Astute readers may have noticed a new gadget on the left-hand side of my blog. This is an incredibly helpful tool created by Arby Abraamyan of Pawdiet.com. Even as a veterinarian I've been hard-pressed to keep up with pet food recalls since they don't often make major news or are the source of big articles. Arby says that such lists are difficult to maintain as the information doesn't always come up on the US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) website, and therefore his company monitors multiple sources.
Keep in mind that almost every food company has had to issue recalls. This is true of both major and minor brands. Having a recall doesn't mean that the company is doing a bad job or that the food will kill your pet. While those dramatic situations are possible, most recalls happen because the quality assurance methods by the company work and they notice a problem before the food causes any serious health consequences. The best companies will usually catch problems before the product is shipped to the public, but no company or person can ever be 100% accurate.
I'll keep this widget in a prominent place on my blog to help educate the pet owners that come here. Feel free to share this information with others.
