Open Farm removes six dog food products over plastic film issue

Open Farm has initiated a market removal affecting six dog food products after identifying small pieces of soft plastic film in select lots, but the company says the issue does not present a health risk to dogs. In its December 23, 2024 update, Open Farm said the material was food-grade, non-toxic, thin, and malleable, and that the action was being taken because the batches failed the company’s quality standards, not because of a confirmed safety hazard. Dog Food Advisor later summarized the event on December 30, 2024 as a market removal, not a recall. (openfarmpet.com)

The background matters here because pet food withdrawals involving foreign material often create confusion for clinics and pet parents. FDA says foreign objects, including plastic, can be a basis for recall activity, but it also notes that companies may use different mechanisms, including market withdrawals, depending on the level of risk and whether the issue violates FDA-administered law in a way that rises to a recall. FDA’s consumer guidance also makes clear that enforcement reports and company notifications may be the first place these actions appear, even when there is no broad public warning. That appears to be the case here: Truth about Pet Food reported that FDA enforcement records listed Open Farm’s action as a withdrawal tied to “foreign object (plastic)” contamination, with no FDA recall press release planned. (fda.gov)

According to Open Farm, the problem originated when small pieces of liner attached to some raw protein ingredients were not completely removed before manufacturing. The company said it found the issue through quality control, asked retailers to remove affected products from shelves, and added “additional material handling requirements and quality inspections” to prevent recurrence. It also told customers that unaffected products and lot numbers could continue to be fed as usual, and offered refunds, replacements, and customer support for pet parents with impacted bags. (openfarmpet.com)

The affected products were five Freeze-Dried Raw Morsel recipes for dogs — Homestead Turkey, Grass-Fed Beef, Surf & Turf, Pasture-Raised Lamb, and Farmer’s Table Pork — plus Front Range Ancient Grains RawMix for dogs. Open Farm published specific lot numbers for each affected product, including multiple freeze-dried lots and one RawMix lot, 31924FFRDMB. Secondary reporting described the event as involving six products, consistent with the company’s list. (openfarmpet.com)

Direct expert commentary on this specific event appears limited, but the regulatory framing is still useful for industry readers. FDA’s recall guidance notes that company notifications should help customers identify affected products by lot code and explain what to do next. That’s especially relevant in veterinary settings, where teams are often asked to interpret whether a product issue means immediate medical concern, simple discontinuation, or routine monitoring. In this case, the company’s language points toward a quality defect with low clinical risk, but one that still requires practical counseling and attention to inventory details. (fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a reminder that not every market removal is a poisoning event, but every market removal can become a trust event. Clinics may need to reassure pet parents that the reported material was described as non-toxic, while also advising them to stop feeding affected lots, document any GI signs, and contact the manufacturer for replacement or refund support. It also underscores the operational value of asking clients to keep original packaging or lot-code photos, since that information is often the fastest way to rule products in or out during a food-related concern. FDA also advises consumers to report product problems involving foreign objects to both the manufacturer and the agency, which may matter if clinics hear about cases outside the published lot list. (openfarmpet.com)

What to watch: The next step is whether this remains a contained quality withdrawal or prompts any broader regulatory follow-up. For now, the key signals will be any update to the affected lot list, any FDA enforcement classification changes, and whether veterinary case reports emerge that challenge the company’s low-risk assessment. (truthaboutpetfood.com)