arterial infections, ear inflammation, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms, the FDA said. More severe cases of listeria infection can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. For the very young, the elderly, and the immune-compromised, listeriosis can be fatal, the FDA noted.
Consumers who have any of these symptoms after coming into contact with the product should contact their healthcare provider, the agency said.
Pets with these infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. In more severe cases, they may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. If your pet has consumed the recalled products and has these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately, the FDA said.
Consumers who purchased the products can contact Blue Ridge Beef at [email protected] for a full refund.
In the meantime, affected pet foods should be thrown away and consumers should thoroughly wash pet food bowls, cups and storage containers that may have come in contact with the product.
Visit foodsafety.gov for more about bacteria and viruses that can cause food poisoning.
SOURCE: US Food and Drug Administration, news release, Dec. 21, 2023
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