The Pet Food Brand With The Most Recalled Food By Far

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Diet plays a vital role in a cat's or dog's quality of life, helping with everything from weight management to skin and coat quality to providing the proper nutrients to keep up with their active lifestyles. However, the reality of food processing is that errors happen and can lead to contaminated food and recalls. Yet, one pet food brand has set records in the worst way, which should make pet parents cautious before buying their products.

Established in 1879, Smucker's is a well-known brand that's newer to the pet food business, acquiring Big Heart Pet Brands in 2015 and Ainsworth Pet Nutrition in 2018. Yet, despite only a decade in the industry, Smucker's has been the subject of two pet food recalls, one in 2017 and one in 2018. The first recall happened in January 2017, with several cat-specific brands, due to concerns about low levels of vitamin B. Whether an owner feeds their cat wet or dry food, a certain level of vitamin B is essential to prevent severe neurological and gastrointestinal symptoms . This first recall saw 179,421 pounds of cat food returned.

The following year, February 2018, marked a significant recall of several dog food products, including Gravy Train With Beef Chunks, with 4,136,951 12-can cases recalled. The reason behind the recall was that potentially low levels of pentobarbital were found. Pentobarbital is an animal anesthetic used on cats, dogs, and horses. In higher doses, pentobarbital-contaminated food can have severe effects on health. The total amount from 2017 and 2018 resulted in an estimated 92,102,195 pounds of recalled canned food. These numbers are staggering for just a decade in operation. However, Smucker's is not the only pet food company that has faced scrutiny.

While Smucker's and its subsequent recalls have had the most recalled food given their short history in the industry, there are other notable cases. In May 2012, Diamond Pet Foods voluntarily recalled several of its most popular brands over concerns about salmonella from an outbreak at one of its plants which affected 14 people across nine states. Salmonella is one of the diseases that can be transmitted between an owner and a pet and vice versa. This was followed by a second recall of all the food produced by the plant between December 2012 and April 2013, raising serious questions from consumers. In total, Diamond Pet Foods recalled around 24.8 million pounds of kibble.

Historically, the largest recall of all time was Menu Foods, a Canadian manufacturer, which in 2006 and 2007 recalled 60 million containers of pet food across 180 brands. Contamination of the wheat gluten and rice protein, which was adulterated with melamine and cyanuric acid to inflate the required protein content, proved to be a deadly concoction. The Menu Foods contamination case led to thousands of recorded illnesses, deaths from liver failure, and subsequent lawsuits. Menu Foods folded under public scrutiny, and their mistakes led to the U.S. establishing the Pet Food Safety Act of 2007 to place higher standards on pet food production.

Smucker's, Diamond Pet Foods, and the historic Menu Foods cases should not scare pet parents, but encourage them to be more cautious about what they feed their cats and dogs. In 2024 alone, there were around 300 food recalls in the U.S., showing that food contamination is not uncommon. Thankfully, there are ways that owners can keep informed and opt for better options for their pets.

There is no guaranteed way to avoid contaminated food, but there are ways to be more conscious of what goes into a pet's meal. This process can start at home with vet-approved homemade food for dogs or cats. For commercial options, for a dog, you can choose vet-approved brands like Hill's Science Diet or Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin and Stomach Dog Food Dry for those with sensitivity issues. Vet-approved cat foods include Purina Pro Plan Indoor Cat Food LiveClear or Royal Canin Adult Cat Instinctive Chunks in Gravy. Working within a budget but going with vet-approved brands is a great way to provide a pet with great nutrition.

Regardless of what food an owner chooses for their pet, there are several ways to stay informed about potential recalls. The foodsafety.gov website provides constant updates on any food recalls in the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) also offers an up-to-date list of recalls, an email notification service, and a dedicated X account. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has similar online resources to help people stay updated on meat, poultry, and egg product recalls. 

Pet owners can choose to avoid brands or companies like Smucker's. However, given the inevitability of food contamination, having control and knowledge over what you purchase and staying informed about new recalls can provide the deserved peace of mind for dutiful pet parents.