Dog Food Recalls: What's Happening Now and How to Check Your Bag

How to learn about your dog's food is recalled

The FDA's pet food recall page at fda.gov/animalveterinary/recalls is the official source. Search by brand name or product name — the page lists every recall the FDA has documented, when it was announced, and what the hazard is (contamination, mislabeling, or a foreign object). You can also search by the lot code or date on your bag to see if that specific batch is included.

If you find your dog's food on the list, stop feeding it immediately and contact your veterinarian if your dog has eaten it. Keep the bag and any remaining food — your vet may want to see it, and the manufacturer may ask you to return it as part of their investigation.

The FDA updates this page as new recalls are announced, but there is a lag between when a problem is discovered and when it appears online. Signing up for the FDA's email alerts for pet food recalls will notify you the day a recall is posted, rather than waiting to find out on your own.

Key Takeaways

• The FDA's pet food recall page lists every active recall by brand, product name, and lot code so you can check whether your specific bag is affected.
• Most recalls are for bacterial contamination, mold toxins, or undeclared ingredients that can make dogs sick, and you should stop feeding the product immediately if your dog's food is listed.
• Signing up for FDA email alerts means you will hear about a recall the day it is posted, rather than discovering it weeks later.
• Your veterinarian should know if your dog has eaten recalled food, even if your dog has no symptoms yet, because some hazards take time to cause illness.

What causes most dog food recalls

Bacterial contamination is the most common reason for a recall. Salmonella and E. coli can survive in raw or minimally processed foods and cause serious illness in dogs and sometimes in people who handle the food. Contamination usually happens during manufacturing or packaging, not because of anything wrong with the ingredients themselves.

Mold toxins (called aflatoxins) are the second major cause. These grow in grains like corn and wheat when they are stored in warm, humid conditions. A dog eating food with aflatoxins can develop liver damage, and symptoms may not appear for weeks. Recalls for aflatoxin contamination often affect multiple brands because they may source grain from the same supplier.

Undeclared ingredients are less common but serious for dogs with allergies or sensitivities. A bag labeled as chicken-free might contain chicken, or a product might be mislabeled as grain-free when it actually contains grain. Dogs with known allergies can have severe reactions to even small amounts of a hidden ingredient.

What to do if you have recalled food at home

Stop feeding it to your dog immediately. Seal the bag in a plastic container or bag to prevent accidental exposure, and store it somewhere your dog cannot reach. Do not throw it in the trash where a dog might dig it out.

Contact the manufacturer — their phone number is usually on the bag. They will tell you whether they can replace the food, offer a refund, or ask you to return the bag for investigation. Keep your receipt if you have it, as some manufacturers require proof of purchase.

Tell your veterinarian that your dog has eaten the recalled food, even if your dog seems fine right now. Some contamination causes delayed illness — a dog might not show symptoms for several days or weeks. Your vet can watch for early signs and may recommend bloodwork or other monitoring depending on what the recall was for.

If your dog becomes ill after eating recalled food, bring the bag (or a photo of the label showing the lot code and date) to your vet appointment. This information helps your vet determine whether the illness is related to the recall and may be important if the manufacturer is investigating claims.

How to choose a food less likely to be recalled

Check the manufacturer's recall history on the FDA website. Search for the brand name and look back over the past three to five years. A company with no recalls in that time is not a may provide of safety, but a pattern of multiple recalls suggests quality control problems.

Look at the ingredient list and manufacturing location. Foods made in the United States are subject to FDA inspection, though inspection frequency varies. Some manufacturers publish their safety testing results or third-party certifications — this information is usually on their website or on the bag.

Avoid products with vague ingredient sourcing. If the bag does not say where the ingredients come from or where the food is made, contact the manufacturer and ask. Transparency about sourcing and manufacturing is not a legal requirement, but companies that provide this information tend to have tighter quality control.

Raw and minimally processed foods carry higher contamination risk than kibble because they have not been heat-treated to kill bacteria. If you feed raw or fresh food, understand that recalls for these products are more common and often more serious. Your veterinarian can discuss the trade-offs with you.

Understanding lot codes and dates on the bag

The lot code (sometimes called a batch number) is a series of numbers or letters printed on the bag. It identifies exactly when and where that bag was made. When the FDA posts a recall, they list the specific lot codes affected — a recall might affect only bags made on certain dates, not the entire product line.

The manufacturing date or best-by date is printed separately from the lot code. Check both when you search the recall list. A bag with the same product name but a different lot code or date may not be recalled, so you need to match all three: brand, product name, and lot code.

If you cannot find a lot code on your bag, contact the manufacturer with the best-by date and where you purchased it. They can usually tell you the lot code based on that information, or they can tell you directly whether that batch was recalled.

What happens after a recall is announced

The manufacturer is responsible for notifying retailers and removing the product from shelves, but this does not happen instantly. Stores may continue selling recalled food for days or even weeks after the recall is announced, so checking the FDA list before you buy is important.

The FDA investigates the cause of the recall and may issue a warning letter to the manufacturer if they find violations in manufacturing or safety procedures. These warning letters are public and available on the FDA website — they show what went wrong and what the company must fix.

Some recalls are voluntary (the manufacturer discovered the problem and reported it) and some are initiated by the FDA after complaints or testing. Voluntary recalls sometimes suggest better internal quality control, but both types indicate a real safety issue that affected that batch of food.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get my money back if I bought recalled dog food?

Contact the manufacturer directly — most will offer a refund or replacement if you have your receipt. Some require you to return the bag or a photo of the lot code. The store where you bought it may also offer a refund if you have your receipt, even if the manufacturer does not.

What if my dog ate recalled food and seems fine?

Tell your veterinarian anyway. Some contamination causes illness that takes days or weeks to appear, and your vet may want to monitor your dog or run bloodwork depending on what the recall was for. Catching illness early makes treatment more effective.

Are grain-free foods recalled more often?

Grain-free foods are not inherently more likely to be recalled, but they do have a different risk profile. Some grain-free brands have been recalled for contamination in their alternative ingredients (like legumes or potatoes), while others have been recalled for undeclared grains. Check the specific brand's recall history rather than assuming grain-free is safer or riskier.

How do I know if a recall affects my dog's health?

The FDA recall notice lists the hazard — bacterial contamination, mold toxin, or undeclared ingredient — and sometimes notes what symptoms to watch for. If your dog ate the food, your veterinarian can tell you what signs of illness to monitor based on that specific hazard and your dog's age and health.

Should I switch brands after a recall?

Not necessarily. One recall does not mean the company has ongoing problems, especially if it was a voluntary recall they caught themselves. Check their recall history over several years. If a brand has multiple recalls in a short time, switching may make sense. If it is their first recall in years, the food may still be safe going forward.