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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
When you buy a bag of dog food, you’re trusting the manufacturer with your dog’s health and safety. If you’ve done your research to choose a high-quality product, you shouldn’t have to worry. Unfortunately, manufacturers make mistakes and accidents do happen, sometimes leading to a recall. So it can be comforting to know what brands of dog food have never had a recall, so you can make informed choices.
If your dog’s food has been recalled, don’t panic. Read the report to see whether the specific package you purchased may have been affected and to learn what to do next. You may also want to switch to a new dog food brand that has never had a recall.
Acana
This wholesome dog food relies on regional ingredients and is available in nine options, including a paleo formula.
Dry Dog Foods That Have Never Had a Recall
- Acana
- Annamaet Petfoods
- Blackwood Slow Cooked Pet Nutrition
- Canine Caviar
- Eagle Pack
- Holistic Select
- Jinx
- Nature’s Logic
- Now Fresh by Petcurean
- Zignature
- ZiwiPeak
Fresh Dog Foods That Have Never Had a Recall
These companies deliver freshly prepared dog food to your door (frozen and ready to thaw).
What’s a Dog Food Recall, Anyway?
A product recall is a request from the manufacturer to discontinue use of a product after the discovery of safety issues or defects that might put the consumer at risk. When it comes to dog food, there are two types of recall:
- An FDA-issued recall
- A voluntary recall
When the FDA issues a recall, it’s typically in response to customer complaints or based on the discovery of a problem when testing the product. Anything from potential contamination with a dangerous pathogen (like E. coli) to inconsistencies with product packaging can trigger an FDA recall.
A voluntary recall happens when the manufacturer itself initiates the process. The manufacturer might recall the product if it tests too low in a certain nutrient, or if a problem is discovered with one of the ingredients. A recall can also happen if there’s a problem with the formulation, processing, or packing of the product.
Sometimes, a company issues a voluntary recall in anticipation of an FDA recall. Sometimes by taking early action, companies can reduce the negative impact of the recall on the brand.
How Should You Respond to a Product Recall?
If your dog’s food has been recalled, the first thing to do is stop feeding them the food immediately.
Even if your dog hasn’t experienced any negative effects related to the recall, it’s better to be safe than sorry. At the very least, take the time to read the report and find out whether your dog is at risk before taking next steps.
The recall report tells you which brand and which recipe has been affected. It should also provide specific information about the lot number and UPC codes for the recalled products. Even if the package of food you’ve been feeding your dog isn’t included, you may want to stop feeding and check with your veterinarian just to be safe. If your dog has become ill, you’ll also want to file a report with the FDA.
As long as your dog hasn’t gotten sick and you’ve stopped feeding the recalled product, you don’t need to do anything else. You have the option, however, to return the food to the store where you purchased it to obtain a refund or replacement.
From there, safely dispose of the food in a manner that prevents other animals from eating it. You may also want to sign up to receive FDA recall alerts.
Concerns About Boutique Dog Food
The FDA is looking into a possible link between DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) in dogs and ingredients found in certain boutique pet foods. Taurine deficiency is a frequent cause of DCM and is notable in certain breeds like golden retrievers. While the FDA haven’t named any brands yet, most involved are smaller, boutique companies like those in this list. In a recent article of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, Lisa Freeman, DVM, Ph.D., DACVN, explains the issue is not just grain-free diets, but rather, “BEG” diets (boutique companies, exotic ingredients, or grain-free diets).
“The apparent link between BEG diets and DCM may be due to ingredients used to replace grains in grain-free diets, such as lentils or chickpeas, but also may be due to other common ingredients commonly found in BEG diets, such as exotic meats, vegetables, and fruits,” Freeman wrote.
Dr. Freeman recommends purchasing food from companies that employ veterinary nutritionists and other experts. Lake Harriet Veterinary Clinic in Minneapolis has also published a useful resource about taurine-deficient DCM, which you can read here.
15 Dog Foods That Have Never Been Recalled
Just because a product hasn’t had a recall doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better than a product that has. Accidents happen and a recall isn’t always an indication that the brand is untrustworthy. As a dog owner, however, it’s your responsibility to choose the best product for your dog. Taking product recalls into account is part of the process.
To help you choose the best recipe for your dog, here are 15 brands that have never had a recall. These picks are based on information provided by the FDA and the independent dog food grading site, Dog Food Advisor.
Acana
Widely regarded as one of the top pet food companies on the market, Acana produces a variety of biologically appropriate pet foods featuring fresh, regional ingredients.
Annamaet Petfoods
Annamaet is a family-owned-and-operated company in the United States and this brand is dedicated to providing pets with holistic, GMO-free recipes. They follow the strictest standards of quality control.
Blackwood Slow Cooked Pet Nutrition
Made in the U.S. with all-natural ingredients and slow-cooked in small batches, Blackwood offers a variety of every day, grain-free, and sensitive diet recipes for dogs.
Canine Caviar
Originally developed as an alkaline-based diet, the Canine Caviar brand has never had a recall and has expanded to include single-protein diets designed to help with allergies, skin issues, and digestive upsets.
Eagle Pack
Every Eagle Pack dog food recipe is free from fillers and artificial preservatives. Eagle Pack uses only the healthiest ingredients to ensure strong bones and joints, healthy muscles, and shiny coat.
Holistic Select
By using natural ingredients and beneficial supplements like probiotics and digestive enzymes, this dog food brand that hasn’t had a recall operates under the idea that total body health begins with a healthy digestive system.
Jinx
If you’re looking for a dog food delivery service, subscription-based kibble company Jinx offers various recipes of dry food, meal toppers, and treats that are formulated by a team of veterinarians and canine nutritionists.
Nature’s Logic
This brand has never had a recall and is committed to providing the highest quality and safest nutrition for pets by offering the first full line of kibble, canned, and raw dog food made without chemically synthesized ingredients.
Now Fresh by Petcurean
One of Petcurean’s product lines, Now Fresh features wholesome, nutritious ingredients like 100% market-fresh meat or fish with no rendered meats, byproducts, or artificial additives.
Zignature
Offering a variety of single-protein, limited-ingredient recipes, Zignature formulates their recipes to mimic the nutritional quality of a raw diet in the convenient form of high-quality dry food.
ZiwiPeak
Ziwi Peak is a family-owned company based in New Zealand. The brand has never had a recall and they’re known for air-dried dog food composed of only human-grade ingredients, including premium proteins like free-range lamb, grass-fed venison, and wild-caught mackerel.
What About Fresh Dog Food?
Recently, many companies have begun offering freshly prepared, homecooked dog food by delivery. While more expensive than kibble, this high-end food contains wholesome ingredients and all the nutrients your dog needs (making it much easier than cooking dog food at home). These dog foods have never had a recall.
You can find out more in our review of fresh dog food delivery brands.
Going homemade
Commercial dog food always comes with a risk of recalls. If you want to avoid the possibility entirely, one option is to start making your own dog food at home. Check out our complete guide to homemade dog food to learn more. If you go the homemade route, it’s very important to make sure you are providing the complete mix of vitamins and supplements your dog needs, so proceed carefully.