Check Your Shelves: FDA Expands Pet Food Recall Over Dangerous Vitamin Deficiencies

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced an expanded voluntary recall of select pet food products due to potentially dangerous vitamin deficiencies. On June 8, 2026, Utah-based manufacturer Go Raw LLC added an additional lot of its Steve’s Real Food Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried pet food to a prior recall after discovering the food may contain critically low levels of thiamine (Vitamin B1). This expansion builds upon initial recalls from February 2026 that affected chicken-based Quest Cat Food products. Because a prolonged lack of thiamine can trigger severe, life-threatening health issues, pet parents nationwide are being urged to check their pantries immediately.

What Products are Affected?

The newest addition to the recall list involves freeze-dried food formulated for both dogs and cats. The manufacturer notes that the affected inventory has largely cleared distribution channels, but bags may still exist in consumer homes.

According to the FDA Safety Announcement, you should look out for the following packaging details:

• Brand: Steve’s Real Food
• Recipe: Chicken Recipe Freeze-Dried
• Size: 1.25 lb. beige, zip-locked bags with a maroon stripe
• Lot Code: C26022
• UPC: 6-91730-16402-7
• Best-By Date: January 22, 2028

This specific lot was distributed to retail stores across 20 U.S. states. This follows the company's previous recall of Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Frozen (2 lb. bags), which prompted Go Raw LLC to temporarily pause all Quest product sales until nutritional consistency could be guaranteed.

Why Thiamine (Vitamin B1) Matters

Thiamine is a water-soluble vitamin necessary for normal carbohydrate metabolism and central nervous system function in animals. Neither dogs nor cats can produce thiamine naturally, meaning they rely entirely on balanced commercial diets or targeted supplementation to stay healthy.

While a deficiency impacts both species, cats are highly vulnerable to low thiamine levels. Felines have a much higher daily dietary requirement for Vitamin B1 than dogs and a very limited biological ability to compensate when their food drops below baseline nutritional standards.

Symptoms of Thiamine Deficiency to Watch For

If a pet eats a thiamine-deficient diet over weeks or months, the physical effects will progressively worsen. If you notice any of these warning signs, stop feeding the food and contact your veterinarian immediately.

Early Warning Signs

• Decreased appetite or complete refusal to eat
• Frequent vomiting
• Excessive drooling or salivation
• Gradual weight loss

Advanced Neurological Symptoms

• Difficulty walking or unsteady, wobbly movement
• Frequent circling behavior
• Involuntary lifting or bending of the head toward the floor
• Changes in vision or dilated pupils
• Seizures

Left untreated, advanced thiamine deficiency can be fatal. Fortunately, if caught early by a professional, the condition is highly treatable with thiamine injections or oral supplements.

Action Steps for Pet Owners

If you discover that you own a bag from the recalled lot, take the following steps:

1. Stop Feeding: Do not give any remaining portions of the food to your pets.
2. Dispose or Return: Throw the food away securely where stray animals cannot access it, or return the empty packaging to your place of purchase for a full refund.
3. Sanitize: Clean and wash your pet's bowls, measuring scoops, and food storage bins thoroughly.
4. Contact Support: You can contact Go Raw LLC directly via email at cs@gorawllc.com or by calling 801-432-7478 with specific questions regarding the reimbursement process.

To stay ahead of future safety alerts, you can routinely check the FDA Pet Food Recall Directory to monitor updates across all major pet food brands.

How to Protect Your Pets: A Cobb County Guide to Coexisting with Coyotes

Seeing a coyote near your home can be startling for any pet owner. However, coyotes are now a permanent part of our suburban landscape. According to the Cobb County Government Community Guide, they play an important role in our ecosystem by providing free rodent control.

The best way to keep your dogs and cats safe is to change the human behaviors that attract them, while re-teaching coyotes to fear us.

Here is a direct summary of the essential safety tips every local pet owner needs to know.

🐾 Core Pet Safety Rules

In a coyote’s eyes, a free-roaming pet looks like competition or potential prey. Use these daily rules to protect them:

• Short Leashes: Keep dogs on a leash 6 feet long or shorter when walking.
• Keep Cats Indoors: The only way to fully protect cats is to keep them inside or in a secure outdoor enclosure.
• Supervise Yard Time: Do not leave pets unattended in the yard.
• Watch the Season: Be extra vigilant from January to March during coyote breeding season, when they become highly territorial.

🏡 Creating a Coyote-Proof Yard

Coyotes are opportunistic omnivores. If your yard has food or shelter, they will return. Protect your property with these steps:

• Move Food Indoors: Feed pets inside and never leave food or water bowls outside.
• Lock Trash Cans: Secure your garbage in high-quality bins with locking lids. Only put them out on the morning of pickup.
• Clean Up Spills: Pick up fallen tree fruit and rake the ground beneath bird feeders to discourage the rodents that coyotes hunt.
• Block Dens: Use heavy-duty materials to close off open spaces under decks, sheds, or crawl spaces.
• Raise Your Fence: Fences must be at least 8 feet tall, or 6 feet tall with a rolling device called a "coyote roller" on top.
• Stop Diggers: Ensure your fence extends 12 inches underground or uses an L-shaped mesh apron pointing outward.

🔊 The Art of Hazing: Re-Teaching Fear

If you encounter a coyote that does not run away immediately, it has likely lost its natural fear of humans. You must act "big and loud" to drive it off:

• Stand Your Ground: Face the coyote and wave your arms over your head.
• Never Run: Running triggers their hunting instinct to chase you or your pet.
• Make Noise: Yell loudly or use noisemakers like whistles, air horns, or pennies shaken inside a soda can.
• Squirting Water: If you are at home, squirt them with a garden hose or a spray bottle filled with vinegar water.

Always continue hazing until the coyote completely leaves the area.

🚫 Why Lethal Removal Fails

It is tempting to think that removing the animals is the easiest solution, but research shows that lethal control does not work. When coyotes are killed, the remaining population undergoes a "rebound effect" where litter sizes increase and reproductive rates jump. Any empty territory is quickly claimed by new, transient coyotes.

It is much safer to train the resident coyotes to follow the neighborhood rules.

📞 How to Report Incidents

If you witness a coyote acting aggressively or lunging at a person, report it immediately to local authorities. For general, non-aggressive sightings, use it as an opportunity to secure your property and practice your hazing skills.

For more details on urban wildlife management, visit the official Cobb County Government website.