FDA WARNING: Don’t Feed Performance Dog Raw Pet Food

Do you feed your dog a raw food diet? If so, you’ll want to keep reading. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is urging dog parents to stop feeding all Performance Dog frozen raw pet food. This comes after a sample tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono).

During an inspection at Bravo Packing, Inc. (Performance Dog’s manufacturer), officials found two samples from different products tested positive for Salmonella and/or Listeria.

What Pet Parents Need To Know About This Recall

Here’s some good news: One of the sampled products was never distributed.

But, now the bad news: The recalled food that was distributed is going to be difficult for pet parents to identify. We know the lot code is 072219 and the recalled food was sold to customers frozen in 2-pound pouches. However, the recalled food doesn’t have a lot code printed on the packaging.

According to the FDA:

“Bravo Packing, Inc. Performance Dog products are sold frozen in two-pound plastic pouches. Lot codes are printed on the outside of the boxes used to distribute the product, but the lot codes are not printed on the individual sealed plastic pouches, also known as chubs. Therefore, there are no unique identification numbers on the individual chubs that would allow customers to verify whether their product belongs to the affected lot.”

Since the recalled food products are sold frozen, FDA officials are concerned that people may still have them in their possession. 

*Bottom Line: If you have any Performance Dog product that you purchased after July 22, 2019, you’re urged to throw them away immediately! When getting rid of this recalled food, please put it in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it.

A Quick Backstory

This isn’t the first time Bravo Packing, Inc. has made the news for pathogen contamination. According to a notice by the FDA:

“This is the second time Bravo Packing, Inc. products have tested positive for pathogen contamination. In September 2018, Bravo Packing, Inc. recalled all Performance Dog frozen raw pet food due to Salmonella. Also, during a 2016 inspection, the FDA collected samples of Bravo Packing, Inc. horse meat chunk animal food that tested positive for the drugs pentobarbital and phenytoin.”

There’s a Concern For Animals & Humans

Salmonella and L. mono can affect both pets and humans. Here’s a quick overview of both: 

Salmonella

Pets infected with Salmonella don’t always display symptoms, but signs can include lethargy, decreased appetite, fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. If your pet has these symptoms, contact your vet immediately.

It’s important to note that infected pets can shed the bacteria in their feces and saliva without showing signs of being sick.

People with Salmonella infection can experience diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people symptoms appear 12 to 72 hours after being exposed to the bacteria. The infection usually lasts for 4-7 days and most people recover without treatment. However, for some people, diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. Young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria infections in pets are rare but possible. Customers should keep an eye out for symptoms such as weakness, lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, fever, nervous, muscular and respiratory signs, shock, and even death.

As with Salmonella, infected pets can shed L. mono in their feces and saliva without showing signs of being sick. 

For people: Listeria monocytogenes infections can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in children, the elderly, and anyone with a weakened immune system. While healthy people may only suffer short-term symptoms (such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea), it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should immediately contact a health care provider.

Feed This Food? 

Again, if you suspect you are feeding this recalled food, throw it out immediately. Also, you’re urged to thoroughly clean any surfaces or items the food may have touched. This includes your freezer, refrigerator, floors, dog bowls, toys, etc. Also, make sure to clean up any poop in your yard, community, or nearby park where people or other animals may become exposed. 

When handling raw food, it’s always important to wash your hands thoroughly and follow the safety instructions.

The post FDA WARNING: Don’t Feed Performance Dog Raw Pet Food appeared first on Proud Dog Mom.



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