Pet Food Recalls: How They Work and How to Stay Ahead of Them

Thousands of pet food products have been recalled in the US over the past decade. Most pet owners only find out when a news alert pops up — or when they notice their pet getting sick.

Here's how recalls actually work, what the most common causes are, and how to set up a practical system to stay informed.

How a pet food recall starts

Pet food recalls in the US are coordinated between the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and pet food manufacturers. There are two types:

Voluntary recalls

The manufacturer initiates the recall, usually after:

Internal testing finds a problem
Consumer complaints identify a pattern
A supplier notifies them of contaminated ingredients
Routine third-party testing (retailers sometimes conduct this) finds an issue

Most pet food recalls are voluntary.

Mandatory recalls

The FDA can compel a mandatory recall under the FDA Safety and Innovation Act of 2011 if a company refuses to voluntarily recall a product the agency believes poses serious risk.

Mandatory recalls are rare — the voluntary system usually works because the reputational and legal costs of not recalling are high.

Common causes of pet food recalls

Salmonella contamination

The most common trigger for dry kibble recalls. Salmonella can contaminate ingredients at any point in the supply chain — from the slaughterhouse to the rendering plant to the manufacturing facility. It poses risks to both pets (especially immunocompromised animals) and humans handling contaminated food.

Elevated vitamin D

Several high-profile recalls (2018-2019) involved pet foods with vitamin D concentrations significantly above the AAFCO maximum. Vitamin D toxicity causes hypercalcemia — elevated calcium in the blood — leading to kidney failure, calcification of soft tissues, and death. Multiple brands were affected across several manufacturers, suggesting a common ingredient (likely a vitamin premix) was the source.

Mycotoxins (aflatoxin, vomitoxin)

Mold toxins that form in grain ingredients under certain storage conditions. Aflatoxin contamination has caused multiple recalls and pet deaths. Symptoms include:

Severe lethargy
Loss of appetite
Vomiting and diarrhea
Jaundice (yellow eyes/gums)
Death in severe cases

Aflatoxin affects the liver and can cause acute liver failure. There's no antidote — treatment is supportive.

Pentobarbital contamination

In 2017, the FDA found pentobarbital (the drug used to euthanize animals) in some canned dog foods. The source was likely rendered materials from euthanized animals included in "meat by-products." Most manufacturers have since strengthened supplier screening, but this recall highlighted the supply chain traceability problem with unnamed protein sources.

Heavy metals and foreign objects

Metal fragments from equipment are a recurring recall trigger. Heavy metal contamination (arsenic, lead, cadmium) occurs less frequently but has been documented, particularly in some seafood-based products.

Excess nutrients

Both over-supplementation and under-supplementation trigger recalls. Under-supplementation of thiamine (vitamin B1) in wet cat foods has caused several recalls — thiamine deficiency causes neurological damage in cats.

The FDA recall process: timeline and notification

When a recall is initiated:

Manufacturer notifies the FDA — they provide product details, distribution scope, and reason
FDA posts to the recall database — typically within 1-5 business days
Retailers are notified — stores pull affected products from shelves
Consumer notification — press releases, FDA updates, sometimes direct outreach if customer purchase data is available

The gap problem: There can be days to weeks between a recall being initiated and most pet owners finding out. The FDA is not a real-time notification system.

How to check if your pet's food has been recalled

The FDA pet food recall database

FDA.gov/animal-veterinary/recalls-withdrawals

Search by brand, manufacturer, or product name. Updated regularly but not in real-time.

What to look for when checking:

UPC / product code — recalls are often limited to specific production lots, not entire brands
Best-by dates — the recall will specify affected date ranges
Lot numbers — printed on the bag or can, usually near the best-by date

Finding your brand in the recall list doesn't automatically mean your specific bag is affected — check the lot numbers carefully.

The FDA offers an email subscription for animal feed safety alerts at: fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

Subscribe with the "Animal & Veterinary" category selected.

Signs your pet may have eaten recalled food

If you're worried your pet has eaten a potentially contaminated product:

Salmonella:

Lethargy, diarrhea (may be bloody), vomiting, fever
Can self-resolve in healthy adult pets; serious in puppies, kittens, seniors, immunocompromised

Vitamin D toxicity:

Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, increased thirst/urination
Serious — call your vet immediately if you've been feeding a recalled product

Aflatoxin:

Loss of appetite, lethargy, jaundice, bleeding disorders
Often delayed onset — symptoms may appear days to weeks after exposure
Call your vet urgently

If you're unsure: Stop feeding the suspected food and call your vet. Bring the bag with you — the lot number is critical for diagnosis.

Building a practical monitoring system

Checking the FDA site every morning isn't realistic. Here's a realistic monitoring system:

Subscribe to FDA email alerts — one-time setup, ongoing coverage
Save your product's lot number — take a phone photo of the bag's date/lot stamp when you open it
Follow your brand's social media — companies often announce recalls on X/Twitter and Facebook first
Check Pawpoy — we monitor FDA recall databases and flag active recalls for products in your scan history

The goal isn't paranoia — it's a 5-minute setup that gives you coverage without constant checking.

Track your pet's food history with Pawpoy →

The supply chain problem: why recalls happen

Behind almost every recall is a supply chain issue. Pet food manufacturers source ingredients from dozens of suppliers. A single contaminated batch of vitamin premix or protein meal can affect dozens of finished products across multiple brands.

This is part of why named ingredients (chicken meal vs. "meat meal") and named manufacturers matter — you have more visibility into the supply chain. It's also why large recall events often affect multiple brands from the same contract manufacturer simultaneously.

What to do with recalled food

Stop feeding immediately — do not let your pet finish the bag "because they seem fine"
Store the product securely — refrigerate or seal in a bag if you need to preserve evidence of a potential illness claim
Contact the manufacturer for return/refund information
Report your pet's illness to the FDA via safetyreporting.hhs.gov — consumer reports are a critical part of how recalls get initiated

Always consult your veterinarian if you believe your pet has been exposed to a recalled product. This article is general educational guidance only.