How to Report a Dog Food Problem to the FDA

If you think a food or treat made your dog sick, or something looks wrong with it, you can report it to the FDA even when no recall exists. Reports feed the FDA's surveillance and can lead to testing. You file online through the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal (linked from the FDA's pet food complaint page), or call 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332).

Keep these before you throw anything out

The original bag or can. Don't just keep the bin you poured it into.
Exact product name, container type, net weight, and UPC
Lot number and best-by date (where to find the lot number)
Purchase date and the store where you bought it
How you stored and served it

If your dog got sick, also note

Age, weight, breed, and health history
Everything else the dog eats (treats, supplements, meds)
How much of the product the dog ate
Symptoms and how soon they started after eating
Your vet's contact info, diagnosis, and any lab results
Whether other pets ate it and whether they got sick

What the FDA will and won't do

The FDA may follow up, for example by collecting food or asking for a sample from your pet. It can't pay for private lab testing or reimburse vet bills.

Source: FDA: How to Report a Pet Food Complaint. Already recalled? See what to do next.

Info may be outdated. Verify with the source.

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