RECALLS

BySusan Thixton

Recall Due to Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes Contamination.

This notice was provided to TruthaboutPetFood.com from Viva Raw pet food.

This notice is to inform you of a voluntary recall of: Viva Duck for Dogs (Ground),
Viva Duck for Dogs (Chunked), Viva Duck for Cats, Viva Pure Duck. The lot
under recall is Lot 22853. The product is distributed as frozen 1 lb bricks in
clear vacuum packaging. Viva started shipping this lot out on 10/24/23 and the last units were distributed on 12/06/23.

The FDA obtained and tested samples of Viva Duck for Dogs (Chunked) Lot
22853 after a consumer complaint and found that the samples were positive for
Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes
can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling
contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their
hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these
products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or
all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea,
abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious
ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye
irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after
having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella and Listeria infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea
or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased
appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be
carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the
recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Please check your freezer for any remaining products of Lot 22853. If you still
have products from the lot, complete this response form and we will reach out to
you to provide a refund for any remaining product—you can then destroy the
food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. Make sure you do
not touch the contaminated food product with your bare hands. While wearing
gloves or using paper towels, place the contaminated food in a sealed plastic bag
and throw it in the garbage. Then you will need to sanitize your kitchen and any other area that may have come in contact with the contaminated product. Do not
sell or donate the recalled products. Do not feed the recalled product to pets or
any other animals.

Even if you do not have any packs of food remaining, please complete this
response form so that we can account for all customers that have received this
notice.

The health of your pet has always been Viva’s #1 priority and we have always
been committed to making safe & transparent pet food. We started this company
to change the industry and make the best pet food available. From choosing to
manufacture in a USDA facility & sourcing 100% human-grade ingredients, we
are committed to going above and beyond. We have conducted a detailed
root-cause analysis in our USDA facility to ensure we continue to exceed the
highest industry food safety standards & will continue to push the boundaries for
how safe, fresh pet food is made. If you have any questions regarding this notice,
feel free to email us at info@vivarawpets.com or call/text us at (919) 371-8882
between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST Monday to Friday.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug
Administration.

Company Announcement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 21, 2023

TFP Nutrition of Nacogdoches, TX announced today that it is issuing a voluntary recall of Retriever All Life Stages Mini Chunk Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food due to potential Salmonella contamination. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Dogs with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product was manufactured on October 4, 2023 and October 5, 2023 at the Nacogdoches, Texas facility. Affected product was distributed in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah and contains “3277 TFP” or “3278 TFP” on the second line of the date code.

No dog or human illness has been reported to date with respect to the recalled dog food. All recalled product has been removed from store shelves and no other Tractor Supply Company products are affected by the voluntary recall.

This voluntary recall is being issued due to a single sample of Retriever All Life Stages Mini Chunk Chicken Recipe Dry Dog Food that tested positive for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the Office of the Texas State Chemist.

Consumers who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or would like a replacement product or refund, may contact TFP Nutrition via a toll-free call at 1-800-330-3048, Monday through Sunday, 8 am – 5 pm CST. Consumers may also go to tfpnutrition.com/recallExternal Link Disclaimer for more information.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:TFP Nutrition 800-330-3048Media: 800-330-3048

Product Photos

Nestlé Purina Petcare Company Voluntarily Recalls Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets El Elemental Dry Dog Food in the U.S. Due to Potentially Elevated Vitamin D

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company is voluntarily recalling select lots of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental (PPVD EL) prescription dry dog food due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs; however, ingestion of elevated levels can lead to health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure. Vitamin D toxicity may include vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, and excessive drooling to renal (kidney) dysfunction.

Purina is taking this action after receiving two contacts about two separate confirmed cases of a dog exhibiting signs of vitamin D toxicity after consuming the diet, to date. Once taken off the diet, each of these dogs recovered.

The affected dry dog food was distributed throughout the United States by prescription only through veterinary clinics, Purina Vet Direct, Purina for Professionals, and other select retailers with the ability to validate a prescription.

Bags of PPVD EL with the UPC Code and Production Code below should be immediately discarded.

Pet owners who purchased bags of the product listed above are asked to immediately stop feeding and throw it away in a container where no other animals, including wildlife, can get to it. If signs such as weight loss, excessive drooling, vomiting, loss of appetite or increased thirst or urination have occurred in their dog while eating this diet, pet owners should contact their veterinarian.

No other Purina pet care products are affected.

Veterinary and other retail partners should remove and destroy the affected product from their inventory.

We apologize to pet owners and veterinarians for any concerns or inconvenience this situation has caused. As pet experts and pet owners ourselves, the health and well-being of pets is our top priority.

Please contact our team directly Monday – Saturday, 8am – 5pm CST at 1-800-345-5678 or via email at https://www.purina.com/contact- usExternal Link Disclaimer for questions or assistance in getting a refund.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:Purina 1-800-345-5678

Product Photos

March 13, 2023 — Stratford Care USA, Inc is recalling multiple brands of Omega-3 supplements due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin A.

Vitamin A, while essential to a healthy diet, can cause health problems and Vitamin A toxicity if too much is ingested over a long period of time.

What’s Recalled?

Stratford Care USA, Inc Omega-3 supplements for cats and dogs. The white plastic container containing 60 soft gels has a marking on the bottom stating “lot 31133 EXP 04/13/23” and “lot 30837 EXP 10/26/22”.

Stratford Care USA, Inc is solely a distributor of supplements and the product in question was produced by a contract manufacturer and sold to Stratford Care USA, Inc.

The recalled product has been private labeled under various brand names, but you can identify it by using the labels and chart listed below.

No other Stratford USA, Inc products are impacted by this voluntary recall.

What Caused the Recall?

The recall has come after Stratford Care USA, Inc received a single Serious Adverse Event from a sole consumer whose dogs were exhibiting signs of vitamin A toxicity after consuming the product. This is the only Adverse Event to date.

Stratford Care USA, Inc is collaborating with the FDA and taking all necessary steps to remove all products with these lot numbers from the market.

What to do?

The FDA recommends that pet parents immediately stop feeding the affected product to their dogs and discard any remainder in a way that no wildlife or other animals can get to it.

It also recommends that veterinary and other retail partners should remove and discard the recalled product from their inventory.

Consumers are invited to reach out to Stratford Care USA, Inc with any questions or for refunds. You may call 877-498-2002, Monday-Friday, 9 am to 5 pm EST or via email at Adversevents@stratfordrx.com.

Customers who purchased this product directly from Stratford Care USA Inc, can receive a full refund by emailing their information to refunds@stratfordrx.com

Reporting Pet Food Problems

U.S. citizens can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.

Or go to the FDA’s “Report a Pet Food Complaint” page.

September 6, 2022 — In a private email to customers, Spot and Tango announced it is recalling four batches of its UnKibble Dog Food product line because samples tested positive for Salmonella bacteria.

What’s Recalled?

The lot codes and SKU numbers for affected products listed below can be found on the bottom and back of each pouch.

No other Spot & Tango products or lot codes are impacted by this recall.

From the FDA press release:

FAIRFIELD, California, July 6, 2022 – Primal Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling a single lot (#W10068709) of Raw Frozen Primal Patties for Dogs Beef Formula (6-pound), with best by date of 05/22/23, due to potential contamination with Listeria monocytogenes.

The company distributed sixty-six cases (396 units) of this single lot of Raw Frozen Primal Patties to Maryland, Georgia, Texas, and British Columbia, in late April 2022. No other lot codes or Primal products are impacted by this announcement.

Primal Pet Foods has received no complaints or reports of illness to pets or humans due to this recalled product.

This voluntary recall is a result of routine sampling by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which revealed a positive result for Listeria monocytogenes in one sample from one lot of Raw Frozen Primal Patties for Dogs Beef Formula.

Listeria monocytogenes rarely cause illness in dogs, but it is possible. Dogs can have mild symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Even if a dog is not showing symptoms, it can still be a carrier of the bacteria and spread it to humans. If a dog has consumed the recalled product, pet parents are encouraged to consult their veterinarian.

People can become sick by handling contaminated food or touching surfaces that have been exposed to Listeria monocytogenes. Symptoms in humans may include fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff neck, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Young children, elderly people, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections and symptoms can be more severe. Anyone exhibiting symptoms after handling this product should contact their healthcare provider.

Primal Pet Foods is committed to the quality and safety of its products. The company uses a “test and hold” protocol to ensure that all products test negative for harmful bacteria before being released for sale. Primal Pet Foods confirmed that all testing results on this single lot of recalled product were negative for Listeria monocytogenes – both raw materials and finished product – before it left its production facility.

The Raw Frozen Primal Patties are sold in flexible packaging in the freezer at select pet stores. Primal Pet Foods has temperature tracking devices on all shipments of frozen product to ensure storage requirements are met while being transported. This product should be kept frozen until a pet parent is ready to use it.

The lot number and best by date can be found on the lower third of the back of the Raw Frozen Primal Patties package. If a pet parent has product from this single lot (#W10068709) in their possession, they should stop feeding it to their dog and dispose of it immediately. Pet parents are also encouraged to follow all safe handling instructions on Primal packaging and wash their hands and all preparation surfaces after handling any raw product. If pet parents have any questions, they can contact Primal Pet Foods by phone at (800) 742-1312 Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. PST, or by submitting an online request.

This recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Company Contact Information

Consumers: Primal Pet Foods 800-742-1312

Product Photos

Champion Pet Food Lawsuit Amended includes DCM and other concerns

The lawsuit doesn’t appear to be officially accusing Champion of causing DCM, but it appears to be opening the door for that potential in the future.

The original lawsuit against Champion Pet Food filed in March 2018 included claims of “negligent, reckless, and/or intentional practice of misrepresenting and failing to fully disclose the presence of heavy metals and toxins in their pet food “.

An amended complaint was filed in November 2018, adding “pentobarbital” risk to the lawsuit. Quoting the amended lawsuit against Champion: “It was recently revealed on information and belief that Defendants were knowingly, recklessly and/or negligently selling certain of the Contaminated Dog Foods from the DogStar Kitchens containing pentobarbital, a substance largely used to euthanize animals.”

And another amended complaint was filed in February 2019 challenging Champion Pet Food’s marketing claims of “regional” and “fresh” ingredients. This amended complaint stated: “It was recently revealed on information and belief that Defendants were knowingly, recklessly, and/or negligently selling certain of the Contaminated Dog Foods from the DogStar® Kitchens containing pentobarbital that was caused by cross-contamination that resulted from its supplier, MOPAC, an eastern Pennsylvania rendering facility belonging to JBS USA Holdings, Inc. (“JBS”), having accepted and processed euthanized horses in earlier production runs for other customers.”

This third amended complaint against Champion Pet Food includes the following two mentions of DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy):

“Additionally, on July 12, 2018, the FDA issued a warning that “dogs eating certain pet foods containing peas, lentils, other legume seeds, or potatoes as main ingredients” were experiencing DCM, a heart muscle disease that results in an enlarged heart. “As the heart and its chambers become dilated, it becomes harder for the heart to pump, and heart valves may leak, leading to a buildup of fluids in the chest and abdomen. DCM often results in congestive heart failure.” Thereafter, on June 27, 2019, the FDA released a report of its investigation into DCM that disclosed Defendants’ brands account for 14.88 percent of reported cases of DCM in the past 5 years. Defendants were aware of the risk and the reported cases associated with the Contaminated Pet Foods from at least July 2018 and yet chose not to include any warning or link to the FDA investigation into DCM.”

“Yet, Defendants warrant, promise, represent, mislead, label, and/or advertise that the Contaminated Dog Foods are free of heavy metals, pentobarbital, toxins, BPA, and/or unnatural or other ingredients and would not pose a risk for pets developing Dilated Cardiomyopathy (“DCM”) by touting the Contaminated Dog Food as “Biologically Appropriate™” (a nutritional statement) and assuring the food represents an evolutionary diet that mirrors that of a wolf—free of anything “nature did not intend for your dog to eat.”

Other interesting issues of this amended lawsuit – but not fully explained in the complaint – are (item 166 found on page 76 – bold added):

“Defendants knew or should have known that the Contaminated Dog Foods did not have the ingredients, uses, and benefits described herein because:

They contain ingredients that are frozen, stored for years, and/or expired prior to manufacturing or composed of regrind kibble;

They are routinely manufactured with substitute ingredients not included in the Ingredient List, MeatMath®, or nutritional analysis;”

Lots of questions remain – unfortunately we’ll have to wait to see how this lawsuit unfolds for answers.

To read the full amended Champion Pet Food complaint, Click Here.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food

https://www.hemopet.org/fda-updates-dcm-heart-disease-dogs/?utm_source=Clients&utm_campaign=111a11c44e-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_07_07_12_56&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_2ab0e3771c-111a11c44e-207766437