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What is a Pet Food Recall:

A pet food recall may simply be a warning of potential health risk or may notify of documented illness or injury.  Recalls can occur for several reasons, including:

  • Contamination with microorganisms or pathogens which may or may not be harmful.
  • Presence of dangerous foreign objects like glass, metal shards, plastic pieces, or rodent droppings.
  • Incorrect labeling that incorrectly lists or omits a major ingredient or allergen. 

Recall Classes:

  • Class I – Most severe: Highest risk of illness or injury in pets or people.  
  • Class II – Medium severity:  Moderate risk of injury or illness.  
  • Class III – Least severe:  Minimal risk of illness or injury.   

Not all recalls are demanded by a government agency. Sometimes manufacturers will begin the recall process themselves if they believe there is any risk to pets or people. 

Understanding the Recall:

While the word “recall” is alarming, it does not necessarily mean the food is always dangerous.  There are many factors that must be considered to determine whether the food is actually dangerous for your pets, so it is important to read the entire recall notice.

Let’s use examples to demonstrate:

  1. Metal shards are possible in the food.  These could cause serious injury if consumed.  While the likelihood of one ending up in your pet’s bowl is low, you would likely not want to take that chance.
  2. Excess Vitamin D in the food.  Vitamin D excess can lead to liver damage so you would not want to continue feeding.
  3. Bacteria detected in kibble with reports of pets and people getting sick. With actual reports of illnesses, you would not want to continue feeding.
  4. Bacteria detected in raw pet food with no reports of illnesses. If the manufacturer uses ingredients inspected and passed for human consumption and has a reputation for quality, then you might decide it’s safe to continue feeding your pet. For example, the USDA allows a low level of bacteria in raw poultry sold for humans but the FDA would ask for a recall if labelled for pet food. 

It’s not enough to look up if a company has ever had a recall. The consumer MUST read what was recalled and why and then decide whether or not to continue feeding.