Recalls on pet food can be very scary. We never know if the food that we are feeding our pet is 100% safe. And over the last few years, and in particular in 2024, it has felt like there have been a lot of recalls, both in terms of human food and pet food. So when more news of a recent pet food recall broke this week, we were concerned
According to Fox Business News, Answers Pet Food initiated a recall of a few of their products after receiving a notice by the FDA that samples of their dog food had tested positive for bacteria associated with both listeria and salmonella. And according to the brand, this recall was issued “out of an abundance of caution.” Which makes perfect sense as pet parents. The impacted products were sold both in stores and online in four pound half-gallon cartons. While there has been no confirmed illnesses associated with the recalled products, that does not mean that the brand made the wrong decision in issuing the recall.
According to FDA guidelines, any of the pet food that has not been consumed, but is associated with the recall, should in fact be destroyed. They are also suggesting that people wear gloves when actually handling the potentially contaminated product, even just to throw it in the trash.
Answers Pet Food issues a recall on pet food after FDA finds trace amounts of listeria and salmonella in samples
Much like with humans, salmonella can make our dogs ill. So it is important that we not feed them food that has salmonella in it. At the same time, there is a concern of cross-contamination. This is because our pets can transfer salmonella poisoning to us. It is one of the reasons why the food and drug administration issued the recall.
In terms of salmonella, your dog might suffer from fever, diarrhea, and be very lethargic. They may also be throwing up and have a decrease in appetite. These are all things to be mindful of if your pet has in fact come into contact with any of the contaminated product.
Then there is the listeria concern. It has been noted that dogs can potentially suffer from mild symptoms when listeria is present. However, it is said that it rarely leads to severe illness. So while it might upset their stomach, it is more of a hazard to the humans interacting with the product, which is why the FDA recommends gloves even when disposing of the food.
The recalled products are: “ANSWERS Detailed Beef Formula for Dogs, ANSWERS Straight Beef Formula for Dogs, and ANSWERS Straight Chicken Formula for Dogs.”
It is always a concern when we see news of a pet food recall. But we appreciate when a brand takes decisive action, such as what Answers Pet Food is doing with their recent recall.