Blue Ridge Beef is recalling one of its frozen pet food products because it may be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. Listeria can sick the animal eating the product and can sicken humans who come into contact with the product, or with a sick pet. There is no word on whether or not any illnesses have been reported to date.
The recalled product is Turkey with bone for dogs, with lot number 103 mfd12716 and UPC number 854298001887. The product was sold at the retail level in North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. What is strange is that the picture provided at the FDA website is for Beef pet food. We can only assume the Turkey with bone is in a similar package.
If you purchased this product, do not feed it to your pet. Throw it away in a sealed or double bagged package, or take it back to the place of purchase for a refund. Then clean out your freezer or refrigerator with a mild bleach solution to kill any bacteria. Listeria grows at refrigerator temperatures, and freezing does not kill it. Wash your hands well with soap and water after handling this product.
Monitor yourself and your pet for the symptoms of listeriosis for the next 70 days if you fed this product to your pet. Pets can shed the bacteria and it can get on their coats.
The symptoms of listeriosis include high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Pregnant women can suffer miscarriages or stillbirths if they contract this infection, even if they are only mildly sick. Contact your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, or take your pet to the vet if they are sick.
