Govind Tekale
A widespread recall of Blue Ridge Beef dog food has been issued after testing confirmed salmonella contamination, putting both pets and their owners at risk across eight states. The Food and Drug Administration announced the recall affects approximately 5,700 pounds of the company’s “2 lb. log Natural Mix” dog food distributed between January 3 and January 24, 2025.
The contamination came to light when the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s routine testing detected salmonella in product samples collected on January 8, 2025. The affected products, marked with lot number N25/12/31 and UPC 854298001054, were sold in retail stores across Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, and Rhode Island.
The timing of this recall raises particular concern as it follows two recent quality control incidents from the same manufacturer. Blue Ridge Beef recalled over 1,000 pounds of cat food in January 2025 and 9,600 pounds of Puppy Mix in December 2024, both due to salmonella contamination. In December, testing confirmed the product was contaminated with salmonella after a customer in Virginia reported their litter of puppies had fallen sick.
Pet owners should watch for warning signs in their dogs, including lethargy, diarrhea (possibly bloody), fever, and vomiting. Some pets may only show subtle symptoms like decreased appetite and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.
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The risk extends beyond pets to their owners. The CDC reports that salmonella causes approximately 1.35 million illnesses, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths annually in the United States. Symptoms in humans typically appear within six hours to six days after exposure and can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever.
The FDA has outlined specific steps for consumers who purchased the recalled product. Pet owners should either return the product to the store or dispose of it safely to prevent access by children, pets, or wildlife. Additionally, all pet food bowls, containers, and utensils that may have contacted the contaminated food should be thoroughly washed and sanitized.
Blue Ridge Beef has established a customer support line at 704-873-2072 and email at [email protected] for concerned pet owners seeking additional information about the recall. The company, which describes itself as family-owned and operated, received formal notification of the positive test results from the FDA on January 27, 2025.
The FDA’s January 31st, 2025 alert emphasizes the importance of proper handling procedures for pet food and recommends immediate veterinary consultation if pets show any symptoms after consuming the recalled product.
