Pennsylvania Pet Food Establishment Recalls Raw Dog Food After Testing Finds Salmonella and Listeria

FDA issued a health alert about dog food sold by a Pennsylvania Company, Lystn, LLC d.b.a./ANSWERS Pet Food. for potential Salmonella and Listeria contamination. This comes after samples collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were reported to have tested positive for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.   The FDA collected and tested unopened retail samples of products after receiving three consumer complaints of illness in dogs that ate the products.

The lots referenced below were distributed throughout the United States in retail stores and direct online sales. No illnesses associated with these lots have been confirmed.

According to the website, the food is fermented and this fermentation is supposed to help protect against pathogens.

https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/answers-pet-food-voluntarily-withdrawals-certain-limited-lots-beef-and-chicken-dog-foods-due
ANSWERS Pet Food Voluntarily Withdrawals Certain Limited Lots of Beef and Chicken Dog Foods Due to Potential Salmonella and Listeria
Summary
Company Announcement Date:  September 22, 2024
FDA Publish Date:  September 23, 2024
Product Type:  Animal & Veterinary  Food & Beverages  Pet Food
Reason for Announcement:  Due to Potential Salmonella and Listeria
Company Name:  Lystn, LLC. d.b.a. ANSWERS
Brand Name:  ANSWERS
Product Description:  Beef and Chicken Dog Foods

Company Announcement

Lystn, LLC d.b.a./ANSWERS Pet Food of Fleetwood, PA, is voluntarily withdrawing certain lots of ANSWERS Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs, ANSWERS Straight Beef Formula for Dogs, and ANSWERS Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs out of an abundance of caution after samples collected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration were reported to have tested positive for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. No illnesses associated with these lots have been confirmed. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.




Listeria monocytogenes rarely causes illness in dogs, but it is possible. Dogs can have mild symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Even if a dog is not showing symptoms, it can still be a carrier of the bacteria and spread it to humans. If a dog has consumed a product lot identified below, pet parents are encouraged to consult their veterinarian if symptoms exist.




People can become sick by handling contaminated food or touching surfaces that have been exposed to Listeria monocytogenes. Symptoms in humans may include fever, headache, muscle aches, stiff neck, nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, confusion, loss of balance and convulsions. Young children, elderly people, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections and symptoms can be more severe. Anyone exhibiting symptoms after handling a product lot identified below, should contact their healthcare provider.




Individuals handling pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to such a lot of product being implicated. There are thousands of species of Salmonella, less than a handful are harmful to pets or humans. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with such a product should contact their healthcare providers. Children, the elderly, and individuals with compromised immune systems may be at greater risk of Salmonella infection.




Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets may only exhibit decreased appetite, fever, and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed product lot identified below and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.




The lots referenced below were distributed throughout the United States in retail stores and direct online sales. Again, no illnesses associated with these lots have been confirmed.




ANSWERS is notifying the public, distributors, and retail stores regarding this notice.




The products being withdrawn are sold in 4lb half gallon cartons (see pictures at end of this announcement). The brand names and lot numbers of the product being withdrawn are listed in the table below:




PRODUCT NAME/UPC




SIZE




Best Buy / Expiration




Lot Code




ANSWERS Pet Food Detailed

Beef Formula for

Dogs/856554002102 4lb (Half Gallon Carton) MAY 06, 2026 BUBD MAY 06, 2026

ANSWERS Pet Food Straight

Beef Formula for

Dogs/856554002072 4lb (Half Gallon Carton) JAN 31, 2026 BUBD JAN 31, 2026

ANSWERS Pet Food Straight

Chicken Formula for

Dogs/856554002065 4lb (Half Gallon Carton) JAN 02, 2026

MAR 11, 2026 BUBD JAN 02, 2026 &

MAR 11, 2026

What to Do




FDA guidelines recommend any product from the listed lots that has not yet been consumed should be thrown out or destroyed in a way that children, pets, and wildlife cannot access it. Areas that may have come in contact with any contaminated food should be sanitized. The FDA recommends that people do not touch potentially contaminated food with bare hands and therefore suggests wearing gloves or using paper towels when placing any contaminated product in a sealed bag to throw out or when handling such food.




If consumers have any of these lots of products in their possession and desire a refund, please submit a receipt and pictures of the product to info@answerspetfood.com along with the retailer’s information. If you have questions or concerns, please email ANSWERS’ Pet Food at info@answerspetfood.com.




For Informational Purpose




From time-to-time pathogens appear in all types of pet food products and some may be harmful to pets and/or humans. The FDA considers any presence (zero tolerance) of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes, regardless of origin, quantity, and type, as an adulterant in pet food. In accordance with the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, to date, ANSWERS has not received any quantification data or a completed Health Hazard Evaluation (HHE) from the FDA or Center for Veterinarian Medicine for these particular lots of products. ANSWERS is conducting this voluntary withdrawal of these particular lots out of an abundance of caution to protect public health by ensuring timely removal of the implicated product lots from the marketplace. ANSWERS will continue investigating this FDA report pursuing its number one priority to bring healthy, safe, truly raw pet food products to market.




ANSWERS has been and will continue to work with the FDA to ensure that the highest and safest food is provided to your pets and continues to stand by the safety of our food and the unique and innovative way we protect our food with fermentation, probiotics and protective cultures that mitigate pathogens from growing.




FDA Advisory: Do Not Feed Certain Answers Pet Food for Dogs Due to Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes

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September 23, 2024




Fast Facts

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is cautioning pet owners that samples of two Answers Pet Food products made by Lystn LLC tested positive for Salmonella, a third product tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono), and a fourth product tested positive for Salmonella and L. mono.

The FDA collected and tested unopened retail samples of products after receiving three consumer complaints of illness in dogs that ate the products.

The affected products are sold frozen in 4-pound (half-gallon) cartons and consist of certain batches of Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Detailed Formula for Dogs, Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Straight Formula for Dogs, and Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs. Information to help consumers identify affected batches of product can be found in the “Product Information” section of this advisory. These products should not be fed to pets.

The products are sold online and in retail locations nationwide.

The FDA recommended that Answers Pet Food recall these products. To date, the firm has not initiated an adequate recall of the affected products.

If consumers have any pet food on the list below, they are advised to throw it away in a secure container. Do not feed it to your pets. Do not donate the food.

Clean and disinfect all pet supplies and surfaces that the food or pet had contact with.

Salmonella and L. mono can affect both people and animals. People with symptoms of Salmonella or L. mono infection should consult their health care providers. Consult a veterinarian if your pet has symptoms of Salmonella or L. mono infection. See symptom information below.

Product Information

Answers Pet Food does not use lot codes. However, affected products can be identified by a “Best Used By Date” (BUBD) sticker on the product carton.




The affected pet food consists of 4-pound (half gallon) cartons of:




Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Detailed Formula for Dogs

UPC/bar code number: 856554002102

BUBD: May 06 2026

Answers Pet Food Raw Beef Straight Formula for Dogs

UPC/bar code number: 856554002072

BUBD: Jan 31 2026

Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs

UPC/bar code number: 856554002065

BUBD: Jan 02 2026

Answers Pet Food Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs

UPC/bar code number: 856554002065

BUBD: Mar 11 2026

Product Labels

What do I need to do?

If you have any of the Answers Pet Food products listed above, stop feeding it to your pets and throw it away in a secure container where other animals, including wildlife, cannot access it. Do not donate the food.




The Best Used By Date can be found on a sticker on the carton. If you no longer have the packaging or can’t read the Best Used By Date, throw the food away.




Consumers who have had these products in their homes should clean and disinfect all pet supplies, including all storage containers, bowls, utensils, food prep surfaces, pet bedding, litter boxes, toys, floors, and any other surfaces that the food or pet may have had contact with, including your refrigerator or freezer. Clean up the pet’s feces in places where people or other animals may become exposed. Consumers should thoroughly wash their hands after handling the product or cleaning up potentially contaminated items and surfaces.




What is Salmonella and what are the symptoms of Salmonella infection?

Salmonella is a bacterium that can cause illness and death in humans and animals, especially those who are very young, very old, or have weak immune systems. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people infected with Salmonella can develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Most people recover without treatment, but in some people, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites unless the person is treated promptly. Consult your health care provider if you have symptoms of Salmonella infection.




Pets do not always display symptoms when infected with Salmonella, but signs can include vomiting, diarrhea (which may be bloody), fever, loss of appetite and/or decreased activity level. If your pet has these symptoms, consult a veterinarian promptly. You should also be aware that infected pets can shed the bacteria in their feces without showing signs of being sick.




What is Listeria monocytogenes (L. mono) and what are the symptoms of L. mono infection (listeriosis)?

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that can cause illness and death in humans and animals, especially those who are pregnant, very young, very old, or have weak immune systems. According to CDC, listeriosis in humans can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on the person and the part of the body affected. Symptoms can include headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, and convulsions in addition to fever and muscle aches.




Pregnant women typically experience only fever and other flu-like symptoms, such as fatigue and muscle aches. However, infections during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery, or life-threatening infection of the newborn.




Pregnant women and their newborns, adults ages 65 and older, and people with weakened immune systems are more likely to get sick with listeriosis. Anyone with symptoms of listeriosis should contact a health care provider.




L. mono infections are uncommon in pets, but they are possible. Symptoms may include mild to severe diarrhea; anorexia; fever; nervous, muscular and respiratory signs; pregnancy loss; depression; shock; and death. Pets do not need to display symptoms to be able to pass L. mono on to their human companions. As with Salmonella, infected pets can shed L. mono in their feces and saliva without showing signs of being sick, further contaminating the household environment.




Why is the FDA concerned about Salmonella and L. mono in pet food?

Pet foods contaminated with Salmonella and L. mono are of particular public health importance because they can affect both human and animal health. Pets can get sick from Salmonella and may also be carriers of the bacteria and pass it on to their human companions without appearing to be ill. The FDA is aware of cases in which humans and/or animals have gotten sick from exposure to Salmonella-contaminated pet foods (Salmonella-human cases, Salmonella-kitten, Salmonella-kitten, dogExternal Link Disclaimer). Although FDA is not aware of a documented case of a person acquiring L. mono infection from a pet food, once Salmonella or L. mono get established in the pet’s gastrointestinal tract, the animal can shed the bacteria in the feces when it has a bowel movement, and the contamination may continue to spread. Clean up the animal’s feces in yards or parks where people or other animals may become exposed, in addition to cleaning items in the home.




The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act requires that all animal foods, like human foods, be safe to eat, produced under sanitary conditions, contain no harmful substances, and be truthfully labeled. Refrigeration or freezing does not kill Salmonella or L. mono.




How can I report a pet illness?

People who think their pets have become ill after consuming contaminated pet food should first contact their veterinarians. Veterinarians who wish to have pets tested for Salmonella and L. mono may do so through the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN Network) if the pet is from a household with a person infected with Salmonella or L. mono.




The FDA encourages consumers to report complaints about pet food products electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal. Additionally, consumers can visit the SmartHub – Safety Intake Portal – Report a Product Problem (fda.gov) to obtain electronic assistance with submitting a report.