How to Check If Dog Food Is Recalled by Lot Number

To check whether dog food is recalled by lot number, find relevant notices by brand and product, then compare your package’s lot code and other identifiers with the details in each notice. The FDA page is a starting point for finding notices, not a tool that confirms a package from its lot code alone. A brand name, UPC, or search with no result cannot establish that a particular batch is unaffected.

How do you check if dog food is recalled by lot number?

Use these steps to find and verify possible notices:

1. Start with the FDA’s Recalls & Withdrawals page. Use it as a starting point to search for possible notices. Open each relevant notice to review the affected products, identifiers, and instructions.
2. Search by brand and product. Try the brand name and exact product name on the package. If you do not find a notice, try shorter or alternate terms, including the food type or recipe name.
3. Review possible matches in full. Check each notice’s product name, food type or recipe, package size, UPC, lot codes, and any dates or other identifiers it lists. Do not rely on a search result’s headline alone.
4. Compare your package with each notice. Match the product details and the lot code against the notice’s listed information. A UPC can help identify the product, but it does not replace a lot-code check when the notice names specific lots.
5. Contact the manufacturer if anything is unclear. Provide the product name, lot code, UPC, and best-by date. Ask for help if the code is unreadable or the notice lists ranges, additional criteria, or identifiers you cannot interpret.

There is no single definitive FDA lot-number checker. You must find the relevant notice and manually compare your package with its listed lot codes and other identifiers. If your search turns up no notice, that does not prove the food is safe or unaffected; check the manufacturer’s recall information or contact the company.

Read the individual notice for its instructions.

Where can you find a pet-food lot number?

Look over the package for a code that may help identify the production batch.

• Bags and pouches: Check the bottom, sides, and area near the top seam.
• Cans: Check the bottom for printed or stamped codes.
• Any package: Inspect the full package, especially around the date marking, before discarding it.

Read the code carefully and distinguish letters from similar-looking numbers. If it is smudged or partly covered, inspect the rest of the package and ask the manufacturer to help identify it. Keep the package or take a clear photo of its labels if you may need to check a notice later.

How do you compare a package with a recall notice?

First match the product identity, then compare the lot code and every other identifier the notice lists. A product can share a brand or recipe name with an affected item without having the same lot code.

Hypothetical dog-food example: Suppose a notice lists a particular brand’s chicken recipe in a specific bag size and names lot ABC123. Check that your package has the same brand, recipe, and size, then compare its code with ABC123. If the package matches those product details but has a different lot code, it is not identified as affected by that specific lot listing. Check the full notice for ranges or other criteria; if the notice or code is unclear, contact the manufacturer. Do not treat a match on brand or recipe alone as confirmation that your package is included.

What should you do if your product matches a recall?

Stop feeding a product that matches the notice and follow that notice’s directions. Disposal, returns, and other instructions can vary, so do not apply steps from a different recall.

1. Separate the product from food you plan to use. Keep it out of your pet’s reach while you review the notice.
2. Follow the notice’s specific instructions. It may direct you to dispose of the product, return it, or take another action. Check whether it also gives guidance about packaging, refunds, or contacting the company.
3. Contact a veterinarian if your pet is ill. Share the product name and lot information if you have them, and explain that the food appears to match a recall.
4. Report a suspected product problem. Gather the product and package information you have before making a report.

Keep the packaging when practical, particularly if you may need to identify the product or report a complaint. If the lot code is unreadable, share the other package details you have when seeking help or making a report.

How can you keep lot information accessible after opening a bag?

Before transferring kibble, take a clear photo of the product name, manufacturer, UPC, lot number, and best-by date. You can also keep the original bag or save the panel showing those details. Keeping the original bag, even inside another container, can preserve those details.

If you use a storage bin, keep the original label or a photo with it. This makes it easier to compare batch information with a notice instead of trying to identify the food from memory.

Frequently asked questions

What if the lot number is faded or unreadable?

Check the product name, UPC, and best-by date, and keep the packaging if possible. Contact the manufacturer with those details for help identifying the product. If you are reporting a problem, provide the package and purchase details you have.

Can dog food be recalled if my pet seems healthy?

Yes. A recall can concern a potential product risk even when your pet has no symptoms. Compare the package with the notice and follow its instructions if the details match.

What if I cannot find a matching notice on the FDA page?

Search again using shorter or alternate brand and product terms, then check the manufacturer’s recall information or contact the company directly. A search with no result does not confirm that your food is unaffected. If you suspect a product problem, consider reporting it to the appropriate agency.

References

1. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Recalls, Market Withdrawals, and Safety Alerts. This is the FDA recall-notice page referenced above.