Open Farm pulls six dog food products over plastic film issue

Open Farm has pulled six dog food products from the market after finding small pieces of food-grade plastic film in limited production lots, a move the company and retailers have framed as a market withdrawal rather than a safety recall. The issue affected five Freeze-Dried Raw Morsel recipes and one Front Range Ancient Grains RawMix recipe for dogs, and stemmed from liner material from raw protein ingredients that was not fully removed during manufacturing. Open Farm said the film was non-toxic, unlikely to cause adverse health consequences, that it had received one consumer complaint with no reported injuries, and that distributors were told to destroy affected lots while retailers removed them from shelves. (dogbonemarket.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a useful distinction between a quality-driven market withdrawal and a health-risk recall, but it still matters operationally because pet parents may call practices after hearing “plastic” and assume an emergency. FDA guidance specifically includes foreign objects among reportable pet food complaints, and advises consumers and veterinarians to report product problems to both the manufacturer and the agency. That makes clinic teams an important first checkpoint for triage, documentation, and client counseling, especially if a dog shows vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, or GI discomfort after exposure to a suspect lot. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Watch for whether FDA classifies or further publicizes the withdrawal, and whether Open Farm shares any broader corrective-action details beyond the added material-handling controls and enhanced inspections it says are now in place. (dogfoodadvisor.com)