Pet food recalls happen more often than most pet owners realize. Every year, the FDA processes dozens of voluntary recalls for everything from salmonella contamination to foreign object fragments to nutritional imbalances. If you haven't experienced a recall with a food your pet eats, you might feel the risk is minimal. But being informed about recalls and how to respond protects your pet's health.
The challenge is that recalls aren't always prominently publicized. A brand might issue a quiet recall that reaches longtime customers but misses many pet owners. Understanding how to track recalls and respond appropriately ensures your pet's food safety.
How Pet Food Recalls Work
Most pet food recalls are voluntary—manufacturers discover a problem and issue a recall before the FDA forces one. This is good news because it means companies are catching problems. But it also means recalls might not be widely advertised.
Common recall reasons:
- Microbial contamination: Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria
- Nutritional deficiency: Insufficient taurine in cats (which causes heart disease)
- Foreign objects: Plastic, glass, metal fragments in food
- Mold contamination: Aflatoxins from contaminated ingredients
- Allergen presence: Undeclared ingredients that could trigger allergies
The FDA maintains a database of all recalls, but pet owners typically only hear about recalls if they actively search for them or happen to see news coverage.
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How to Track Recalls
FDA Pet Food Recalls Database: The FDA's official recall list (fda.gov/animalveterinary/recalls) is the authoritative source. It lists all active recalls with:
- Product name and manufacturer
- Specific lot codes affected
- The reason for recall
- When the recall was issued
- What to do with the recalled product
Check this regularly or set up your own system to monitor it.
Manufacturer notifications: Most manufacturers notify customers who registered products. If you purchased food online or registered the product, the manufacturer might contact you. However, registration rates are low, so this shouldn't be your only safety check.
News and pet websites: DVM360, Petfood Industry Magazine, and general pet news sites often report significant recalls. Following these sources keeps you informed.
Email alerts: Some pet food companies offer email alerts about recalls. If you feed a specific brand, check their website for alert options.
veterinary clinic notifications: Your veterinarian might mention recalls if they're significant, but don't rely solely on this—vets handle hundreds of brands and might miss recalls.
What to Do If Your Pet's Food Is Recalled
Immediately upon learning your pet's food is recalled:
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Stop feeding it immediately. Even if your pet hasn't shown symptoms, continued feeding means continued exposure.
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Note the lot code. Pet food packages have lot codes. Recalls typically specify which lot codes are affected. Check if you own that lot—not all lots might be affected.
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Check for symptoms: Depending on the contamination, symptoms might include:
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Abdominal pain
- In severe cases, organ damage signs
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Contact your veterinarian: Let them know about the recall and that your pet ate the recalled food. Most pets eat recalled food without developing symptoms, but your vet should know in case symptoms develop later.
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Follow recall instructions: The FDA notice tells you what to do with the food (typically don't feed it to anyone else, dispose of it safely, or sometimes return it to the manufacturer).
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Transition to new food safely: Introduce a new food gradually (over 7-10 days, mixing increasing amounts of new food with decreasing amounts of the old, if you still have unaffected food). If you don't have unaffected food, transition more quickly but monitor for digestive upset.
Documenting Your Food and Monitoring Symptoms
Being organized helps if a recall happens:
Keep records:
- Pet food brand, formula, and lot code
- Where you purchased it
- When you purchased it
- How much your pet consumed per day
Watch for delayed symptoms: Some contaminations (like salmonella) might not cause immediate symptoms. Monitor your pet for 2-4 weeks after learning about a recall. Symptoms might appear days after exposure.
Report to FDA: If your pet becomes ill after eating recalled food, report it to the FDA's pet food adverse event reporting system. This documentation helps establish patterns.
Preventing Recall Exposure
Diversify food sources: Don't feed the exact same formula forever. Rotating between brands and formulas (done gradually to prevent digestive upset) reduces the chance that a single recall eliminates all your options.
Buy from reputable sources: Purchase from reputable retailers or directly from manufacturers when possible. Avoid heavily discounted food from unclear sources—sometimes expired or counterfeit food appears in discount channels.
Check ingredients: Recalls sometimes target specific ingredient sources. Understanding your pet's food ingredients (looking for corn from certain suppliers, for example) helps you assess individual product risk.
Store food properly: Proper storage prevents mold growth and contamination. Store kibble in airtight containers in cool, dry conditions.
The Reality of Food Safety
It's important to note that even premium, natural, and prescription pet foods occasionally face recalls. Recalls aren't necessarily indicators of poor quality—sometimes they reflect thorough testing that catches problems before widespread consumption.
Conversely, just because a food hasn't been recalled doesn't mean it's safer than others. Some contamination might not be detected or reported.
The goal isn't to achieve perfect food safety (which isn't realistically possible) but rather to:
- Understand recall systems
- Monitor relevant recalls
- Respond quickly if your pet's food is affected
- Support feeding practices that minimize risk
Resources for Staying Informed
- FDA Animal Veterinary Recalls
- Pet Food Institute
- Your veterinarian
- Manufacturer websites
Being proactive about monitoring pet food recalls is one of the most important things you can do for your pet's health. Even if you never experience a recall affecting your pet's food, understanding how recalls work and what to do if one occurs ensures you're prepared.
Sarah Mitchell is a pet nutrition specialist based in Portland, Oregon, focused on pet food safety and quality assurance.
