Why Are Dog Foods Recalled?

Dog foods and treats may be recalled when they are found to contain harmful contaminants, like Salmonella or Listeria, or when there is a serious formulation, labeling, or nutrient-balance error. Recalls are often voluntary, with companies sometimes pulling the product themselves when test results indicate risk, but the FDA can also formally request or order a recall when public health is at stake. For pet owners, recalls serve as important reminders: stay vigilant, keep lot and batch information, and regularly check for alerts from manufacturers or regulatory agencies.

Below are detailed summaries and analyses of several recalls announced in 2024–2025.

Recent Recalls & Brand Profiles

Blue Ridge Beef — Natural Mix (01/31/2025)

On January 31, 2025, Blue Ridge Beef issued a recall of its Blue Ridge Beef Natural Mix logs after tests detected Salmonella contamination. The recall covered products sold between January 3 and January 24, 2025. The lot number involved was N25/12/31 with UPC 854298001054. The product is often marketed as a “meal base, supplement, or topper.”

FDA

About the Brand

Blue Ridge Beef is a family-owned raw pet food manufacturer that has been operating since 1979. They emphasize a “Feed the animal in your pet” philosophy, using 100% raw meat, no additives or preservatives, and sourcing ingredients from USDA-inspected facilities. They utilize HPP (high-pressure processing) technology in some of their raw products to help reduce microbial risks while keeping foods raw. Their product line includes multiple “mix” or blend recipes (beef, tripe, organ meats, etc.) sold in frozen logs or rolls, as well as specialty meats, “complete” blends, and puppy formulas.

This particular recall affected just one recipe (Natural Mix). However, Blue Ridge has previously had recalls or withdrawals of other formulas (e.g., Puppy Mix & Kitten Mix), which underscores that even established raw pet-food brands face microbial challenges.

Blue Ridge Beef

Blue Ridge Beef — Puppy Mix & Kitten Mix (04/11/2025)

On April 11, 2025, Blue Ridge Beef extended a voluntary recall to include their Puppy Mix (and a similarly impacted Kitten Mix) due to Salmonella and Listeria concerns. Some of these lots had already been distributed and sold in multiple states. The company asked consumers to return or destroy the products and sanitize areas that may have come in contact.

FDA

About the Brand

The Puppy Mix and Kitten Mix products are part of Blue Ridge Beef’s softer blend formulations intended for young animals, combining raw meat, organ parts, bone, and other components in a balanced ratio. These formulas are designed to be nutritionally complete or at least part of a balanced raw diet for puppies and kittens. Given the sensitivity of younger animals to infection, the recall here is especially concerning for dog parents feeding raw diets to puppies.

While the brand markets many of its products under strict sourcing and processing standards, these recalls show that even with such precautions, contamination risks remain.

Viva Raw — Ground Beef & Chicken Recipes (08/25/2025)

On August 25, 2025, Viva Raw LLC (Charlotte, NC) issued a voluntary recall of two lots of its raw pet food products due to contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. The affected lots are:

• Lot 21495 (Viva Ground Beef for Dogs, Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies)

• Lot 21975 (Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs, Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs, Viva Chicken for Cats, Viva Pure Chicken)

FDA

These products were distributed nationwide and to select retailers across several states (e.g. New York, Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, California, Arizona) between July 2 and August 21, 2025. No illnesses have yet been reported. The company is offering refunds to consumers who purchased the affected lots.

About the Brand 

Viva Raw is known for offering a subscription-style raw pet food delivery service, with a lineup of frozen raw ground meats, frozen chunked recipes, etc. Their business model leans into direct-to-consumer distribution, often bypassing large retail chains. The recall underscores the inherent risks in raw diets, especially with perishable frozen items and the need for strict cold-chain integrity and microbial controls.

Because Viva sells direct, some customers might already have the recalled products in home freezers; the company (and the FDA) recommends stopping use, discarding safely, sanitizing utensils and surfaces, and requesting refunds.

ANSWERS Pet Food — Beef & Chicken Formulas (09/23/2024)

In September 2024, Lystn LLC (d.b.a. ANSWERS Pet Food) announced voluntary withdrawal of certain Beef Formula and Chicken Formula dog food lots due to potential Salmonella or Listeria contamination discovered via FDA sample testing.

Answers Pet Food does not use lot codes. However, affected products can be identified by a “Best Used By Date” (BUBD) sticker on the product carton. The affected pet food consists of 4-pound (half-gallon) cartons of:

• Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Detailed Formula for Dogs
  • UPC/bar code number: 856554002102
  • BUBD: May 06 2026
• Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Straight Formula for Dogs
  • UPC/bar code number: 856554002072
  • BUBD: Jan 31 2026
• Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs
  • UPC/bar code number: 856554002065
  • BUBD: Jan 02 2026
• Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs
  • UPC/bar code number: 856554002065
  • BUBD: Mar 11 2026

No illnesses linked to the lots have been confirmed. Unlike some recalls, the company termed the action a “withdrawal” rather than a full recall. The FDA had recommended a formal recall, but the company did not fully comply (per the agency).

FDA

FDA

About the Brand 

ANSWERS Pet Food is a raw pet food company that emphasizes fermentative and probiotic-based strategies to suppress pathogens in their products. Their products are commonly sold frozen in 4-pound (half-gallon) cartons. This brand has had previous scrutiny regarding microbial safety, and the 2024 withdrawal stirred controversy about how voluntary withdrawals differ (in oversight) from formal recalls.

The divergence in how ANSWERS responded, opting for a withdrawal over recall, has been critiqued because withdrawals are less stringently regulated by the FDA than recalls. Some pet owners may interpret “withdrawal” less urgently, but the underlying risk of contamination is the same once pathogens are detected.

Best Buy Bones / Nature’s Own — Bully Bites Pet Treats (10/03/2025)

On October 3, 2025, Best Buy Bones, Inc. recalled four lots of Nature’s Own Pet Chews Bully Bites (1-lb resealable bags) due to potential Salmonella contamination. The products share an expiration “Best Buy” date of September 2027. Consumers who bought these treats after September 23, 2025, are urged to return or safely discard them.

FDA

FDA

About the Brand

Best Buy Bones has been producing all-natural pet treats and chews (Nature’s Own line) in the U.S. for nearly 30 years. They market their products as free of artificial additives, using USDA-approved raw materials and cooking them under strict supervision. Their treats (like Bully Bites) are chew-type products rather than full meals; they are often sourced from parts of beef cattle (face, head, etc.) with minimal processing. While the recall is for a treat product, contamination of treats also poses a risk to pets and humans, especially through handling surfaces or contact.

Because treats are fed more intermittently, pet owners may not always associate illness with them—but they still must be treated seriously in recalls.

Recall Observations & Trends

• Across these recalls, Salmonella has been a recurring culprit; Listeria monocytogenes also appears, especially in raw formulations.

• Raw diets (and freeze-frozen raw foods) face particular challenges in pathogen control given minimal cooking or sterilization.

• Some companies rely on preventative technologies (like HPP) or fermentative strategies, but those are not foolproof.

• The difference between a voluntary recall and a market withdrawal is important: recalls are formally overseen by the FDA, whereas withdrawals may lack full regulatory oversight.

• Even well-established raw pet-food brands are not immune to contamination events.

Choosing Safe, Healthy Food for Your Dog

When it comes to feeding your dog with confidence, here are guiding principles to reduce the risk of recalls, contamination, or nutritional imbalances:

1. Prioritize brands with strong quality control & transparency
   Look for firms that publish pathogen testing, use HACCP or GMP practices, and are willing to engage in formal recalls if needed—not just market withdrawals.

2. Retain packaging & lot codes, and subscribe to recall alerts
   Always keep the original packaging until consumption is complete. Sign up for FDA or brand recall notifications, so you’re quickly informed if your product becomes implicated.

3. Consider processing technologies
   Some raw-capable brands use technologies like high-pressure processing (HPP) or fermentation to reduce microbes. While not perfect, they add layers of safety.

4. Store, handle, and thaw foods safely
   Raw and frozen foods should be handled like human food: thaw in sealed containers, avoid cross-contamination, sanitize surfaces and bowls, and wash hands thoroughly.

5. Vet-nutritional oversight for raw or specialty diets
   Work with a veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist to ensure any diet (especially raw- or homemade) is balanced and doesn’t predispose to health issues.

6. Rotate or diversify diet when possible
   Using multiple trusted sources or rotating protein types (while ensuring nutritional consistency) can reduce your reliance on any single product that might later be recalled.

7. Watch your dog for signs of gastrointestinal or systemic illness
   Symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, fever, or decreased appetite warrant immediate vet attention—particularly if they occur after a diet change or when feeding a new batch.

While no system is foolproof, combining strong brand choices, conscientious storage and handling, and ongoing vigilance gives your dog the best chance at safe, nourishing meals with fewer surprises from recalls.