Kitten, puppy foods sold in Virginia recalled for Salmonella, Listeria after pet gets sick

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Kitten and puppy foods sold in Virginia and multiple other states are being recalled due to Salmonella and Listeria contamination after a pet reportedly became sick.

On Friday, April 11, Blue Ridge Beef issued a recall for certain lots of its 2-pound Kitten Mix and 2-pound Puppy Mix, totalling over 1,000 pounds of product.

According to a press release from the company provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the impacted products could be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria -- two illnesses that can cause harm not only to pets, but also their owners, should exposure occur.

This recall comes after a pet was reported sick. Samples were collected on March 20 by New York officials and, by April 1, the North Carolina Department of Agriculture confirmed the products tested positive for both Salmonella and Listeria.

How do I know if the pet food I bought is impacted?

The impacted products were distributed between Jan. 3 and Jan. 24 and were packaged in clear plastic. They were sold in Virginia, as well as Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.

Packaging for Blue Ridge Beef's 2-pound Kitten Mix. (Photo provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

Packaging for Blue Ridge Beef's 2-pound Puppy Mix. (Photo provided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

If you have recently purchased Blue Ridge Beef's Kitten Mix and/or Puppy Mix, check your food's packaging for its lot number. Lot numbers are usually printed alongside the expiration date.

The affected Kitten Mix has a lot number of "N26 0114" and the affected Puppy Mix has a lot number of "N25 1230." If you see that lot number on the respective package, you have potentially contaminated pet food.

What could happen to my exposed pet or to others?

Per the press release, pets who have eaten this food could be infected with Salmonella and/or Listeria. Pet owners should monitor impacted pets for symptoms such as diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets may only experience poor appetite, fever and abdominal pain.

Regardless of whether or not your pet begins to show symptoms, if they consumed this food, the company highly encourages you to contact your veterinarian.

Infected animals can spread this illness to other animals and to humans -- regardless of whether or not they become symptomatic, the company said.

Even if your pet does not become ill, if you are a pet owner who has handled any of the affected food, you could still be at risk. If you did not thoroughly wash your hands after touching the food or any surface that came in contact with it, you may have been exposed to Salmonella and/or Listeria.

People who have been exposed to salmonella and/or listeria could experience symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever, according to the press release.

More serious symptoms can include arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. You should see a healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

What should I do with the food?

The company is urging anyone with impacted food to either return it to the retailer they bought it from or to destroy it. Do not feed impacted food to any animals.

If you do choose to destroy it, you are asked to do so in a way that keeps children, pets and wildlife from accessing it.

You should also thoroughly clean and sanitize any pet bowls, cups and storage containers that came in contact with the food. After you handle the food or any utensils that touched the food, you should also thoroughly wash and sanitize your hands.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about this recall, you can contact Blue Ridge Beef via phone at 704-873-2072 or via email at blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com. You can also view the full recall on the FDA's website.