FDA Warning on Dog Food Brands: Multiple Brands and Safety Violations

The FDA has issued a warning on several dog food brands due to safety violations. Multiple brands have been recalled due to contamination with toxic substances.

Some of the affected brands include Diamond Pet Foods, Blue Buffalo, and Taste of the Wild. These brands have been linked to health issues in dogs, including kidney failure and gastrointestinal problems.

The FDA has found that these brands have violated safety protocols, including inadequate testing and failure to report contamination. This has led to a recall of over 100 million pounds of dog food.

Dog owners should be aware of the brands and products affected by these recalls and take action to protect their pets' health.

Broaden your view: Dog Food Safety

The FDA has been investigating a potential link between certain diets and canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). The investigation began in July 2018 after the FDA received reports of DCM in dogs eating certain pet foods, many labeled as "grain-free", which contained a high proportion of peas, lentils, other legume seeds (pulses), and/or potatoes in various forms.

Between January 1, 2014, and April 30, 2019, the FDA received 524 reports of DCM (515 dogs, 9 cats), and most reports were submitted after the FDA's first public alert in July 2018. The total number of pets affected is greater than 524 because some reports included multi-pet households.

The FDA is using a range of science-based investigative tools to learn more about this emergence of DCM and its potential link to certain diets or ingredients. The agency believes that the potential association between diet and DCM in dogs is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors.

Here are some dog food brands that were named 10 times or more in reports submitted through April 30, 2019:

The FDA encourages pet owners to report cases of dogs and cats with DCM that they suspect to be linked to diet by using the Safety Reporting Portal.

Midwestern Pet Foods has a history of safety violations, with multiple instances of critical safety violations detailed in the FDA's official warning letter. This is a red flag for pet owners.

The FDA has issued several warning letters and recalls to various dog food brands, including Midwestern Pet Foods, Sunshine Mills, and AnswersAnswers Pet Food. For example, in 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods recalled multiple dog and cat food brands due to potential contamination.

Here's a list of some of the recent recalls and safety issues:

Sunshine Mills has also had a history of recalls, with several dog food brands being recalled due to contamination with mold toxins and high levels of aflatoxin.

Between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2019, the FDA received 524 reports of DCM, with 515 reports involving dogs and 9 reports involving cats.

The FDA defines a "case" as an illness reported to FDA involving a dog or cat with a diagnosis of DCM.

The numbers only include reports where the dog or cat was diagnosed with DCM by a veterinarian and/or veterinary cardiologist.

Approximately 222 of these reports were submitted between December 1, 2018 and April 30, 2019.

Related reading: Why Is My Cat Eating My Dogs Food

Some reports involved more than one affected animal from the same household.

The American Veterinary Medical Association estimates that there are 77 million pet dogs in the United States.

Here is a breakdown of the reported illnesses:

DCM cases reported to the FDA have involved a wide range of dog breeds, ages, and weights.

Midwestern Pet Foods has a history of critical safety violations, with the FDA issuing a warning letter detailing multiple instances of non-compliance. The company's recall history is extensive, with several dog food recalls since 2016.

In 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods recalled multiple dog and cat food brands due to potential contamination. This was followed by a deadly dog and cat food recall that expanded to include over 1000 lots. The company also recalled Sportmix dog and cat foods due to the presence of a deadly mold toxin.

It's worth noting that built-in flaws in pet food can be magnified when the same food is fed to a dog for their entire lifetime.

Here are some key recall dates for Midwestern Pet Foods:

It's essential to keep an eye on recall notices and take action if your pet's food is affected.

Acana and Orijen, two popular brands, are manufactured in both Canada and the U.S. by Champion Petfoods.

The FDA's list of brands associated with DCM includes Acana and Orijen, but the agency acknowledges it has no scientific evidence linking diet to DCM.

Champion Petfoods claims the FDA's list is misleading, as it doesn't provide a causative scientific link between their products and DCM.

Sunshine Mills, another pet food manufacturer, "co-packs" food and treat products for several other brands, but the names of these brands are not publicly disclosed.

The lack of transparency in sub-contractor information makes it difficult to determine which other brands may be affected by the potential link between grain-free diets and DCM.

Suggestion: Acana Dog Food for Senior Dogs

Product testing has revealed some concerning issues with certain dog food brands. FDA/Vet-LIRN tested multiple products for minerals and metals before the July 2018 DCM Update and found no abnormalities.

However, since the update, testing has focused on both grain-free and grain-containing products for various nutrients, including protein, fat, and fiber content. The results showed similar averages for both types of products.

Here's a breakdown of the nutrients tested:

It's worth noting that additional food testing is still in progress, so more information may come to light in the future.