Open Farm removes six dog foods over non-toxic plastic film

Open Farm has pulled six dog food products from the market after finding small pieces of food-grade plastic film in limited lots, with the company and trade coverage stressing that the material is non-toxic and does not pose a danger to dogs. The action was described as a market removal or withdrawal, not a recall tied to confirmed illness, and affected inventory was directed off retail shelves and out of distribution. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

The issue appears to trace back to manufacturing, specifically liner material from raw protein ingredients that was not completely removed before production. Reporting from Dog Food Advisor said Open Farm had already put additional controls in place, while other coverage and downstream retailer notices showed the scope centered on select lots produced between September 25, 2024, and November 14, 2024. Independent reporting citing FDA enforcement records listed dozens of affected lot codes across freeze-dried raw morsel recipes and Front Range Ancient Grains RawMix for dogs. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

The products identified in outside coverage included five Freeze-Dried Raw Morsel recipes and one RawMix formula for dogs. A trade report pegged the action to select lots of Farmer’s Table Pork, Surf & Turf, Open Prairie, Front Range, and Tide & Terrain Freeze-Dried Raw Morsels, plus Front Range Ancient Grains RawMix. Retailer communications published in late December 2024 and early January 2025 reproduced extensive code lists and best-by dates, suggesting a broader retail cleanup effort than the short summary in the original consumer-facing item captured. (powderbulksolids.com)

I didn’t find a readily accessible original Open Farm press release or FDA recall page dedicated to this specific event, which is notable in itself. Instead, the clearest public trail comes from secondary coverage, retailer notices, and reporting that references FDA enforcement records. That supports the characterization of this as a market withdrawal for a product-quality issue rather than a classic FDA-posted safety recall announcement. This is an inference based on the available public record, not a direct statement from FDA in the sources reviewed. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

Industry reaction was limited, but the framing across coverage was consistent: this was a foreign-material problem involving soft plastic film, not a toxic contaminant. That distinction matters. FDA materials on pet food safety reporting show that veterinarians and consumers can still submit reports on product problems, even absent confirmed illness, and FDA’s broader education around raw and freeze-dried pet food continues to focus heavily on microbial hazards such as Salmonella. In other words, the concern profile here is different from the pathogen-driven events that often trigger stronger clinical and public health responses. (safetyreporting.fda.gov)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, this is a reminder that not every market removal should be discussed with clients in the same way. Pet parents may hear “plastic” and assume poisoning, obstruction, or a formal recall, when the available reporting here points to non-toxic film fragments and no stated health danger to dogs. Clinics may still field questions about GI upset, product identification, refund eligibility, and whether to stop feeding an affected lot. The practical value for veterinary professionals is in helping clients separate a quality defect from a toxic exposure, while still advising them to discontinue affected product use and document any suspected adverse events. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

There’s also a broader commercial and trust angle. Open Farm markets itself around traceability, third-party testing, and ingredient transparency, and its public-facing materials say finished products are not released before third-party lab testing. A foreign-material event doesn’t necessarily contradict that microbiological testing framework, but it does raise the familiar question of whether supplier controls, ingredient handling, and visual inspection systems are keeping pace with premium-brand claims. For practices that routinely counsel on diet selection, this story may prompt more nuanced conversations about what “quality” and “safety” do, and don’t, mean in premium pet food. (openfarmpet.com)

What to watch: The next signals to monitor are whether FDA or Open Farm publish a more formal notice, whether any additional lots or products are added, and whether the company shares more detail on corrective actions beyond saying it has implemented measures to prevent a repeat. As of March 30, 2026, the public record I found still points back mainly to the late-2024 withdrawal and secondary reporting around it. (dogfoodadvisor.com)