A dog food company based in North Carolina has decided to recall 9,600 pounds of its product due to a risk of salmonella contamination, as announced by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration on Monday.

The affected item is the 2-pound log Puppy Mix from Blue Ridge Beef, which was available for purchase between August 6 and August 23 in retail stores across Virginia, North Carolina, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New York, according to the FDA’s news release.

The FDA specified that the products are in clear plastic packaging, with lot numbers printed on clips at the end of the bags. The recalled items are identified by lot numbers #08/06/N25 and #08/16/N25, or UPC number 854298001696.

The concern arose when some puppies fell ill, prompting their owners to alert the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. On November 27, the FDA reported that the dog food had tested positive for salmonella.

Health risks related to salmonella in food

According to the FDA, pets consuming salmonella-contaminated food may become lethargic and display symptoms such as diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, and vomiting. Some pets might show reduced appetite, fever, or stomach pain.

The FDA cautioned that “even pets that appear healthy can carry the infection and spread it to other animals or humans.” Owners should consult a veterinarian if their pet has eaten the recalled food and exhibits these symptoms.

Humans handling the tainted food may also face health risks if they fail to wash their hands thoroughly. Healthy individuals infected with salmonella may experience symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea (which can be bloody), abdominal cramps, and fever.

While rare, salmonella infections in humans may lead to more severe conditions such as arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary issues.

What to do with contaminated pet food

Customers who have purchased the affected products should either return them or dispose of them safely to prevent exposure to children, pets, or wildlife.

Additionally, the FDA recommends:

• Cleaning and sanitizing pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers.
• Washing hands thoroughly after handling the recalled food.
• Sanitizing utensils that have touched the recalled food.

For more information, consumers can reach out to Blue Ridge Beef by email at blueridgebeefnc@yahoo.com or by phone at (704) 873-2072.