Additional products have been added to the list of recalled pet foods that may cause life-threatening nutritional deficiencies.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Monday, June 8, issued an updated notice for certain freeze-dried and frozen raw pet food products made by GO Raw LLC. The company initially issued a voluntary recall in February after it was discovered that its food had extremely low levels of thiamine, also known as vitamin B1.
Thiamine is an essential nutrient for dogs and cats, which use it to maintain normal neurological function and to properly digest and metabolize carbohydrates. Without it, pets, and especially cats, can experience a deficiency that can lead to neurological problems, seizures, and even death.
While the company said it believes the products have been removed from shelves and the recall is being handled “out of an abundance of caution,” the long expiration dates mean the foods may 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 the recall on February 17.
- Steve’s Real Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried 1.25-Pound Bag 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 Bag 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 the recalled pet foods sold?
The recalled pet food products were sold in 21 states and had best-by dates in 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 purchased the affected products should stop feeding them to their pets and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or replacement. Consumers can contact the company at (email protected) or 801-432-7478.
If pet owners notice any of the following symptoms of thiamine deficiency, they should contact their veterinarian, as they can be life-threatening.
Initial signals:
- decreased appetite.
- vomit.
- Excessive salivation.
- Weight loss.
- Poor development.
Symptoms following sustained deficiency include:
- Ventroflexion of the neck (tilting the head towards the floor).
- Mental lethargy (confusion, lethargy, unresponsive, failing to communicate, low energy).
- The vision changes.
- Walking unsteadily, tripping, or falling.
- Tour.
- Weakness and lethargy.
Food Safety and Raw Pet Food
Commercial raw pet food, or pet food products containing raw animal-based ingredients, have become popular in recent years as a more “nutritious” option for dedicated pet parents. While one of the selling points is that the products don’t undergo the same heat treatment as kibble, theoretically resulting in more nutrients being preserved, it also means there’s one less bacteria-killing step between the food leaving the factory and the eating bowl, according to the CDC.
Raw pet foods routinely appear on recall lists issued by the FDA. Listeria and salmonella, foodborne illnesses that can die from heat, are often behind the problems.
Other diseases such as bird flu have also been spread to pets through commercial raw pet food. According to the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, there have been more than a dozen cases since 2024 of cats who are highly susceptible to H5N1 and have been infected with the virus from commercial food. 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 more than $800,000 to a local man after his beloved cat became ill and died after eating raw pet food.
Source: USA TODAY Network; Food and Drug Administration.
