Open Farm removes six dog food lots over plastic film issue

Open Farm has removed six limited production lots of dog food from the market after finding small pieces of food-grade plastic film in some bags, a quality issue the company said does not pose a health risk to dogs. Dog Food Advisor reported the action on December 30, 2024, and said Open Farm traced the issue to liner material from raw protein ingredients that was not fully removed during manufacturing. The company told distributors to destroy affected lots and retailers to pull them from shelves, while offering refunds or replacements to pet parents. Dog Food Advisor and Truth About Pet Food both described the action as a market removal or withdrawal, not a formal recall. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the distinction matters because this appears to be a low-risk foreign-material incident rather than a toxic contamination event. FDA defines a market withdrawal as a firm's removal of a product involving a minor violation, or no violation, that would not usually trigger legal action. That means clinics fielding calls from pet parents may want to focus on product identification, advising clients to stop feeding affected lots, monitor for any gastrointestinal upset or oral irritation if visible foreign material was consumed, and direct clients to the manufacturer for refunds or replacements. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Watch for any FDA enforcement-report listing, a direct company statement with affected lot numbers, or updated guidance from Open Farm on corrective actions and scope. (fda.gov)