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With so many recalls in the pet food industry, finding the best dog foods with no recalls can be a challenge. Many of the most popular brands have faced several recalls, but there are still some top dog food brands that are recall-free. These brands can help dog parents feel at ease because of their advanced safety protocols.
Some dog food recalls are minor, but others can be life-threatening if not resolved quickly. In late 2018/early 2019, the FDA issued a recall on nearly a dozen dog food brands for elevated Vitamin D levels in dry dog foods. Those dog foods tested at 70 times the normal levels of Vitamin D, causing toxicity in some dogs. In 2021, several aflatoxin and salmonella recalls from a brand led to 130 dogs dying and 220 becoming ill.
Not all recalls are that extreme. Most don’t cause any issues, but it’s better for brands to be safe than sorry. There are plenty of great brands that have had a recall or two, but many pet parents feel safest when a type of dog food has never faced any issues.
So, we decided to take a look at dog food brands that have had no recalls on record, ever. Here’s what we came up with as our top dog food brands with no recalls and great safety standards.
Top Dog Food Brands with No Recalls
The following dog food brands have never had a recall, so dog parents can feel at ease knowing these recipes follow strict safety standards.
1. Ollie
Fresh dog food is becoming more and more popular with pet parents who want to know exactly what they’re feeding their dogs. Not just the ingredients that go into it, but also the nutritional content and the calories their dog is getting per meal.
Ollie is a recall-free fresh dog food company. Their recipes are formulated by veterinary nutritionists to ensure that every meal is complete and every ingredient is human-grade. Feeding your dog Ollie is like feeding them a meal you would make for yourself, but balanced to fill your dog’s unique nutritional needs. Every recipe from Ollie meets AAFCO standards. Every recipe comes with a complete list of ingredients and nutritional content, so you know exactly what your dog is getting in each bowl.
Ollie’s food is packed with high-quality, responsibly-sourced protein, and supplemented with fruit, veggies, and superfoods to round out your dog’s diet. For dogs with allergies, Ollie offers recipes free from any of the common allergens that irritate dogs.
For added benefits, this company ships your dog’s food right to your door. The meals are pre-portioned into servings for your pup, so all you need to do is open the package and serve. Ollie is customized for your dog’s specific needs, so it’s great for dogs of any age, from the smallest puppy to the oldest senior!
2. Nature’s Logic
If you look through the history of dog food recalls, you’ll find that the issues often come down to bad suppliers or a manufacturing process that isn’t controlled by the brand that’s putting its name on the label. Nature’s Logic avoids those issues by directly purchasing or approving all of the ingredients themselves. They only source their meat, fruits, and vegetables from facilities that process the same food for humans – so if it’s not good enough for humans to eat, they don’t expect your dog to eat it.
Every batch of Nature’s Logic dry dog food is tested to make sure it meets the high standards they set. They also ensure each batch is fresh and free from toxins and harmful bacteria, like Salmonella or E.coli, which are both responsible for several recalls in other brands.
Nature’s Logic offers nine different recipes, each held to the same lofty standards the company sets for its food. It’s a great choice for people who want to feed their dog a quality diet but enjoy the convenience kibble offers. If your dog is craving something more flavorful than kibble, this brand also has plenty of wet food options.
This brand not only cares about making safe food for dogs, but they also prioritize helping the environment. For every pound of food they sell, they buy 1 kWh of renewable energy.
3. Ziwi
Ziwi is a New Zealand-based company that sources 100% of its ingredients from within the country’s borders. This company also does everything the right way – ethical meat sourcing, sustainable seafood harvesting, no fillers or artificial binding agents, BPA-free cans, no antibiotics, and no caged animal testing. Ziwi has ethics at the top of everything they do.
In the roughly 15 years Ziwi has been in business, they have never had a recall on any of their products. Just like the other brands listed, they do all their own manufacturing to ensure product safety and quality.
The company’s main type of dog food is air-dried formulas. The air-drying process helps lock in the flavor and nutrients of raw ingredients to make it healthier and more appealing for dogs. It combines the benefits of raw and fresh dog food with kibble’s convenience. Ziwi also offers wet dog food. Both options are great for serving on their own, but they can also be great flavor boosters to mix with kibble.
4. Acana
Acana uses award-winning kitchens in the United States to craft their high-protein kibble. They track and record every step of the process, including when the ingredients leave the suppliers and when they get cooked into the food. The company begins testing the ingredients as soon as they enter the kitchens.
The ingredients always come from sustainable sources. They come from farmers, ranchers, and fishers that the company has trusted for decades. The recipes are always protein-rich, and the first two ingredients are always animal proteins.
Acana has formulas for dogs of all life stages, including puppy, adult, and senior formulas. Some foods also cater to the needs of certain dogs, such as dogs with allergies or dogs needing to lose weight. Their most popular formulas are their dry dog food, but they have wet food and freeze-dried food available too.
5. Zignature
Zignature dog food specializes in limited ingredient formulas to cater to dogs with allergies. Their formulas avoid common allergens like chicken, potatoes, and grains. They have both dry food and wet food options.
The ingredients are globally-sourced because the company believes in finding the best quality proteins. The pork, turkey, and fish are from the United States, the kangaroo and goat are from Australia, the lamb and venison are from New Zealand, and the duck and guinea fowl are from France. All the recipes are made in kitchens in the United States, and the recipes are crafted by nutritionists and food scientists.
While selling safe products, this brand also provides food to animal shelters year-round. So, they care about the happiness and safety of all dogs, whether they’re customers or not.
6. Jinx
Jinx is a premium kibble brand that’s endorsed by Chris Evans and his rescue dog named Dodger. It uses natural ingredients like real animal protein, superfoods, and probiotics, and it avoids filler ingredients like preservatives and artificial items. Real meat is always listed as the first ingredient.
This brand prioritizes safety, so they implemented rigorous development and testing procedures. They always research new technology and update their safety processes as needed. When formulating the food, they work with scientists, veterinarians, nutritionists, and regulatory specialists. They also have strict criteria when considering new suppliers to purchase ingredients from.
All their food is manufactured in the United States, and the facilities adhere to strict maintenance and sanitation regulations. Each product has a unique code to track where the ingredient supplies are and where the product was manufactured, formulated, and distributed. These strict safety protocols are likely the reason this brand has never faced a recall.
7. PetPlate
PetPlate is a fresh dog food delivery brand, similar to Ollie. They create personalized meals for their canine customers that can be delivered to your door on a set schedule. To get started, you just need to answer a few questions about your furry friend so PetPlate can decide which recipes and portions are best for them.
The meals are always made with human-grade ingredients in USDA kitchens. Before the products are shipped, they’re hot-filled for safety and then flash-frozen to preserve the freshness of the nutrients. The recipes are formulated by the company’s veterinary nutritionist, and the process exceeds AAFCO and USDA standards. For these reasons, PetPlate has never faced any recalls.
When you receive the food, you can store it in the freezer and then move it to the fridge when you’re ready to thaw it. PetPlate offers a meal plan or a topper plan for pet parents that only want to mix this fresh food with their dog’s current food. Fresh food is usually a great option for picky eaters.
8. Open Farm
Open Farm offers a variety of dog food options, including dry food, wet food, freeze-dried raw food, and gently-cooked fresh food. Even with so many products, none have been recalled due to the company’s high safety standards. The company carefully sources all its ingredients, focusing on certified suppliers that care about animal welfare and ethical practices. The meat never comes from animals confined to cages, and the animals are raised on a nutritious diet that’s free of growth hormones.
This brand keeps track of where every ingredient comes from so there’s never any unknown information. Customers can enter the lot code of their products to find out where every ingredient came from. The food is made in US kitchens that consistently follow USDA and FDA standards. They’re open about their manufacturing process and happy to answer any questions about where they source their ingredients.
Open Farm avoids filler ingredients and meat meals because they’re harder to trace to the source and regulate. The company only uses ingredients they feel confident in.
9. Annamaet Petfoods
Annamaet Petfoods offers holistic dry food for dogs, including options with and without grains. The company is family-owned and operated, creating pet products for over 30 years with no recalls. They focus on providing premium pet nutrition by using each ingredient with a specific purpose in mind.
These products are manufactured in the United States, following strict standards for quality control. They carefully select the sources they get their ingredients from to make sure all their products are safe for their canine customers. The meat used in these formulas is fit for human consumption, and the company avoids unnecessary items like corn, wheat, and soy.
Annamaet Petfoods offers dog food for all life stages so every dog can benefit from it. Whether you have a puppy, senior, or dog with a sensitive stomach, this brand has kibble that may fit your dog’s needs. They also offer some supplements to further assist with canine health.
10. Blackwood Pet Food
Blackwood is a brand of dry dog food that’s slow-cooked in small batches to preserve the nutrients in the food. The food is always produced in the United States, and the headquarters are in Ohio. There are manufacturing plants in Ohio, Wisconsin, and New York. All the ingredients are sourced from reputable suppliers, most of which are local.
The ingredients used in this dog food can provide a wide variety of health benefits, including everything from heart health to hips and joints to skin and coat. The company offers a variety of dry food formulas to cater to dogs of all life stages and lifestyles, including seniors, large breed dogs, and dogs with sensitivities. There are also wet food recipes.
Blackwood has been in business for over 40 years without a single recall. They’re a family-owned business that puts the health of their canine customers above all else. Every year, the company donates thousands of pounds of food to shelter pets.
11. Holistic Select
Holistic Select offers dry dog food that aids in good digestive health. The food uses probiotics, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, and natural fiber to prevent tummy troubles in your dog. The food also offers balanced nutrition to ensure that your dog absorbs as many nutrients as possible. This brand has a rigid ingredient selection process to make sure everything put into the food is safe. On their website, they provide details for every ingredient to explain why they use it in their products.
Also, this brand utilizes rigorous food safety programs to make sure the food is always handled and stored according to standards. The food is thoroughly tested for quality and safety before being shipped to customers. With so many strict safety and ingredient selection processes in place, the brand has never faced any recalls.
While most of Holistic Select’s food is kibble, there are a few wet dog food options that cater to picky dogs. This company continuously proves they’re passionate about animal welfare by supporting relevant organizations.
12. Sundays for Dogs
Sundays offers dog food that’s fresh without needing to be refrigerated. The food is made with all-natural, human-grade ingredients and gently air-dried to preserve the flavor and nutrients. The recipes are formulated by vets that couldn’t find the perfect food for their own dogs, so they decided to make it. This food meets high FDA safety standards, so it’s safe enough for humans to eat.
All the ingredients come from natural sources with no synthetics added to them. The food is always formulated to meet AAFCO standards. All the food is manufactured in the same USDA-monitored facility in the United States. It’s a human-grade facility, so the food is held to the same high standards that human food would be. Thus, the brand has never had a recall because of its solid safety procedures.
You can get started by filling out a questionnaire for your dog, and then Sundays will offer food that is customized to your pup’s needs. The pieces of food look and smell similar to what you’d give your dog as a treat, so it intrigues picky dogs while still being healthy. The food is ready-to-serve with no preparations needed.
13. A Pup Above
A Pup Above is a dog food company that produces both dry food and fresh food. They also offer combos of the two types for customers wanting to mix the two. Their dry food doesn’t look like typical kibble because it’s made by gently drying out the fresh ingredients to preserve the nutrients and flavor. Both types of food are made with human-grade ingredients only.
All the food is prepared in a USDA-inspected facility, where every product is strictly tested before heading out to customers. This company only sources non-GMO produce and meat, making food that’s good enough quality for humans. So, you can feel at ease serving these meals to your dog, especially since the company is recall-free.
A Pup Above not only cares about its canine customers, but it also values the environment. This company uses 100% recyclable packaging, and they use “ugly” ingredients that are often unwanted by companies despite having the same amount of nutrients. They source their ingredients locally and use renewable energy whenever possible. Using the information on the food bag, you can track where every ingredient in the food was sourced from so there’s no mystery.
Related: Best Dog Foods Rated
Frequently Asked Questions
Recalls can be complicated, so it’s a good idea to gather as much information about them before you have to deal with any. Here are some questions dog parents commonly ask.
Where Can I Go to Find Out if My Dog Food Has Been Recalled?
You can search the FDA’s website to see if there are recall records for your dog’s food. You can also do a Google search to find out recall details as well. Many sites, such as DogFoodAdvisor.com, compile a list of dog food recalls. To stay up-to-date on pet food recalls, you can sign up to receive recall alerts on DogFoodAdvisor.
What are the Most Common Reasons for Dog Food Recalls?
The most common reason dog food gets recalled is that something contaminates it. It could be a toxin like a moldy grain product or a bacteria like Salmonella. If food is exposed to a dangerous substance, the food will get recalled as a precaution.
Who is Responsible for a Dog Food Recall?
Most recalls are voluntary. If the brand notices issues before anyone else gets involved, they will voluntarily recall their products. If an issue goes unnoticed, the FDA will bring attention to the concerns, which will lead to the recall.
How Can I Report an Issue with My Dog’s Food?
If you suspect that a batch of your dog’s food may be hazardous or defective, you can contact the FDA by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
What Should I Do if My Dog Food is Recalled?
If your dog’s food is recalled, follow the instructions in the recall notification. The company will usually advise you to dispose of the food, clean surfaces the food touched, and contact the number listed for more information. If your dog ate any of the recalled food, contact your vet for advice, especially if your dog is showing symptoms.
What Should I Do if My Dog Gets Sick After Eating Recalled Food?
If your dog gets sick after eating recalled food, take them to the vet immediately. You can also file a complaint with the FDA so they can keep track of the number of dogs affected by the recall.
Does Your Dog Food Brand Keep Safety in Mind?
You don’t have to be feeding one of the above brands to keep your dog healthy, but researching your dog’s food brand is a great way to ensure it’s safe. Consider the following questions –
- How much of the dog food production does the brand control? Do they outsource production? Do they own all of the factories?
- Where does your dog food company source its ingredients? Are they importing them from overseas?
- How often has the company had to recall products? You can search for recent recalls on this FDA page or you can try a regular Google search for a history of recalls.
There are more dog food options than ever, so it takes a bit of research to determine which food is safest and healthiest for your pup. Choosing a top dog food brand with no recalls is a great way to ensure your pup lives a long, healthy life.
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