Pet food recalls: how to find out fast
Pet food recalls move through FDA press announcements, not through the openFDA enforcement file this site uses for human food. Checking the bag you are feeding today is faster than waiting to hear about it.
Match the bag in front of you
Read the brand, the variety (the recipe name, not only the brand), the lot or batch code, and the best-by date. Two varieties from the same brand are often different lots. Search RecallRadar's pet food page or scan a UPC if one is printed, then open the FDA notice and compare the codes. A brand-level headline is not enough.
Where the official list lives
Use the FDA's Animal and Veterinary recalls and withdrawals page. Those announcements come from the FDA firm press-release data set (product type Animal and Veterinary, including pet food). RecallRadar files that data set as its pet-food source. Do not rely on openFDA food enforcement reports for kibble, treats, or milk replacers; that feed is a poor catalog of pet-food recalls.
If it matches
Stop feeding it. Keep the bag so you have the lot number. Clean bowls, scoops, and the floor, and wash your hands. Salmonella and Listeria in pet food can infect people who handle it, not only the animal. If a pet is vomiting, has diarrhea, or is lethargic, call a veterinarian. This is not veterinary advice, and the official notice is the authority on the hazard.
Sign up for alerts and put the pet-food brands you buy in the watchlist.
Official sources
- FDA animal and veterinary recalls and withdrawals
- FDA recalls data sets (firm press releases)
- FDA recalls, market withdrawals, and safety alerts
Related guides
Which agency handles which recall · How to check food in your fridge