PetPulse / Guides / Pet Food Recalls

Is My Pet's Food Recalled? How to Check — and What to Do

Check the FDA's Animal & Veterinary recalls page (fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/recalls-withdrawals — updated within 24 hours of any new recall) and the AVMA recall tracker (avma.org/news/recalls-alerts), then match the brand, variety, and lot code printed on your bag or can against the notice. If it matches: stop feeding it, keep the packaging, and call your vet if your pet shows any symptoms. Pet food recalls are almost always lot-specific — the same product with a different lot code is usually unaffected.

Why pet recalls are easy to miss

Pet food recalls don't flow through the same public database as human food. The FDA's openFDA enforcement dataset — the one most recall-checker tools query — does not include animal food. Pet food and treat recalls are published on FDA's separate Animal & Veterinary recalls page and echoed by the AVMA. That's why a Google result or an app can confidently tell you "no recalls found" while an active recall sits on the FDA's own site. Always check the animal-specific pages, not a generic recall search.

What 2026 has looked like so far

Pedigree canned dog food (July 2026) — Mars Petcare recalled two lots of Pedigree High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck 13.2 oz cans after fraudulently diverted product turned up possibly containing metal and plastic fragments.
Quest cat food (March 2026) — FDA advisory for lots with dangerously low thiamine (vitamin B1); thiamine deficiency in cats causes neurologic damage and can be fatal.
Albright's Raw Chicken Recipe for dogs (May 2026) — Salmonella contamination.
Plus the continuing tail of H5N1 (bird flu) recalls of raw and frozen raw pet foods that began in late 2024 — raw-diet feeders should watch this category closely.

How to check your own bag or can

1) Find the lot code and best-by date — stamped on the bottom of cans, or on the back/bottom seam of bags. 2) Search the brand at the FDA Animal & Veterinary recalls page and the AVMA tracker. 3) Match brand and variety and lot — "same brand, different flavor" is usually not affected. 4) If it matches: stop feeding, keep the packaging for the refund and lot verification, and monitor your pet.

If your pet already ate it

Watch for the hazard named in the notice. Salmonella: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy — and wash your own hands; it infects humans too. Foreign material: gagging, drooling, refusing food, vomiting, straining — possible obstruction, call the vet promptly. Thiamine deficiency (cats): wobbly gait, head tilt, dilated pupils, seizures — this one is urgent. When in doubt, call your vet and name the recall; it changes their differential immediately. Not sure whether tonight's symptoms can wait? See our guide Emergency vet or wait until morning?

Report problems — reports drive recalls

If you suspect a food made your pet sick, report it via the FDA Safety Reporting Portal (safetyreporting.hhs.gov) with the lot code and photos. Consumer reports with lot codes are what trigger and expand recalls — the Pedigree recall started from exactly this kind of trail.

Check any pet food in one call

Our recall-check API searches FDA animal-veterinary and AVMA recall records live for any brand or product, and returns cited recall matches — date, hazard, lots, what to do — or an honest "no recall found in sources" with pointers to the authoritative lists. $0.10 per check, built for pet owners and AI assistants alike. Every recall it reports carries a source link; it never answers from memory.

Sources

FDA Recalls & Withdrawals, Animal & Veterinary (fda.gov). FDA Outbreaks and Advisories (fda.gov). AVMA Recalls/Safety Alerts (avma.org/news/recalls-alerts). Mars Petcare voluntary recall notice, July 2, 2026 (fda.gov).

Common questions

Where do I check if my pet's food has been recalled?

Two official surfaces: the FDA's Animal & Veterinary Recalls & Withdrawals page (fda.gov/animal-veterinary/safety-health/recalls-withdrawals, updated within 24 hours of a new recall) and the AVMA's recalls and alerts tracker (avma.org/news/recalls-alerts). Match your product's brand, variety, size, and lot code against the notice — recalls are almost always lot-specific.

Should I stop feeding a recalled food immediately?

Yes — unlike human drug recalls, there is no withdrawal danger in stopping a food. Stop feeding it, but don't throw the bag away: keep the packaging with the lot code and UPC for the refund and in case your vet needs it. Transition to another food over a few days if your pet has a sensitive stomach.

My pet ate a recalled food. What symptoms should I watch for?

It depends on the hazard in the notice. Salmonella: vomiting, diarrhea, fever, lethargy — and it can also infect humans handling the food. Foreign material (metal or plastic): gagging, drooling, vomiting, refusal to eat, signs of blockage. Thiamine deficiency (cat foods): neurologic signs like wobbling, head tilt, seizures. Call your vet if any of these appear, and mention the recall by name.

How do I report a problem with a pet food?

Use the FDA Safety Reporting Portal (safetyreporting.hhs.gov) or call the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for your state. Keep the packaging, lot code, and purchase details — reports with lot codes are the ones that trigger and expand recalls.