Following FDA inspections, Lea-Way Farm in Statesville, NC. operating as Blue Ridge Beef received a warning letter as result of defects in plant structure, manufacturing procedures and contamination.  FDA issued a warning letter in September 2019 confirming the presence of Listeria, Salmonella and E.coli in product. Subsequent reviews of the facility confirmed numerous defects in the plant including inadequate plumbing and sewage, insufficient hand washing facilities, a malfunctioning air cooler, cross contamination between products, use of animals that died other than by slaughter without determining whether drugs had been administered and numerous instances of unacceptable manufacturing procedures.

The FDA and CDC have previously warned owners of pets over the dangers of feeding raw meat products that may be contaminated with pathogens transmissible to family members.  There is no nutritional justification to feed other than a branded cooked raw meat product or a pelleted vegetable-meat by-product blend formulated to the nutritional requirements of the age and species of pet.