Additional products have been added to a list of recalled pet food that could cause life-threatening nutritional deficiencies.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an updated notice on Monday, June 8, for certain freeze-dried and frozen raw pet food products made by GO Raw LLC. The firm initially issued a voluntary recall in February after it was discovered that its food contained extremely low levels of thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1.
Thiamine is an essential nutrient for dogs and cats, who use it to maintain normal neurologic function and properly digest and metabolize carbohydrates. Without it, pets, and especially cats, could experience a deficiency that can lead to neurological issues, seizures and even death.
While the company said it believes products have been removed from shelves and the recall is being done “out of an abundance of caution,” the long expiration dates mean the foods could still be in pantries and freezers.
Here’s what to know about the recall.
Which Pet Food Products Are Recalled?
One additional product has been added to the list since GO Raw first initiated its recall on Feb. 17.
Steve’s Real Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried 1.25-pound bags with lot code C26022, UPC 6-91730-164 02-7 and best-by date 1/22/2028.
Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried Nuggets 10-ounce bags with lot code C25288, UPC 6-91730-18103-1, and best-by date 10/15/2027.
Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Frozen Diet 2-pound and 12-pound bags with lot codes MCD25350 and MCC25321, UPC 6-91730-17104-9 and best-by dates 5/17/2027 and 6/16/2027.
Where Were Recalled Pet Foods Sold?
The recalled pet food products were sold in 21 states and have best-by dates into 2028.
Colorado
Utah
Washington
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
Michigan
California
Texas
Illinois
Georgia
North Carolina
South Carolina
Florida
Minnesota
New York
Ohio
Wisconsin
Idaho
Montana
What to Do With Recalled Pet Food
Consumers who have purchased the affected products should stop feeding them to their pets and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or a replacement. Consumers can contact the company at [email protected] or 801-432-7478.
Pet owners should contact their veterinarian if they observe any of the following signs of a thiamine deficiency, as they can become life-threatening.
Early signs:
Decreased appetite.
Vomiting.
Excessive salivation.
Weight loss.
Poor growth.
Later symptoms of sustained deficiency include:
Ventroflexion of the neck (bending the head toward the floor).
Mental dullness (confusion, lethargy, non-responsiveness, failing to interact, low energy).
Vision changes.
Wobbly walking, circling or falling.
Seizures.
Weakness and lethargy.
Food Safety and Raw Pet Food
Commercial raw pet food, or pet food products consisting of uncooked animal-based ingredients, have become popular in recent years as a more “wholesome” option for dedicated pet parents. While one of the selling points is that the products do not go through the same heat treatments as kibble, theoretically preserving more nutrients as a result, it also means that there is one less bacteria-killing step between the food leaving the factory and the dinner bowl, according to the CDC.
Raw pet foods are a regular fixture on FDA-issued recall lists. Listeria and salmonella, foodborne illnesses that can be killed with heat, are often behind the issues.
Other illnesses, like bird flu, have also been transmitted to pets via commercial raw pet food. Over a dozen cases of cats, who are highly susceptible to H5N1, contracting the virus from commercial food have been reported since 2024, according to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. Some companies, like Wild Coast Raw, have issued multiple recalls after animals became ill and died from food contaminated with bird flu.
In May, a jury in Oregon awarded a local man more than $800,000 after his beloved cat became ill and died after eating raw pet food.
Source: USA TODAY Network; Food and Drug Administration.