Viva Raw is back in the news this week, recalling five food products manufactured under the same lot due to Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This is the brand’s second recall in six months.
What’s Recalled This Time
Viva Raw LLC is voluntarily recalling select 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. All of the recalled foods are manufactured under Lot 21244. The foods are distributed as frozen 1 lb bricks in clear vacuum packaging. There are no expiration dates for these products.
| PRODUCT: | LOT# |
| Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground | 21244 |
| Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked | 21244 |
| Viva Turkey for Cats | 21244 |
| Viva Pure Turkey | 21244 |
| Viva Beef &Turkey for Puppies | 21244 |
According to a recall notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these five products are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, which is a potential health risk to people and pets. No illnesses have been reported at the time of publishing this recall notice. The recalled foods were distributed directly to consumers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Viva Raw is notifying all customers who were shipped any Turkey or Beef & Turkey for Puppies products between May 16th and June 28th, 2024.
How Was This Discovered?
According to the FDA, “The issue was discovered during a facility inspection conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and The North Carolina Department of Agriculture (NCDA). The FDA tested samples of Viva Turkey for Dogs and found samples from Lot 21244 were positive for Listeria monocytogenes. All products produced in Lot 21244 were slated for destruction. However, we have since learned some of the product from this lot was inadvertently released from the warehouse.”
Feed This Food?
If you have any of the recalled foods from Lot 21244, stop feeding them to your pets immediately. Please contact Viva Raw at info@vivarawpets.com for a refund on any remaining product. You’re also asked to destroy the food. When discarding these recalled foods, please do so in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access it. Also, thoroughly wash your hands and any surfaces the food may have come into contact with.
If you have any questions, please email us at info@vivarawpets.com or call/text (919) 371-8882 between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST Monday to Friday.
About Listeria
Listeria monocytogenes may affect animals eating the products, as well as humans who have handled contaminated foods (especially if they haven’t washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to this product).
For Pets
Customers should keep an eye out for symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, nervousness, muscular and respiratory signs, depression, shock, and possibly death. According to the FDA, animals may become carriers and serve as potential sources of infection to other animals. Contact your veterinarian if your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms.
For Humans
According to the FDA: Healthy people infected with Listeria monocytogenes may experience some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, aches, fever, and diarrhea. Listeria monocytogenes infections can spread through the bloodstream to the nervous system (including the brain), resulting in meningitis and other potentially fatal illnesses. Pregnant women are especially susceptible to Listeria infection, which can result in miscarriage. The young, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are more vulnerable to infection.
