Dog Food Recalled Across Multiple States Over Salmonella Contamination Concerns

February 3, 2025 TruthUSA

The company has recalled a variety of pet food products in recent months due to comparable issues.

Blue Ridge Beef, based in North Carolina, is recalling thousands of pounds of dog food after detecting salmonella bacteria.

The recall concerns 5,700 pounds of the company’s “Natural Mix” dog food, as stated in a Jan. 31 announcement by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) release.

This product is packaged in 2 lb. containers and has the universal product code 854298001054, containing ingredients like ground beef, green tripe, beef heart, and beef liver. The lot number N25/12/31 is printed on the clips at the ends of the packages.

The items were distributed from January 3 to January 24 across retail stores in eight states: Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, and Rhode Island.

Authorities collected samples of this product last month, and testing confirmed the presence of salmonella. The FDA informed Blue Ridge of the contamination on January 27, prompting the recall.

“Pets with salmonella infections can exhibit lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may only show signs of decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain,” the company explained. “Even healthy pets can be carriers and transmit the infection to other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and shows these symptoms, please reach out to your veterinarian.”

Blue Ridge advised customers who purchased the recalled product to either return it to where it was bought or dispose of it in a manner that prevents access by pets, children, or wildlife.

The company cautioned against selling or donating the affected food, and recommended that consumers wash and sanitize all related bowls, storage containers, and cups. They also emphasized the importance of washing and sanitizing hands after handling the recalled product or any utensils that came into contact with it.

For additional queries, consumers can contact Blue Ridge at 704-873-2072.

In recent months, Blue Ridge has removed its pet food products from the market multiple times. On January 3, the FDA publicized a recall of 1,350 pounds of “Kitten Mix” across six states, also due to salmonella concerns announced.

Additionally, in December, the company withdrew its “Puppy Mix” products from seven states due to similar issues.

The recall notice on January 31 indicated that these pet foods pose a contamination risk to humans.

“Healthy individuals infected with salmonella should watch for symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever,” it stated. “In rare cases, salmonella can cause more severe illnesses, which may include arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers experiencing these signs after contact with the product should seek advice from their healthcare providers.”

Salmonella is reported to cause approximately 1.35 million infections in the United States each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is a top cause of foodborne illness, hospitalizations, and fatalities in the country.

Groups at higher risk for infection include children under 5 years old, seniors aged 65 and older, and individuals with compromised immune systems. Symptoms typically appear within six hours to six days after infection and usually last between four to seven days.

Last month, the consumer advocacy organization Consumer Reports submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding proposed regulations aimed at reducing salmonella contamination.

According to the proposal, chicken or turkey products containing salmonella at levels of 10 colony-forming units per millimeter or gram would be classified as adulterated. The organization criticized these standards as being too lenient.

“Salmonella infections from poultry have steadily increased in the last decade,” stated Brian Ronholm, food policy director at Consumer Reports. “The USDA’s current performance standards for salmonella reduction in poultry have not effectively decreased illnesses. We strongly support the USDA’s move towards enforceable standards to keep salmonella-contaminated poultry off the market and urge the agency to implement stricter regulations to better safeguard consumers.”

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