Pet food recalls have surged in recent years, according to records from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed by Newsweek.
In 2023, the total number of pet food-related recalls reached 16, including two in February, three in March, and the remainder after August 1. These recalls encompassed dry and raw food as well as liquid probiotics, affecting a variety of animals such as dogs, cats, equines, swine, birds, and even catfish from various brands.
By May 18 of this year, six pet food recalls had been recorded, extending beyond the previously mentioned animals to also impact cattle, chickens, and rabbits. There were two recalls in January and three in April.
The latest recall occurred last week due to concerns over 315 44-pound bags of dry dog kibble sold as Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food, produced by Mars Petcare US. This voluntary recall affected products sold in Walmart stores in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, due to the presence of loose metal pieces in the bags.
"The potential presence of loose metal pieces in the bag could pose a health hazard to pets," the FDA stated. "If you believe your pet has consumed the affected product, you should monitor for unusual behavior and contact a veterinarian with any concerns."
Between 2018 and 2022, there were 26 pet food recalls, with four in 2018, six in 2019, eight in 2021, and eight in 2022. Notably, there were no recalls in 2020. Brands involved in these recalls, aside from Pedigree, included Purina, Blue Ridge Beef, Simply Nourish, Merck Animal Health, Ozona, Freshpet, and NutriSource.
In January 2024, the FDA received 971 pet food-related complaints, according to a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request by the pet consumer advocacy group Truth About Pet Food. Of these, 886 reports concerned Purina products, while the remaining 85 reports were distributed across 24 brands, with 15 brands receiving two or more complaints and nine brands receiving one complaint each.
These incidents have led to 1,312 cases of sick pets this year.
"The pet symptoms provided in the FDA report ranged from minor to many very serious," according to the FDA's response to Truth About Pet Food. "Many pet owners reported their pets were bleeding from the rectum, vomiting blood, and many pet owners reported seizures."
Additionally, Public Interest Research Groups, grassroots organizations focused on consumer protection and public health, reported in April that total food and beverage recalls nationwide increased by 8 percent in 2023 to over 300, the highest number since before the COVID-19 pandemic.