A pet food recall has been expanded in the U.S. to include a product with a potential vitamin deficiency, which could affect neurologic function in cats and dogs.
According to a Monday notice from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Go Raw LLC is expanding a voluntary recall — originally issued in February —to include an additional lot of Steve’s Real Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried that has potentially low levels of thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1.
“Thiamine (vitamin B1) is an essential water-soluble vitamin required for normal carbohydrate metabolism and neurologic function in both cats and dogs,” the company said in the announcement shared by the FDA, noting that cats are considered more susceptible.
Early signs of a thiamine deficiency can include decreased appetite, vomiting, excessive salivation, weight loss, or poor growth, the FDA said. However, if it progresses, symptoms could include wobbly walking, falling, seizures, weakness and lethargy, and become life-threatening.
Go Raw’s updated recall includes 1.25-pound bags of Steve’s Real Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried, with the lot code C2602, UPC 6-91730-164 02-7 and Best By Date of January 22, 2028.
The product was distributed through retail stores in 20 states: California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin.
Although there haven’t been any illnesses reported to date and Go Raw does not “believe this product remains available for purchase,” the recall was issued “out of an abundance of caution.”
Consumers who have the affected food should stop feeding it to their pets immediately and return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Products recalled by Go Raw in February include 10-ounce bags of Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried Nuggets and 12-pound or two-pound bags of Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Frozen Diet. They can be identified by their lot codes, UPC and Best By Dates, found here.
The initial recall came after the company received one confirmed report of illness associated with the Freeze Dried Nuggets product. The affected cat was treated by a veterinarian and has since recovered.
Many pet foods have been recalled across the U.S. in recent months due to health concerns. Last month, Albright’s Raw Pet Food recalled its Chicken Recipe for Dogs Complete and Balanced because it could have been contaminated with salmonella, a bacterium that causes food poisoning. In pets, symptoms of a salmonella infection can include vomiting, decreased appetite, lethargy and diarrhea.