Popular Dog Food Recalled Over Toxicity Risk: FDA Announcement

Signage outside of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) headquarters in White Oak, Md., on Aug. 29, 2020. Andrew Kelly/Reuters

Nestle Purina PetCare announced a recall of certain types of dog food after the firm found potentially elevated levels of vitamin D, which could be fatal for dogs, according to a notice published Wednesday.

In a notice published on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s website, Nestle’s Purina is recalling the prescription dog food after it received “two contacts about two separate confirmed cases of a dog exhibiting signs of vitamin D toxicity after consuming the diet, to date.” Both of these dogs recovered after they were taken off the food, it said.

The dog food was available in the United States by prescription only, the notice said. It covers 8-pound and 20-pound bags.

Purina said that pet owners who have the impacted dog food should stop feeding it to their animals. They’re also advised to throw the food away inside “a container where no other animals, including wildlife, can get to it,” the alert said.

It also advises veterinary and retailers to remove or destroy the affected product.

“We apologize to pet owners and veterinarians for any concerns or inconvenience this situation has caused,” Purina also said. “As pet experts and pet owners ourselves, the health and well-being of pets is our top priority.”

No other Purina products for pets are involved in the recall, the notice said.

What to Look for

Bags of Purina food with the following UPC and production codes should discarded, the firm said.

They include Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental in 8-pound. and 20-pound bags; they have UPC Codes of 38100 19190 (8-pound bag) or 38100 19192 (20-pound bag); and they have production codes matching any of the following: 2249 1082; 2250 1082; 2276 1082; 2277 1082; 2290 1082; 2360 1082; 2361, and 1082.

“Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs; however, ingestion of elevated levels can lead to health issues depending on the level of vitamin D and the length of exposure,” the FDA-backed notice said. “Vitamin D toxicity may include vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, and excessive drooling to renal (kidney) dysfunction.”

For information about obtaining a refund, Purina says consumers can contact the company at 1-800-345-5678 or through email.

Other Recent Recalls

A separate announcement from the FDA this week said that about 400 separate food items, including sandwiches, salads, snacks, yogurt, and wraps that were sold under various brand names have been recalled due to the possible presence of the listeria bacteria.

The products were sold by Baltimore-based Fresh Ideation Food Group between Jan. 24, 2023, through Jan. 30, 2023, according to the FDA, and also include breakfast muffins, croissants, wraps, and an array of fruits as well as noodle bowls and a string of other items.

Brands names included in the recall are Bistro to Go, InReach, Naval Academy 1845 Coffee, Orchard Bistro, Westin Label, and more.

A full list of the recalled products can be found here.

Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.