Blue Ridge Beef—Repeat offender

Eight recalls in eight years. Two failed inspections—one in 2019, the other in 2021. One Warning Letter, Dated June 26, 2020.

Something is very wrong at Lea-Way Farms, Inc. (dba Blue Ridge Beef).

Yesterday (January 31, 2025), Blue Ridge Beef recalled 5,700 lbs of its Natural Mix for Dogs (2-lb logs; Lot #N25/12/31; UPC 854298001054) after the North Carolina Department of Agriculture’s Food and Drug Protection Laboratory found Salmonella in a sample of the product.

The recalled raw dog food was distributed between January 3/2025 to January 24/2025 and sold primarily in retail stores in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York State, Tennessee, and Rhode Island.

Although no illnesses were reported in connection with this recall, the same cannot be said for two prior recalls.

On December 6, 2024, the FDA received a complaint about two cats that had developed gastrointestinal symptoms after being fed Blue Ridge Beef – Kitten Mix (two different lot numbers). The cats survived. The company recalled a single production lot of the Kitten Mix after the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources reported the presence of Salmonella in a sample of the food.
On November 24, 2024, the FDA received a complaint about a litter of puppies that had fallen ill after being fed Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix. Fecal samples from the puppies tested positive for Salmonella. The puppies appeared to have recovered after two weeks of treatment with antibiotics. One puppy died suddenly after recovering from the initial illness. A necropsy revealed evidence of sepsis (generalized infection) and stomach ulcer consistent with a bacterial infection. Blue Ridge Beef recalled 9,600 lbs of the Puppy Mix after testing by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services confirmed the presence of Salmonella in a sample of the product.

A history lesson

According to the FDA Inspections Dashboard, Lea-Way Farms has been inspected three times—in 2016 (Voluntary Action Indicated), 2019 (Official Action Indicated), and 2021 (Official Action Indicated).

The Official Action taken following the 2019 inspection culminated in a Warning Letter issued on June 26, 2020, and addressed to Steven J. Lee, CEO/Owner of the company. In this letter, the FDA cited multiple, serious violations of Current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP). The agency also noted that Lea-Way had failed to renew its food facility registration, as required by law.

Some of the cGMP violations included:

Raw materials were not examined to ensure their suitability for manufacturing and processing, and were not handled under conditions that would protect the food from contamination. Specifically, the company used tissues from animals that died otherwise than by slaughter without determining whether the animals had been sick, or injured, or medicated prior to death.
Concrete floors of the kill floor (used for skinning and evisceration of whole animals), the cooler room, and the grinder/mixer room were rough and pitted, and there were standing pools of water.
Thawing beef parts were allowed to come into contact with the concrete floors.
Carcasses were dragged on the concrete floors, dropped from the railing system onto the floors, and trimmed from the floors.
Stomach contents and fecal matter were observed to have spilled over onto exposed carcasses, which were then transferred into the cooler area without being rinsed clean.

One year later, not much had changed. A July/August 2021 inspection revealed multiple violations, some of which were repeat observations from 2019.

Although the company’s Food Safety Plan specified daily sampling of product for pathogen testing, no samples had been collected or analyzed since the April 2019 inspection.
The company used pathogen reduction steps that had not been validated for their ability to reduce the level or presence of pathogens in the finished product.
The company still used tissues from animals that had died other than by slaughter without determining whether they had been sick, diseased, injured, or medicated prior to death.
The company was unable to provide monitoring records associated with metal detection, sanitation, pest control, environmental monitoring, water testing, and employee training.
The concrete floors had not been repaired.
Environmental testing had not been conducted since April 2019, and the test kits on had had expired on 22 Feb 2018.
Salmonella London, Salmonella Montevideo, and Listeria monocytogenes were recovered from finished product samples collected during the course of the inspection.

The company responds

The company responded in writing to the observations from the 2021 inspection with a list of promised corrections, including:

A hazard analysis had been generated and supplied to the FDA.
Random product samples would be tested using test swabs and, if positive, would be sent to a third party lab for analysis.
Documentation of pathogen reduction effectiveness would be made available during subsequent inspections.
The cattle in question were shot on the farm and the carcasses transported to the manufacturing facility. The farm advised the company that the cattle had not received any medication.
Monitoring records are now updated daily and have been made available to FDA.
Employee training has been updated and all employees have been retrained in proper procedures.
New test swabs for environmental testing were ordered and periodic testing will resume.
The company is seeking a contractor who can perform a resurfacing of the concrete floor that can withstand cleaning and sanitation and be affordable.

Then what happened?

We don’t know.

There has been no Warning Letter issued as a follow-up to the 2021 inspection.

The FDA did not release their reply to the company’s corrective measures as part of the agency’s response to eFoodAlert‘s Freedom of Information Act requests.

As best we can tell from the FDA Inspection Database, there has been no further follow-up inspection since 2021.

An email to FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine spokespersons regarding the most recent recall notice has gone unanswered so far.

What does this mean?

The FDA’s silence and apparent inaction could mean one of two things: either the agency does not have the resources to conduct a proper follow-up investigation at Blue Ridge Beef, or the FDA is quietly preparing legal action against the company.

Only time will tell.

Meanwhile, consumers who choose to feed their dogs and cats commercial raw pet foods should consider switching to a brand with a better track record for food safety.

“A complete and compelling account of the hidden and not-so-hidden ways the food we give our beloved pets can be contaminated.” – JoNel Aleccia, Health Reporter, Food & Nutrition, The Associated Press.

“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Recalls and Alerts: January 30–31, 2025

Here is today’s list of food safety recalls, product withdrawals, allergy alerts and miscellaneous compliance issues. The live links will take you directly to the official recall notices and company news releases that contain detailed information for each recall and alert.

If you would like to receive automatic email alerts for all new articles posted on eFoodAlert, please submit your request using the sidebar link.

“An invaluable resource for busy pet owners” – Food Safety News

Available from all major on-line retailers, including:

Outbreak/Illness Investigations

No Alerts

United States

Allergy Alert: United Natural Trading LLC recalls Fresh Direct Dark Chocolate Covered Pretzels (Lot 24353; Best by 06/30/2025; UPC 811102026276) due to undeclared milk.

Food Safety Recall: Clements Foods Co recalls Keith Valley mustard and Red Boy brand mustard (1 gal; Lot codes 4341CF, 4342CF, 4343CF, 4344CF, 4346CF; CF4341, CF4342, CF4344, CF4346) after the mustard seed ingredient tested positive for Salmonella.

Food Safety Recall: Gerber Products Company recalls GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – STRAWBERRY APPLE (3.2 Oz (90g); All lots; UPC 0 15000 04618 7) and GERBER® SOOTHE N CHEW® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA (3.2 Oz (90g) and 1.59 Oz (45g); All lots; UPC 0 15000 04608 8 & 0 15000 01015 7) due to a potential choking hazard. The company also has announced a discontinuation of these products.

Pet Food Safety Recall: Blue Ridge Beef recalls Natural Mix for Dogs (2 lb log; Lot N26/12/31; UPC 854298001054) due to Salmonella contamination.

Canada

Food Safety Recall: Nestlé Canada recalls and discontinues GERBER^® SOOTHE ‘N’ CHEW^® TEETHING STICKS – STRAWBERRY APPLE and GERBER^® SOOTHE ‘N’ CHEW^® TEETHING STICKS – BANANA due to a potential choking hazard.

Food Safety Recall: L’entreprise Avril (Granby, QC) recalls multiple prepared dishes due to possible foreign matter contamination (pieces of metal). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall: Loblaw Companies Limited recalls D. Effe T. Brand Lemon Delight and Tartlet with Forest Fruits (sold between mid-December 2024 and January 2025 at the service case counter in Fortinos™, Loblaw™, Valu-Mart™, Your Independent Grocer™, and Zehrs™ stores) in response to a recall notice issued by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency due to Salmonella contamination.

United Kingdom and Ireland

Food Safety Recall Update (Ireland): Trade recalls various Cape Herb and Spice products due to foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic). Please refer to the recall notice for an updated list of affected products.

Food Safety Recall (UK): Lidl GB recalls Alpenfest Style Salted Mini Pretzels – Milk Chocolate and Alpenfest Style Salted Mini Pretzels – Dark Chocolate (140g; Batch code 8535; Best before 30 June 2025) because they may cause a burning sensation in the mouth when consumed.

Food Safety Recall Update (UK): Terry Smyth Ltd recalls various Cape Herb and Spice products due to foreign matter contamination (pieces of plastic). Please refer to the recall notice for an updated list of affected products.

Hong Kong and Singapore

No Alerts

Australia and New Zealand

Allergy Alert (Australia): Lt Johnny’s and Caterina’s Pizza & Gourmet Food recalls Margherita Pizza and Prosciutto Pizza (12 inch; Best before 11 Dec 2024 and 13 Jan 2025) due to undeclared soy, sulphites, and cashew.

Allergy Alert (New Zealand): McGregors Trading Group Limited t/a: Bernie’s Bakery HQ recalls Heritage Breads brand Ready to Bake Mighty Garlic Ciabatta (all batches and dates) due to undeclared milk and peanut.

Food Safety Recall (New Zealand): Piccadilly recalls four varieties of Cape Herb & Spice brand seasonings due to foreign matter contamination (plastic). Please refer to the recall notice for a complete list of affected products.

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Links to national recall sites

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Canada

Czechia (Czech Republic)

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

Hong Kong

Hungary

Iceland

Ireland (Republic of)

Israel

Italy

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Romania

Singapore

Slovakia (Slovak Republic)

Spain (food safety alerts)

Spain (allergy alerts)

Sweden

Switzerland

United Kingdom

United States of America (FDA)

United States of America (USDA/FSIS)

Bird flu and household pets

Highly pathogenic avian influenze (HPAI), more commonly known as bird flu, not only infects poultry flocks (backyard and commercial) and dairy herds.

The influenza A H5N1 virus (the current prevalent variety of bird flu virus in circulation) has been found in a range of wildlife species in addition to wild birds. From deer mice to dolphins, from cougars to coyotes, no mammalian species is completely immune from infection.

In recent weeks, it has become clear that household pets also are at risk.

Which pets are most at risk?

In April 2023, a domestic dog tested postive in Canada for the H5N1 virus after chewing on a wild goose. The dog died a few days later.

Household pets that spend unsupervised time outdoors are at risk of coming into contact with infected wildlife, such as a sick or dead bird or rodent.

The risk is increased if the household also maintains a backyard poultry flock.

Caged birds may also be at risk, if they are allowed to fly free from time to time and come into contact with a wild bird.

Yet, even pets that are kept largely indoors and are under supervision while outside can become infected with the bird flu virus.

Bird flu and cats

Cats are more susceptible to bird flu infections than dogs. There have been several reports of barn cats and feral cats becoming as a result of exposure to H5N1 on dairy farms.

Domestic indoor cats also are at risk.

Recently, Food Safety News reported on a case involving three cats in one household that were fed raw milk from the California company, Raw Farm LLC in late 2024. Two of the cats died and a third became seriously ill. A fourth cat in the household, which did not drink any of the raw milk, remained healthy.

On December 3, 2024, Raw Farm LLC recalled all raw milk and cream products after the California Department of Food and Agriculture found multiple instances of H5N1 virus in the company’s raw milk.

The dairy’s owner, Mark McAfee, denied that his milk was the source of the virus that killed the cats, claiming that the H5N1 virus cannot survive for long periods in cold milk. However, a recent study funded by the National Institutes of Health determined that the H5N1 virus remained viable in refrigerated raw milk for five weeks with only a minor decline in virus levels.

The H5N1 virus can also be present in raw pet food.

On December 24, 2024, Northwest Naturals recalled one batch of Northwest Naturals brand 2lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. Testing was initiated after a cat that had been fed the raw pet food developed bird flu and died.

On December 31, 2024, the Los Angeles County Department of Health advised the public not to feed Monarch Raw Pet Food to their pets after the H5N1 virus was detected in a sample. Again, testing was initiated after a cat that had been fed the product became ill and was confirmed to be infected with the virus.

On January 3, 2025, Monarch Raw Pet Food Company issued a statement claiming that there was no scientific evidence to substantiate the link between their pet food and the cat illness.

What is the FDA doing to protect pet health?

eFoodAlert reached out to the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and received the following statement from a CVM spokesperson:

The FDA is tracking cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in domestic and wild cats in California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington State that appear to be linked to eating contaminated food products. No human illness has been reported from handling these foods or through contact between people and the animals.

Some of the animals were fed raw poultry or raw poultry pet food, while others ate unpasteurized milk. The FDA is working with state and federal counterparts to gather more specific information about what animals ate which foods and when, and to coordinate test results of the animals and the suspect foods.

The FDA and state authorities routinely work together to surveil the animal food supply, including pet food. This includes conducting risk-based facility inspections and collecting animal food samples to help ensure safety. The FDA may also collect samples “for cause,” such as when a pet food is suspected of being associated with human or animal illness. State authorities also regularly collect samples from retail settings and share test results with the agency. HPAI is an emerging contaminant in animal food. Analytical capacity is limited and pathogens like H5N1 can be difficult to detect because they might not be evenly distributed throughout the product (increasing the possibility of a false negative result).

Part of a pet food manufacturer’s responsibility is to bring a safe, wholesome product to market that is not adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. As we learn more about the transmission of H5N1 in animal food, there are several practices that the FDA is encouraging pet food manufacturers and others in the supply chain to use to prevent HPAI transmission through animal food. These practices could include seeking poultry from flocks that are documented as having remained healthy throughout processing, and taking processing steps, such as heat treatment, that are capable of inactivating viruses and other hazards.

All recent detections of H5N1 in cats had these things in common: the infected cats ate wild birds, unpasteurized milk, raw poultry, and/or raw poultry pet food. We know that cats are particularly sensitive to HPAI, and that very young, very old or immune-compromised animals are at greater risk of infection. The FDA continues to recommend that consumers avoid feeding pets any products that are recalled or from affected farms if those products have not been thoroughly cooked or pasteurized to inactivate the virus. If consumers are unsure of the origin of those products, it’s safest to follow the USDA guidelines for handling and thorough cooking before feeding. Animals should also be kept from hunting and eating wild birds.

What to watch for

Symptoms of a bird flu infection vary with the species. Here is a short list of what to watch for. Contact your veterinarian if you suspect one of your pets may be infected with bird flu. If you or a household member begins to exhibit symptoms associated with the bird flu virus, contact your healthcare provider.