A product that can cause life-threatening nutritional deficiencies has been added to the list of recalled pet foods.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an updated notice on Monday, June 8, regarding certain freeze-dried and frozen raw pet food products manufactured by GO Raw LLC. The company announced a voluntary recall in February after its food products were found to contain extremely low concentrations of thiamin, also known as vitamin B1.
Thiamine is an essential nutrient for dogs and cats, who use thiamin to maintain normal nerve function and properly digest and metabolize carbohydrates. Without this, pets, especially cats, can experience deficiencies that can lead to neurological problems, seizures, and even death.
The company said it believed the product had been removed from shelves and the recall was done “out of an abundance of caution,” but the long expiry date means the food may still be in the pantry or freezer.
Here’s what you need to know about the recall.
Which pet food products will be recalled?
Since GO Raw first initiated the recall on February 17, one more product has been added to the list.
- Steve’s Real Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried 1.25 lb bag, lot code C26022, UPC 6-91730-164 02-7, expiration date January 22, 2028.
- Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried Nuggets 10 oz bag, lot code C25288, UPC 6-91730-18103-1, expiration date October 15, 2027.
- Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Frozen Diet 2 lb and 12 lb bags with lot codes MCD25350 and MCC25321, UPC 6-91730-17104-9, best before dates 5/17/2027 and 6/16/2027.
Where was the recalled pet food sold?
The recalled pet food products are sold in 21 states and have a best-before date of 2028.
- colorado
- Utah
- washington
- Oregon
- pennsylvania
- rhode island
- Michigan
- California
- texas
- illinois
- georgia
- north carolina
- south carolina
- florida
- minnesota
- new york
- ohio
- wisconsin
- pennsylvania
- idaho
- montana
What to do with recalled pet food
Consumers who purchased affected products should stop feeding their pets and return them to the place of purchase for a full refund or replacement. Consumers can contact the company at cs@gorawllc.com or 801-432-7478.
Thiamine deficiency can be life-threatening, so pet owners should contact their veterinarian if they see any of the following signs of thiamine deficiency:
Early signs:
- Decreased appetite.
- vomiting.
- Excessive salivation.
- Weight loss.
- Poor growth.
Late symptoms of persistent deficiency include:
- Ventral flexion of the neck (bending the head towards the floor).
- Mental sluggishness (confusion, lethargy, unresponsiveness, failure to interact, low energy).
- Vision changes.
- Walking unsteadily, turning, and falling.
- Seizure.
- Weakness and lethargy.
Food safety and raw pet food
Commercial raw pet foods, or pet food products made from uncooked animal ingredients, have become increasingly popular in recent years as a “healthier” option for devoted pet parents. One selling point is that the product doesn’t go through the same heat treatment as kibble, which theoretically preserves more nutrients, but it also means there’s one less step to kill bacteria between the time the food leaves the factory and the dinner bowl, according to the CDC.
Raw pet food is a regular on FDA-issued recall lists. Listeria and salmonella, food poisoning bacteria that can be killed by cooking, are often behind the problem.
Other diseases like avian influenza can also be transmitted to pets through commercial raw pet food. According to the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, there have been more than a dozen cases reported since 2024 of cats, which are highly susceptible to H5N1, contracting the virus from commercially available food. Some companies, like Wild Coast Law, have issued multiple recalls after animals became sick or died from food contaminated with avian influenza.
In May, an Oregon jury awarded more than $800,000 in damages to a local man whose cat became ill and died after eating raw pet food.
