Elevated risk U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Viva Ground Beef for Dogs and Ground Chicken for Dogs and Cats recall: Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Recall published 1+ years ago

Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination

Viva Pet food & treats — recalled pet food & treatsViva Pet food & treats — recalled pet food & treats (photo 2)Viva Pet food & treats — recalled pet food & treats (photo 3)Viva Pet food & treats — recalled pet food & treats (photo 4)
4 photos published by U.S. Food and Drug Administration with the recall notice.

The hazard: Listeria contamination

This is a Listeria recall, so the usual kitchen tests do not apply — the bacteria grow in a cold fridge and leave no smell, no cloudiness and no off taste.

What the notice says: Salmonella and Listeria 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: Listeria monocytogenes is unusual among foodborne bacteria because it keeps growing at refrigerator temperature. A contaminated pack does not become safer for sitting in the cold, and it will look, smell and taste completely normal.

Symptoms and when to call a doctor

Listeriosis is mild or silent in most healthy adults, but it is serious for pregnant people, newborns, adults over 65 and anyone whose immune system is suppressed. The CDC describes intestinal illness as diarrhoea and vomiting, and invasive illness as fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance or convulsions. In pregnancy it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or infection in the newborn even when the parent feels only mildly unwell. Symptoms can start within a day or not appear for weeks, so tell any doctor you see that you ate a recalled product and give them the date.

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
August 25, 2025
Risk level
Elevated risk
Issued by
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Brand
Viva
Product type
Pet food & treats
Distribution
Nationwide
Reports of harm
No illnesses in dogs, cats, or humans related to these lots have been reported to date.

Products covered by this recall

Ground Beef for Dogs and Ground Chicken for Dogs and Cats

What the company announced

August 25, 2025 – Viva Raw LLC, Charlotte, NC is voluntarily recalling two lots of dog and cat foods due to contamination with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes . The recall is for Lot 21495 (Viva Ground Beef for Dogs; Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies) and Lot 21975 (Viva Ground Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chunked Chicken for Dogs; Viva Chicken for Cats; Viva Pure Chicken).

Salmonella and Listeria 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.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella or Listeria should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella and Listeria 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. Pregnant women are especially susceptible to Listeria infection, which can result in miscarriage. The young, the elderly, and people with weak immune systems are more vulnerable to infection.

Pets with Salmonella or Listeria 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.

The products were distributed between July 2, 2025 and August 21, 2025 directly to consumers nationwide and to a small number of select retailers in NY, IL, SC, FL, KS, CA, and AZ. The product is distributed as frozen 1 lb. bricks in clear vacuum packaging and the lot number is printed on the top of the packaging. Please see the attached example of product labels .

The potential for contamination was identified after routine testing was conducted by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Only products from Lots 21495 and 21975 are affected. No illnesses in dogs, cats, or humans related to these lots have been reported to date.

If you have products from Lot 21495 or Lot 21975 , please contact Viva Raw at [email protected] for a refund on any remaining product. You should then dispose of the food in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access. Do not sell or donate the recalled products. Do not feed the recalled product to pets or any other animals. Wash and sanitize pet food bowls, cups, and storage containers. Always ensure you wash and sanitize your hands after handling recalled food or any utensils that come in contact with recalled food.

If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected] or call/text us at (919) 371-8882 between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm EST Monday to Friday.

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

Lot or batch code

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

  • 21495
  • 21975

Package size

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

  • 1 lb

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 Listeria

Viva — This is a Listeria recall, so the usual kitchen tests do not apply — the bacteria grow in a cold fridge and leave no smell, no cloudiness and no off taste.

  1. Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.
  2. Photograph the label, the lot code and the date mark before the pack leaves the house — that picture is what a refund claim runs on.
  3. Throw it out in a sealed bag, or return it to the store. Either is accepted; what matters is that nobody else eats it.
  4. Wash and then sanitise anything the food touched: the fridge shelf and drawer, chopping boards, knives, counters and your hands. Listeria colonises cold surfaces and can survive there after the food is gone.

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: If you have products from Lot 21495 or Lot 21975 , please contact Viva Raw at [email protected] for a refund on any remaining product.

Company contact: Viva Raw LLC. — Consumers: Viva Raw, (919) 371-8882, [email protected]

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 Viva pet food & treats recalled?

Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes contamination Salmonella and Listeria 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: lot code 21495, 21975. 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?

Do not eat it and do not open a sealed pack to inspect it — opening it only spreads the bacteria around your kitchen.

Can I get my money back?

The notice says: If you have products from Lot 21495 or Lot 21975 , please contact Viva Raw at [email protected] for a refund on any remaining product.

Where was the recalled product sold?

It was distributed nationwide.

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