FDA announces nationwide pet food recall over contamination — and the health risk extends to owners too

A major pet food recall puts both tails and hands on alert as contamination risk rises.

PUBLISHED 5 HOURS AGO

(L) Product Recalled, (R) Unwell woman checking temperature at home. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images | (L)bymuratdeniz, (R) PixelVista)

A company has recalled its dog and cat food products from several states across the U.S., deeming them unsafe for consumption. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has flagged the products for possible contamination with a pathogen that affects over 2 million people every year, per the National Library of Medicine. While pets who may have consumed the contaminated food could face health issues, authorities have issued an official announcement of the recall on the FDA website to avoid further complications.

Labrador puppy eating from a pet dish.(Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Stefan Cristian Cioata) — Labrador puppy eating from a pet dish. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Stefan Cristian Cioata)

The risk doesn’t stop with pets. Humans may also be at risk if they handle the products and come into contact with the pathogen. On Monday, August 25, 2025, the FDA issued a detailed report on lots of dog and cat foods manufactured by Viva Raw LLC that were recalled due to contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The company has listed the specific lot numbers for customers to check and avoid. Lot 21495 (Viva Ground Beef for Dogs; Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies) and Lot 21975 (Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chicken for Cats; Viva Pure Chicken) are the recalled products. The products were distributed between July 2, 2025, and August 21, 2025.

US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website detail. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | MarioGuti)

Consumers purchased the recalled products either directly from the manufacturer or through a selection of retailers in New York, California, Florida, Arizona, Illinois, Kansas, and South Carolina. To identify the products, the announcement described them as frozen 1-pound bricks in clear vacuum packaging, with the specific lot number printed on the top. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture identified the contamination during routine testing. Other lots are considered safe to consume. Salmonella infection is a bacterial disease that typically affects the intestinal tract, and is called salmonellosis, according to Mayo Clinic.

A person washing hands. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | East Road/ Ascent Xmedia)

Customers are advised to thoroughly wash their hands after handling the recalled products, as the pathogen may spread from contaminated foods or “surfaces exposed to these products.” Salmonella and Listeria infections in pets can cause lethargy, diarrhea, fever, and vomiting, in addition to decreased appetite and abdominal pain. Pets that had consumed the food products and started showing similar symptoms must be checked by a veterinarian. Meanwhile, healthy pets with infections may act as carriers and spread the infection to other animals.

Elderly woman throwing garbage in compost bin. (Representative Image Source: Getty Images | Luis Alvarez)

Pet owners should also monitor their own health for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. In extreme cases, it may cause arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Pregnant women should be especially cautious of the pathogen, as it may lead to miscarriage, while people with a compromised immune system are susceptible to infection. As of now, there have been no reported cases of infection from either pets or humans. Customers who may have purchased the products are advised to discard them safely, ensuring that children, pets, or wildlife do not have access. They can also return the recalled products for a full refund of the remaining items.