Go Raw expands recall to Steve’s Real Food over low thiamine

Go Raw LLC has widened its February 17, 2026 pet food recall, adding one lot of Steve’s Real Food Freeze-Dried Chicken Recipe because of potentially low thiamine levels. The FDA posted the expanded recall on June 8, 2026, and identified the newly affected product as a 1.25 lb bag with lot code C26022, UPC 6-91730-16402-7, and best-by date January 22, 2028. (fda.gov)

This latest action builds on a recall sequence that began in February with one lot of Quest Cat Food Chicken Recipe Freeze Dried Nuggets, then expanded to frozen Quest products. Industry coverage of the initial recall reported one confirmed feline illness; the cat was treated by a veterinarian and recovered. A retailer letter later showed the company had moved to a broader stop sale on all Quest frozen and freeze-dried products while it investigated formulation, ingredient supply, and processing questions tied to low thiamine levels. (petfoodindustry.com)

The newly added Steve’s Real Food product was distributed through retail stores in 20 states: Colorado, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Michigan, California, Texas, Illinois, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Wisconsin, Idaho, and Montana. The FDA notice describes the packaging as a beige, zip-locked 1.25 lb bag with a maroon stripe. Go Raw said it worked with distributors and retailers and confirmed the affected lot is no longer present in distribution channels, though it still initiated the recall out of caution. (fda.gov)

The broader backdrop is more concerning than a routine labeling issue. FDA materials and subsequent veterinary trade reporting have tied earlier Quest products to extremely low thiamine levels, with dvm360 reporting that FDA testing found affected lots far below the AAFCO minimum cat food nutrient profile standard of 5.6 mg/kg after the agency received a report from a veterinary neurologist about a cat with severe thiamine deficiency. Go Raw’s March retailer message said the company consulted an animal nutritionist with a PhD and chose to add a natural vitamin B source, inactive dried yeast, while replacement inventory was produced. (dvm360.com)

Expert reaction in this case has largely come through FDA and veterinary trade framing rather than direct outside commentary. The FDA emphasized that thiamine is essential for carbohydrate metabolism and neurologic function in both cats and dogs, with cats at higher risk because of their greater dietary requirement and limited ability to compensate for low intake. Veterinary trade coverage echoed that warning and highlighted the clinical progression from appetite loss, vomiting, and salivation to ventroflexion, dull mentation, ataxia, circling, falling, and seizures if deficiency continues. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this recall is a practical reminder to ask detailed diet-history questions when cats present with nonspecific GI signs, weight loss, cervical ventroflexion, vestibular signs, or other unexplained neurologic changes. It also underscores that freeze-dried and raw-adjacent products can create not only pathogen concerns, but nutrient adequacy concerns that may be harder for pet parents to recognize early. Because thiamine deficiency is generally reversible when caught promptly, clinics may want to review client communication protocols for recalled diets, especially for feline patients eating boutique, limited-distribution, or raw-format foods. (fda.gov)

Go Raw has said all current Steve’s Real Food products now use updated formulations that include a new vitamin premix, and those are the only formulations currently being distributed. That suggests the company is trying to draw a line between recalled inventory and reformulated product, but it also means veterinary teams may field questions from pet parents about whether replacement lots are safe to resume feeding. (fda.gov)

What to watch: The next key signals will be whether FDA posts any additional recall expansions or advisories, whether more illness reports surface, and whether the company provides clearer validation data on its reformulated diets and the scope of affected distribution. (fda.gov)