Open Farm removes six dog foods over plastic film issue

Open Farm has removed six dog food products from the market after finding small pieces of food-grade plastic film in limited production lots, a move the company says is a quality issue rather than a safety recall. In an update posted by Open Farm, the affected products include five Freeze-Dried Raw Morsel recipes for dogs and one Front Range Ancient Grains RawMix recipe. The company said the plastic pieces were identified through quality control, traced to liner material on some raw protein ingredients that was not fully removed before manufacturing, and described as non-toxic, thin, malleable, and not a health risk for dogs. Open Farm asked retailers to pull affected lots from shelves and offered refunds or replacements to pet parents. Dog Food Advisor separately reported the action on December 30, 2024, and characterized it as a market removal, not a recall. (openfarmpet.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, this is a reminder that not every market action tied to foreign material reflects a toxicologic threat, but it can still drive client concern, diet changes, and questions about reporting. FDA guidance encourages complaints involving foreign objects in pet food to be reported even when no animal is sick, which matters for surveillance and lot tracing. Practices may want to be ready with a simple distinction for pet parents: this appears to be a physical quality defect with low clinical risk based on the company’s description, but affected lots should still be discontinued and documented if clients report exposure or visible contamination. (openfarmpet.com)

What to watch: Watch for whether FDA classifies the action in its enforcement system, whether any additional lots are added, and whether Open Farm provides broader details on distribution or corrective actions beyond the added handling requirements and inspections it has already announced. (openfarmpet.com)