Madeleine Hull
Hill's Science Diet dog food has been recalled several times since its launch in the 1930s. The most recent recall was in 2019, when Hill's Pet Nutrition recalled select canned dog food products due to potentially toxic levels of vitamin D. This recall was a result of a complaint submitted to the FDA by a pet owner and affected over 1 million cases of dog food. In 2015, Hill's also recalled a few canned foods due to mislabeling, and in 2014, 62 bags of Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination. While Hill's Science Diet is a popular and well-known brand, these recalls highlight the importance of staying informed about the latest updates and announcements regarding pet food products.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Has Hill's Science Diet for small dogs been recalled? | Yes |
| Date of recall | January 2019 |
| Reason for recall | Potentially toxic levels of vitamin D |
| Number of product lots recalled | 86 |
| Number of varieties recalled | 33 |
| Number of cases affected | 1 million+ |
| Number of cans affected | 22 million+ |
| Products affected | Canned dog food only |
| Products not affected | Dry foods, cat foods, treats |
| Action taken by Hill's | Voluntarily recalled products, identified and isolated error, required supplier to implement additional quality testing, added further testing of incoming ingredients |
| Action taken by FDA | Issued warning letter to Hill's Pet Nutrition, requested testing of retain sample |
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What You'll Learn
- Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food recalled in 2014
- Potential vitamin D toxicity in 2019
- recall due to mislabelling
- Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Small & Toy Breed Chicken & Barley Entrée recalled in 2015
- Hill's Science Diet Dog Small & Toy Mature Gourmet Beef Entrée recalled in 2014
Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food recalled in 2014
Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food was recalled in June 2014 due to potential Salmonella contamination. The recall was limited to 62 15.5-lb bags of the product with the Stock-Keeping Unit (SKU) code #9097, a "best before" date of #08 2015 M094, and a specific production code. These bags were distributed to 17 veterinary clinics and pet stores in California, Hawaii, and Nevada between April 24 and May 13, 2014.
The recall was initiated by Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc., which is based in Topeka, Kansas. The company voluntarily recalled the product after discovering that it was accidentally released during a routine inventory reconciliation. Salmonella contamination can affect both animals consuming the product and humans handling it, potentially causing serious health issues.
The affected customers were contacted by Hill's, and no reported illnesses related to the product have been recorded to date. However, consumers who purchased the recalled product were advised to discontinue use and contact Hill's Pet Nutrition immediately.
It is important to note that this recall only applied to the specific batch of Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food with the mentioned "best before" date and production code. Other Science Diet Adult Small and Toy Breed products with different "best before" dates and other Science Diet products were not impacted by this recall.
In addition to the 2014 recall, there have been other instances of Hill's Science Diet products being recalled or withdrawn from the market. For example, in November 2015, there was a market withdrawal of certain Hill's Science Diet canned pet foods for unknown reasons, possibly related to labeling issues. More recently, in 2019, there were recalls of various Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet canned dog foods due to potentially toxic levels of vitamin D.
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Potential vitamin D toxicity in 2019
Hill's Science Diet dog food has been recalled several times. In 2019, the brand recalled several canned foods due to potential vitamin D toxicity. The recall started in January 2019 and expanded to include additional products in the spring. Overall, the recalls affected more than 1 million cases of dog food, or nearly 22 million cans.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning letter to Hill's Pet Nutrition in November 2019, stating that the company had significantly violated agency regulations. The FDA found that Hill's failed to follow its own procedures for consistently verifying the quality of ingredients in its pet foods. Specifically, Hill's did not analyse the vitamin premix before it was used in manufacturing and did not test the final product to ensure it met its formulation specifications. The vitamin D levels in the recalled products were more than 33 times the recommended safe upper limit.
The recall was initiated after Hill's received a complaint about a dog exhibiting signs of elevated vitamin D levels. Hill's investigation confirmed that the issue was due to a supplier error and identified and isolated the error. To prevent the issue from reoccurring, Hill's required its supplier to implement additional quality testing prior to releasing ingredients. In addition, Hill's added further testing of incoming ingredients to its existing safety processes.
Vitamin D is an essential nutrient for dogs, but ingestion of elevated levels can lead to serious health issues, including kidney dysfunction and even death. Dogs may exhibit symptoms such as vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss. Pet owners whose dogs have consumed any of the recalled products and are exhibiting these signs should contact their veterinarian.
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2015 recall due to mislabelling
In November 2015, Hill's Science Diet initiated a market withdrawal of certain canned pet foods. Although this was not a recall, the reason for the market withdrawal was unknown, and it has been speculated that it was due to a labelling issue.
According to the FDA, a market withdrawal takes place when a product has a minor violation that would not be subject to FDA legal action. The firm removes the product from the market or corrects the violation. All date codes of the following canned dog foods were withdrawn: Hill's Science Diet Dog Adult Perfect Weight Chicken & Vegetables, 12.8 oz, SKU #5210.
This was not the first time Hill's Science Diet had issued a recall. In June 2014, 62 bags of Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Recipe were recalled due to potential salmonella contamination. The bags were distributed in California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
In 2019, Hill's Science Diet issued another recall, this time of over 30 canned recipes due to excessive and toxic amounts of vitamin D. Hundreds of pets reportedly died due to this recall, and a lawsuit soon followed.
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Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Small & Toy Breed Chicken & Barley Entrée recalled in 2015
Hill's Science Diet Adult 7+ Small & Toy Breed Chicken & Barley Entrée was recalled in 2015 due to unknown reasons, possibly labelling issues. This was technically a market withdrawal rather than a recall, as defined by the FDA, because the product had a minor violation that would not be subject to FDA legal action.
In 2019, Hill's Pet Nutrition recalled several canned dog food products due to potentially toxic levels of vitamin D. The FDA confirmed that the unsafe levels of vitamin D were a result of an ingredient that was accepted by the company in a manner not in accordance with their receiving procedures. The vitamin D levels in the tested lots of recalled products were more than 33 times the recommended safe upper limit. The recall affected more than 1 million cases of dog food, or nearly 22 million cans.
The recalled products were distributed through retail pet stores and veterinary clinics nationwide. Pet owners were advised to discontinue feeding their pets the recalled products, and veterinarians were asked to report suspected cases of vitamin D toxicity through the Safety Reporting Portal or by contacting their local FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.
In addition to the 2015 and 2019 recalls, Hill's Science Diet has had a few other recalls in the past. In 2014, 62 bags of Hill's Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed dry dog food were recalled in California, Hawaii, and Nevada due to potential salmonella contamination. In 2007, Hill's Science Diet was one of more than 100 brands included in a wide-ranging recall of pet food that may contain harmful ingredients.
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Hill's Science Diet Dog Small & Toy Mature Gourmet Beef Entrée recalled in 2014
Hill's Science Diet Dog Small & Toy Mature Gourmet Beef Entrée was recalled in June 2014 due to potential salmonella contamination. The affected product had a "best by" date and production code of #08 2015 M094 and was available in 15.5 lb. bags with SKU #9097. The recall affected bags distributed in California, Hawaii, and Nevada.
Hill's Science Diet is a popular dog food brand that has been around since the 1930s. The brand was started by Dr. Mark Morris, Sr., who created a special dog food to address the kidney failure that Morris Frank's dog was suffering from. This incident sparked Dr. Morris's interest in the impact of nutrition on dogs' health issues.
Today, Hill's Science Diet dog food is known for providing great nutrition to dogs facing specific health issues, such as joint problems and digestive troubles. The brand's recipes are formulated with the help of nutritionists, vets, and scientists to ensure optimal quality.
Despite the benefits that Hill's Science Diet offers to dogs with health issues, the brand has faced several recalls and withdrawals over the years. In addition to the 2014 recall of the Small & Toy Mature Gourmet Beef Entrée, there was a market withdrawal of certain Hill's Science Diet canned pet foods in November 2015. While the reason for this withdrawal was not disclosed, it is speculated that it was due to a minor issue such as a labeling mistake.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Hill's Science Diet for small dogs has been recalled in the past.
Hill's Science Diet for small dogs was recalled due to potential salmonella contamination and elevated vitamin D levels.
The most recent recall of Hill's Science Diet for small dogs was in 2019 due to elevated vitamin D levels.
Signs of elevated vitamin D levels in dogs include vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss.
If you think your dog has eaten recalled Hill's Science Diet food, contact your veterinarian immediately and report any health or safety incidents to the relevant authorities.
