Viva Raw Pet Food Recall: Lots, Dates & What to Do (2026)

Viva Raw pet food recall update (last checked November 5, 2026): Viva Raw’s most recent public recall was announced on August 25, 2025, covering two lots of frozen raw dog and cat food (lots 21495 and 21975) for possible Salmonella and Listeria. The company also recalled lot 21244 in July 2024. If you have these lots, don’t feed them. Throw them away safely and contact Viva Raw for a refund.

Viva Raw sells frozen raw meals for dogs and cats, shipped directly to customers across the US. Because raw food isn’t cooked, any bacteria in the meat can reach your pet, and your kitchen. This guide explains each Viva Raw pet food recall using official FDA notices, how to check your freezer, what to do with recalled food, symptoms to watch for in pets and people, and how to handle raw pet food more safely.

Viva Raw Pet Food Recall Timeline

Here’s a quick summary of Viva Raw’s recall and regulatory history, based on FDA records:

As of November 5, 2026, we found no newer Viva Raw recall on the FDA’s recalls page. Recalls can happen at any time, so always check the FDA recalls list for the latest information.

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August 2025 Viva Raw Pet Food Recall: Products and Lot Numbers

On August 25, 2025, Viva Raw LLC of Charlotte, North Carolina, announced a voluntary recall of two lots of frozen dog and cat food, according to the FDA-posted company announcement. Routine testing by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture found Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

• Packaging: frozen 1 lb bricks in clear vacuum packaging, with the lot number printed on top.
• Distribution: July 2 to August 21, 2025, sold directly to consumers nationwide and to a small number of retailers in New York, Illinois, South Carolina, Florida, Kansas, California and Arizona.
• Illnesses: the company said no illnesses in dogs, cats or people had been reported for these lots.

July 2024 Viva Raw Recall: Lot 21244

On July 1, 2024, Viva Raw recalled turkey-based recipes from lot 21244 for possible Listeria monocytogenes, according to the company announcement posted by the FDA. The recalled products were:

• Viva Turkey for Dogs Ground
• Viva Turkey for Dogs Chunked
• Viva Turkey for Cats
• Viva Pure Turkey
• Viva Beef & Turkey for Puppies

The company said FDA testing during an inspection with North Carolina officials found Listeria in samples of Viva Turkey for Dogs. Viva Raw had planned to destroy the whole lot, but some product was released from its warehouse by mistake and shipped to customers between May 16 and June 28, 2024. No illnesses were reported for this lot.

FDA Warning Letter to Viva Raw (2026)

On August 5, 2026, the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine sent Viva Raw a warning letter, posted publicly on September 22, 2026. The FDA said samples collected in August 2025 found Salmonella Enteritidis in Viva Raw Pure Chicken and Chunked Chicken, and Listeria monocytogenes in its turkey and beef puppy food, making the food adulterated under federal law.

The FDA also said whole genome sequencing linked the Salmonella to a genetic cluster that includes isolates from people, showing potential to cause human illness. It asked Viva Raw to document corrective steps, including implementing high-pressure processing of packaged products, and to respond within 15 working days. A warning letter isn’t a new recall, but it shows the FDA’s ongoing concern about the 2025 contamination.

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How to Check Your Freezer After a Viva Raw Pet Food Recall

1. Find every Viva Raw package in your freezer, refrigerator and any thawing containers.
2. Look at the top of each 1 lb package for the printed lot number.
3. Compare it with the recalled lots: 21244, 21495 and 21975.
4. If you can’t read the lot number, treat the package as recalled. The FDA gives the same advice for unreadable codes in other raw food recalls.
5. Check your order history or emails from Viva Raw for shipping dates that fall inside the recall windows.

What to Do After a Viva Raw Pet Food Recall

Viva Raw’s FDA-posted notices give these steps:

• Don’t feed it to any pet or animal, and don’t sell or donate it.
• Handle it carefully. Use gloves or a paper towel, seal it in a plastic bag and put it in a trash can that children, pets and wildlife can’t reach.
• Clean and sanitize bowls, utensils, storage containers, counters and any freezer or fridge surfaces it touched.
• Wash your hands well with soap and water afterward.
• Ask for a refund by emailing info@vivarawpets.com or calling or texting (919) 371-8882, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST.

Symptoms of Salmonella and Listeria in Pets and People

In pets, Viva Raw’s 2025 notice lists lethargy, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), fever and vomiting. Some pets show only reduced appetite, fever or belly pain. Its 2024 notice adds that Listeria can cause respiratory or nervous system signs in pets. Pets can also carry the bacteria without looking sick and pass it to people or other animals.

In people, the notices list nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever. Listeria is especially dangerous during pregnancy, because it can cause miscarriage. Young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems are also more vulnerable.

How to Handle Raw Pet Food Safely

The FDA warns that raw pet food diets can be dangerous to pets and people. In an FDA study of 196 commercial raw dog and cat food samples, 15 tested positive for Salmonella and 32 for Listeria monocytogenes. If you feed raw, the FDA recommends:

• washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw food
• cleaning surfaces and utensils with hot, soapy water, then disinfecting them
• keeping raw food frozen until needed and thawing it in the refrigerator, not on the counter
• keeping raw pet food away from human food
• promptly refrigerating or throwing away leftovers
• not letting your pet lick your face, especially after a raw meal

For a balanced look at the benefits and risks, read our guide to the raw dog food diet pros and cons, and talk to your veterinarian about the safest diet for your pet.

Is Viva Raw Safe to Feed After the Recalls?

Only food from the recalled lots is affected by each Viva Raw pet food recall. Other lots weren’t included in those notices. Still, it’s reasonable to weigh the bigger picture before you keep buying:

• Repeat findings. Harmful bacteria were found in Viva Raw products in both 2024 and 2025.
• Regulatory follow-up. In its August 2026 warning letter, the FDA said it couldn’t fully evaluate Viva Raw’s corrective actions because the company hadn’t yet documented its new high-pressure processing step.
• Your household. Viva Raw’s recall notices say young children, older adults, pregnant people and anyone with a weakened immune system are more vulnerable to these bacteria.

Ask the company what safety steps it uses now, and talk to your veterinarian about whether raw feeding is right for your pet and family.

Is Viva Raw the Same as Raaw Energy?

No. The names sound similar, but Viva Raw and Raaw Energy are separate companies, and the Raaw Energy listeria recall is a different event.

The FDA issued an advisory on January 23, 2026, telling owners not to feed certain lots of Raaw Energy dog food after testing found Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and Campylobacter jejuni. Testing began after a dog illness complaint to the Connecticut Department of Agriculture. The FDA updated the advisory on May 22, 2026, when the recall expanded to all products made between July 17 and December 23, 2025, plus one later lot. If you feed Raaw Energy, check that advisory for its own product list.

How to Report a Problem With Pet Food

If you think a pet food made your pet or a family member sick, report it to the FDA through the Safety Reporting Portal. The FDA asks you to keep the original packaging, including the lot number, best-by date, UPC and where you bought it, plus your vet’s records if your pet was ill.

Viva Raw Pet Food Recall FAQs

Is there a Viva Raw pet food recall right now?

As of November 5, 2026, the most recent public Viva Raw recall we found was announced on August 25, 2025, for lots 21495 and 21975. The FDA also sent Viva Raw a warning letter in August 2026. Check the FDA recalls page for any newer notices.

Which Viva Raw lot numbers were recalled?

Lot 21244 (July 2024, turkey recipes) and lots 21495 and 21975 (August 2025, beef, chicken and puppy recipes). The lot number is printed on the top of each package.

What should I do if my dog ate recalled Viva Raw food?

Stop feeding it, clean everything the food touched and watch your dog for vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy or poor appetite. Call your veterinarian if any signs appear, and wash your hands after handling your dog, its bowls and its waste.

Can I get a refund for recalled Viva Raw food?

Yes. Viva Raw’s notices say to contact the company at info@vivarawpets.com or (919) 371-8882 for a refund on remaining product from the recalled lots.

Were any pets or people sickened by Viva Raw food?

The company’s 2024 and 2025 notices said no illnesses had been reported for the recalled lots. The FDA’s 2026 warning letter noted that the Salmonella strain was genetically linked to a cluster that includes human cases.

Final Thoughts

The Viva Raw pet food recall history covers three lots in 2024 and 2025, followed by an FDA warning letter in 2026. If you feed Viva Raw, check every package’s lot number, throw away any recalled food safely, clean thoroughly and contact your vet if your pet seems unwell. Because raw diets carry a higher risk of harmful bacteria, ask your veterinarian whether a cooked or commercially processed diet might be a safer choice for your household.