Kitten and puppy foods are voluntarily recalled

Kitten and puppy foods from Blue Ridge Beef are being recalled because of Salmonella and Listeria contamination, which can affect animals ingesting these raw products. The recall is for 1080 lbs of 2 lb logs of Kitten Mix (lot number N26 0114) and 1230 lbs of 2 lb logs of Puppy Mix (lot number N25 1230).¹

Samples of the recalled products were collected on March 20, 2025, by the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets in response to a customer complaint of animal illness. On April 1, 2025, Blue Ridge Beef was notified by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture that the products tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria. The recall was issued with FDA notification.¹

These recalled food products are packaged in clear plastic and were distributed between January 3, 2025, to January 24, 2025. The recalled items were primarily sold through retail stores in Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. Lot numbers can be found stamped in the clips on the end of the product bags.¹

Salmonella infection

Images courtesy of the FDA

According to Katie Tolbert, DVM, PhD, DACVIM, a clinical associate professor in internal medicine and nutrition at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in College Station, Salmonella should be taken seriously. “Salmonella is a [bacterium] frequently found in the gastrointestinal tract of many mammals and birds, but some species of Salmonella produce toxins that cause infections when the bacteria adhere to the lining of the gut, causing gut inflammation and damage,” Tolbert explained in a news release.²

Signs of salmonella infection may include lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain also affect some patients, according to the FDA. Healthy pets can be carriers of infection and transmit Salmonella and Listeria to other animals or humans.¹

Pet owners should be aware of the causes, symptoms and treatments of Salmonella infection² and client education can help. The FDA is encouraging pet owners to contact a veterinarian if their animal has eaten a product included in the Blue Ridge Beef recall and is showing symptoms of possible infection.^{1,2 "}The infection can travel to other sites of the body, such as the joints or heart, and if the infection is not recognized, it could lead to severe consequences, including death,” Tolbert said.²

In cases with significant symptoms of a gastrointestinal illness, pet owners should visit their veterinarian as soon as possible, according to Tolbert. An appropriate treatment plan can be created if the illness is caused by Salmonella infection, and the earlier the treatment, the quicker the pet’s condition can improve.²

“Warning signs that should prompt a pet owner to bring their dog or cat to be evaluated include prolonged reluctance to eat for longer than 24 to 48 hours; fever; persistent vomiting or diarrhea; lethargy for longer than 24 hours; signs of dehydration, such as dry or tacky gums; and signs of pain, shown through abnormal behaviors such as hiding or growling,” Tolbert said.²

Veterinarians may hospitalize pets and provide them with intravenous fluids and supportive care if the illness is severe. However, mild cases of diarrhea, the most common symptom of a mild form of salmonella infection in pets, are often resolved on their own regardless of whether there is treatment.²

Listeria infection

Images courtesy of the FDA

Listeria disease is rare in canines and felines, despite when infection occurs. Pets showing signs of infection typically have mild gastrointestinal symptoms that may include diarrhea and vomiting. In more serious cases, fever, muscle pain, breathing problems and pregnancy loss may show as symptoms, and death can occur.³

Canines and felines that consume contaminated pet food can be carriers of Listeria, even when there are no signs of listeriosis. Infected pets that appear healthy can shed Listeria in their stool. Pet waste from infected animals, both sick and healthy, can be a source of infection for other animals as well as humans.³

There is also risk of Salmonella or Listeria infection to humans that handle contaminated raw food products. The FDA advises healthy people with Salmonella or Listeria exposure to monitor themselves for nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever, which are possible symptoms of infection. In rare cases, this type of bacterial infection can cause more serious ailments such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Humans exhibiting these signs of infection following exposure to the recalled products should contact their health care providers, according to the FDA.¹

Takeaway

The FDA is encouraging consumers who have purchased these products to return them to the place of purchase or destroy the food in a way that children and animals, including pets and wildlife, cannot access them. Pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers that have come into contact with the recalled products should be washed and sanitized. Human hands and exposed surfaces should also be washed and sanitized after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food.

For more information about the recall, email blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com or call (704) 873-2072 Monday through Friday 8 AM to 5 PM EST.

References

1. Blue Ridge Beef issues voluntary recall of Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix and Kitten Mix due to Salmonella and Listeria contamination. News release. FDA. April 11, 2025. Accessed April 15, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/blue-ridge-beef-issues-voluntary-recall-blue-ridge-beef-puppy-mix-and-kitten-mix-due-salmonella?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery#recall-announcement
2. The hidden dangers of Salmonella infections. New release. Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. March 30, 2023. Accessed April 15, 2025. https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/salmonella-infections/
3. Get the facts about Listeria. FDA. August 3, 2020. Accessed April 15, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/get-facts-about-listeria