Dog Food Recalls 2025: What Voluntary Recalls Mean

Dog Food Recalls in 2025: What Pet Parents Need to Know

2025 has already seen several dog food recalls, many tied to Salmonella and Listeria contamination. Brands like Blue Ridge Beef pulled certain lots of Puppy Mix and Kitten Mix from shelves, while Supercan Bulk recalled pig ear slivers and Savage Pet announced a cat food recall. For pet parents, these headlines can be alarming. But not all recalls mean the same thing — some are voluntary, while others are mandated. So what’s the difference?

Why Recalls Happen

Pet food recalls usually occur when a product may be unsafe due to contamination or labeling errors. Common triggers include:

• Bacterial contamination — Salmonella and Listeria can make pets (and humans handling food) sick.
• Nutritional imbalances — for example, vitamin D overdoses or taurine deficiencies.
• Foreign objects — plastic, metal, or other materials slipping into a batch.
• Mislabeling — wrong ingredients or undeclared allergens.

Voluntary vs. Mandatory Recalls

Here’s where things get confusing. You may see recalls described as “voluntary,” which can make pet parents wonder: Does that mean the company isn’t taking it seriously? Actually, most recalls in the U.S. are voluntary.

• Voluntary recall: The company chooses to pull products off shelves after discovering (or being alerted to) a potential issue. This often happens after internal testing, consumer reports, or discussions with the FDA. A voluntary recall usually shows the brand is cooperating quickly to reduce risk.
• Mandatory recall: The FDA or USDA orders a company to recall products if they don’t act on their own. This step is rare and typically happens if a company refuses to recall contaminated or misbranded products.

In short: voluntary recalls aren’t “optional” in practice — they’re the industry standard. Brands often prefer to act first, both for safety and for reputation.

How Pet Parents Can Stay Safe

Recalls can sound scary, but staying informed is your best defense. Here’s what you can do:

1. Check recall lists regularly. Bookmark the FDA pet food recall page.
2. Save product packaging. Lot codes and expiration dates are the fastest way to check if your bag, can, or roll is affected.
3. Follow trusted sources. We track major recalls here at Pets Dig This Now and connect them back to bigger nutrition trends.
4. Handle food safely. Wash hands, bowls, and surfaces after serving — especially with raw or fresh food, where bacteria risk is higher.

What Recalls in 2025 Are Teaching Us

From Blue Ridge Beef to Supercan Bulk, these 2025 recalls remind us that even trusted brands can face contamination issues. Voluntary recalls aren’t a sign of weakness — they’re often the first step a responsible company takes to protect pets. The bigger takeaway is this: pet parents should stay alert, practice safe food handling, and choose brands with transparency and strong quality control.

Next up: We’ll dive deeper into how raw and fresh foods balance safety and nutrition in today’s pet food landscape.