Update 5/5/12 Diamond Pet Food Expands Recall
After so many pet food formulas were recalled in 2007, many pet owners are now taking steps to ensure that their pet’s food is safe. One of these steps is to stay up to date on all of the latest information about pet food recalls. However, it can be difficult to know where to start looking for pet food recalls. In some cases, a recall may not be announced until several pets have already become ill. With this in mind, how can you stay up to date on the latest information about recent pet food recalls? Here is a quick guide to pet food recalls, as well as some of the common reasons which may be behind a pet food recall.
Where Can I Find Pet Food Recalls?
There are a few resources that you may use to find out if your pet’s food formula has been recalled. The best place to start is usually the pet food recall page on the FDA’s official website. This page lists many of the pet food brands that have been recalled, both recently and in the past several years. You can also check the manufacturer’s website to gain up-to-date information about any issues the company is having with the quality of their pet food. A quick internet search for “pet food recalls” can also help you find any recalls that were announced in the past 24 hours, which may not yet be listed on the FDA’s pet food recall website.
Why Was My Pet’s Food Recalled?
There are several reasons why a pet food formula may be recalled. In most cases, the reason will be specified in the press release announcing the recall, though this may not always be the case. These reasons may include:
Nutrient Deficiency
The process of creating pet food is now highly automated, and mostly done with machines. A mere 10 minute malfunction could result in hundreds of packages of pet food not having the proper balance of nutrients.
Bacteria/Fungal Contamination
Many pet food formulas each year are recalled due to contamination with a bacteria or fungi. For example, this year several pet food formulas were recalled due to being contaminated with salmonella.
Quality Control Issue
In some cases, the reason for the pet food recall may be a general quality control issue. This may mean that the packaging may not be secure, or that some bags contained a substance that could harm the health of a pet.