Quick answer: If you have a bag of Victor with a Best By Date before 10/31/2024, stop feeding it immediately and check the UPC against the recall list. Bags with Best By Dates of 11/1/24 or later are not affected.
I've been feeding Victor for years. It's a solid brand, good protein content, reasonable price. So when this recall hit, I had to dig in and figure out exactly what was going on. The recall started in October 2023 and expanded to cover all brands made at the Mount Pleasant plant with Best By Dates before 10/31/2024. Salmonella contamination is the risk, and it can affect both dogs and people handling the food. Over 20 Victor formulas are listed, plus Wayne Feeds, Eagle Mountain, and Member's Mark varieties. The number to call for refunds or questions is 1-888-428-7544. That's the same number I called when I found my bag was on the list. Got through quick, no runaround.
Mid America Pet Food runs the facility in Mount Pleasant, Texas. That's where all the recalled stuff came from. According to the official Victor Pet Food recall page, the company voluntarily recalled products with Best By Dates before 10/31/2024 because of potential Salmonella contamination. The original recall was October 30, 2023, and then they expanded it. A lot. The brands affected are Victor Super Premium Dog Foods, Wayne Feeds Dog Food, Eagle Mountain Pet Food, and some Member's Mark varieties. I checked the tables on Victor's news page and there are dozens of specific products listed. For Victor alone, you've got the Select line, the Purpose line, the Classic line, the Realtree line. All of them. And the sizes range from 5-pound bags up to 50-pound bags.
I should be clear about something. This is not a small recall. The FDA got involved, the CDC investigated. According to the FDA's investigation page, there were cases of Salmonella linked to this pet food. Healthy people infected with Salmonella can get nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping, fever. In rare cases it gets worse: arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, urinary tract symptoms. And pets? They can get lethargic, have bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting. Some just lose their appetite and have abdominal pain.
Actually, I take that back about it being just a few cases. The recall expanded because contamination was found in more products than initially thought. Mid America Pet Food decided to recall everything from that facility with Best By Dates before 10/31/2024. That is a massive scope. And honestly, I respect that. Better safe than sorry when Salmonella is involved.
Here is the thing that tripped me up. The recall page on Victor's site says all new bags with a Best By Date of 11/1/24 or later are not impacted. So if you bought a bag recently, check that date stamp. If it says November 2024 or later, you are fine. If it says anything before that, you need to stop using it. I called the number on the recall page. 1-888-428-7544. Handled it quickly, no major issues.
The specific Victor formulas on the recall list include Victor Select Beef Meal & Brown Rice Formula in 5, 15, and 40 pound bags, Victor Select Chicken Meal & Brown Rice Formula in 5, 15, and 40 pound bags, Victor Select Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Formula same sizes, and Victor Select Ocean Fish Formula same. Also the Victor Select Grain Free Chicken Meal & Sweet Potato in 5, 15, and 30 pound bags, Victor Select Grain Free Lamb Meal & Sweet Potato in 5, 15, and 30 pound, Victor Select Grain Free Yukon River Canine in 5, 15, and 30 pound. Victor Purpose Grain Free Active Dog & Puppy in 5, 15, and 30 pound, Victor Purpose Grain Free Hero Canine in 5, 30, and 50 pound, Victor Purpose Grain Free Ultra Pro in 5 and 30 pound, Victor Purpose Performance in 5 and 40 pound, Victor Purpose Nutra Pro in 5, 15, and 40 pound, Victor Purpose Senior Healthy Weight in 5, 15, and 40 pound, Victor Classic Elite Canine in 15, 40, and 50 pound, Victor Classic High Energy in 5, 40, and 50 pound, Victor Classic Hi-Pro Plus in 5, 15, 40, and 50 pound, Victor Classic Multi-Pro in 5, 30, and 50 pound, Victor Classic Professional in 5, 40, and 50 pound, Victor Realtree Edge Energy in 5, 15, and 40 pound, Victor Realtree Max-5 Pro in 5, 15, and 40 pound. All with Best By Dates before 10/31/2024. Then there is Wayne Feeds: Wayne Feeds High Energy in 40 pound, Wayne Feeds Original in 40 pound, Wayne Feeds Protein Plus in 40 pound, Wayne Feeds Gold Joint Support in 40 pound, Wayne Feeds Gold Puppy Plus in 40 pound, Wayne Feeds Gold Sport Protein in 40 pound. All before 10/31/2024.
If you have a recalled bag, stop feeding it to your dog. Check the UPC number against the tables. Call Victor for a refund or replacement at 1-888-428-7544. And if your dog is showing symptoms like lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, or just seems off, call your vet. Tell them it might be Salmonella. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling any of this food or the bowls it touched. Salmonella can pass from the food to you.
I was feeding my own dog the Victor Hi-Pro Plus before this hit. Switched him to something else temporarily. I'll probably go back to Victor once the new stock clears through. The bags with Best By Dates of 11/1/24 or later are confirmed safe by the company. One thing that annoys me about this whole situation is how the information spreads. The FDA page about the recall actually throws a 401 error now if you try to access certain URLs. So the official Victor site and the AVMA alert are your best bets for accurate information.
And honestly, the whole thing made me think about how much I rely on that one bag of food. My dog, a Lab mix with a sensitive stomach, didn't show any symptoms, thank goodness. But the worry was real. I ended up buying a small bag of a different brand at the local pet store, and he turned his nose up at it. Picky dog. So I'm glad the newer Victor bags are safe. I'll stick with the brand, but I'll always double-check the Best By Date now. If you're looking for a more permanent backup option for sensitive stomachs, check out my guide on the best dog food for allergies & sensitive stomach. I also have a roundup of my favorite everyday foods in my dog food reviews if you want to compare options.
