Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Sunseed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food recall: Due to potential Salmonella contamination

Recall published 2+ years ago

Due to potential Salmonella contamination

The hazard: Salmonella contamination

Salmonella is what triggered this notice. The bacteria transfer readily from hands and surfaces, which is why the clean-up matters as much as the disposal.

What the notice says: Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Why it matters: Salmonella is one of the most common causes of foodborne illness in the United States. It spreads easily from a contaminated product to hands, taps, cloths and other food in the same kitchen.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

The CDC describes salmonellosis as diarrhoea, fever and stomach cramps that usually begin between six hours and six days after exposure and last about four to seven days. Most people recover without treatment. Children under five, adults over 65 and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to become seriously ill. Seek care for diarrhoea with a high fever, bloody stools, vomiting that stops you keeping liquids down, diarrhoea lasting more than three days, or signs of dehydration such as very little urine, a dry mouth or dizziness when standing.

This page is general information, not medical advice. If you feel unwell, a clinician who can see you is the only person able to judge your case.

Recall details

Published
June 28, 2024
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Sunseed Vita Prima
Product type
Animal feed
Distribution
Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Wisconsin
UPC codes
087535400604, 051233347929

Products covered by this recall

Hedgehog Food

What the company announced

Vitakraft Sun Seed Inc. of Weston, OH is working closely with our colleagues at the FDA and MN Department of Agriculture and out of an abundance of caution has elected to expand the recall to include the following lots of Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food and Vitakraft Vita Smart Hedgehog Food because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella . Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Vitakraft Sun Seed was notified on June 18, 2024, by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture that Salmonella was detected in an inspection sample of product from Lot Number 417429. The tests which discovered the bacteria were part of random testing performed by the State of Minnesota on consumer products, and not prompted by any consumer concerns.

Products matching the specific lot number below are being recalled:

  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 417429 · EXP: 10/18/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 406118 · EXP: 5/04/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 407265 · EXP: 5/22/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 407849 · EXP: 6/09/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 409133 · EXP: 6/20/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 410999 · EXP: 7/17/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 415624 · EXP: 9/21/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-87535-40060-4 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 419647 · EXP: 11/20/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-51233-34792-9 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 409175 · EXP: 6/28/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-51233-34792-9 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 411084 · EXP: 7/20/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-51233-34792-9 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 412635 · EXP: 8/18/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-51233-34792-9 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 415713 · EXP: 10/09/2025
  • UPC #:: 0-51233-34792-9 · DESCRIPTION: Sun Seed Vita Prima Hedgehog Food, 25oz · LOT: 417491 · EXP: 10/18/2025

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Products from the recalled lot were distributed to the following states: AZ, CA, FL, GA, IL, IN, KY, MA, MI, MN, MO, NC, NJ, NV, NY, OH, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, AND WI. Retailers and distributors who received the recalled lots have been contacted and asked to pull these lots from their inventory and shelves.

Consumers who have purchased a product from the recalled lot should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Customers who have further questions are welcome to contact Customer Service at 1-800-221-6175 Extension 123, Monday through Friday between 8:30am and 5:00pm EST.

Reproduced from the company announcement posted on fda.gov. Links and contact forms in the original are not repeated here; the official notice below has them.

Check your product

The notice names 28 codes you can read straight off the package. Type the one printed on yours and the list below narrows to it.

UPC / barcode

Read the twelve digits under the barcode on the package.

  • 087535400604
  • 051233347929

Lot or batch code

Usually ink-stamped near the seam, the cap or the bottom of the pack.

  • 417429
  • 406118
  • 407265
  • 407849
  • 409133
  • 410999
  • 415624
  • 419647
  • 409175
  • 411084
  • 412635
  • 415713
  • 417491

Best-by / use-by date

Printed beside the lot code, not on the price sticker.

  • 10/18/2025
  • 5/04/2025
  • 5/22/2025
  • 6/09/2025
  • 6/20/2025
  • 7/17/2025
  • 9/21/2025
  • 11/20/2025
  • 6/28/2025
  • 7/20/2025
  • 8/18/2025
  • 10/09/2025

Package size

Match the net weight or the piece count on the front of the pack.

  • 25 oz

Codes are lifted verbatim from the FDA — Company recall announcements notice. A code that is missing here may still be covered — the official notice is the complete list.

What to do about Salmonella

Sunseed Vita Prima — Salmonella is what triggered this notice. The bacteria transfer readily from hands and surfaces, which is why the clean-up matters as much as the disposal.

  1. Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.
  2. If you repackaged or froze it, check the freezer too. Salmonella is not killed by freezing.
  3. Watch everyone who ate it for about a week, and call a doctor sooner for a child under five or an adult over 65.
  4. Bag it and bin it, or take it back to the store — do not feed it to pets or livestock either.

Getting a refund without the pack

The commonest reason people skip the refund is that they have already thrown the item away. That rarely matters.

  • A photo of the label and lot code is accepted by most grocers, and so is a card statement line showing the purchase.
  • Store credit is often offered first. You can ask for the original payment method instead, and it is normally granted.
  • No photo either? Ask anyway. Grocery chains settle recall refunds at the service desk because disputing them costs more than paying them.
  • For a multi-pack or a case, ask for the full purchase price rather than a per-unit figure — the recall covers what you paid.

Remedy named in the notice: Consumers who have purchased a product from the recalled lot should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Company contact: Vitakraft Sun Seed Inc. — Consumers: Customer Service, 1-800-221-6175 Extension 123

The official notice

This page summarises a notice published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The agency notice is the authoritative version — read it before you act, and treat it as the final word if anything here looks different.

Open the FDA — Company recall announcements record U.S. Food and Drug Administration recalls

Questions people ask about this recall

Why was Sunseed Vita Prima animal feed recalled?

Due to potential Salmonella contamination Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

How do I know if I have the recalled product?

Match the codes printed on your package against the notice: UPC 087535400604, 051233347929; lot code 417429, 406118, 407265; best-by date 10/18/2025 or 5/04/2025. If the code on your package is not on that list, your unit is outside the recall.

What should I do with it right now?

Stop eating the product and keep it away from anything ready to eat.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: Consumers who have purchased a product from the recalled lot should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Which states were affected?

The notice lists Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina and others.

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