September 24, 2023⚠ Important recall information appears below.
In 1893, Ralston Purina started the journey that would lead him through various aspects of sales — from farm animal feed to batteries to cereal. Purina named his company with a label he hoped would come to represent the purity of the food he manufactured for animals of all shapes and sizes.
In 2001, Purina merged with a Nestlé subsidiary, and the Nestlé Purina PetCare Company was founded. Nestlé has continued the fight for purity by advertising its intent to stop false advertising in relation to pet food and what it contains.
Purina Quick Facts
Brand line includes: Purina ONE True Instinct, Purina ONE Puppy Formula, Purina ONE Sensitive Systems, Purina ProPlan, Purina Dog Chow Little Bites, Purina Dog Chow Healthy Morsels, Purina Cat Chow, Purina ONE Hairball Formula and Purina ONE Indoor Advantage
Affiliated lines include: Mighty Dog, Alpo, Friskies, Beneful and Deli-Cat (click the links for these recalls)
Cost: $$
Where to buy: Latest deals on Purina pet food
Company: Nestlé Purina PetCare Company
Headquarters: 1 Checkerboard Square, St. Louis, MO 63164
Contact info: 1-800-778-7462, email
Has Purina Ever Been Recalled?
Yes. In February 2023, select lots of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental dry dog food were recalled due to elevated levels of Vitamin D. This can lead to health issues in dogs if ingested in excessive amounts. The recall was expanded in March 2023 to cover 2 additional production codes. Full details of the recall appear below, but first we list a few more Purina recalls from over the years…
In December 2022, some cans of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat (PPVD EN Low Fat) prescription wet dog food were sold to consumers but were actually a different Purina dog food that had been mislabeled. The company says the mislabeled food was safe to eat but recommended throwing them away.
In July 2021, certain 3 oz. cans of Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Tuna Entrée in Sauce Wet Cat Food were recalled because they may contain pieces of plastic.
In late March 2019, the company issued a limited recall of one of its Muse cat food varieties.
Also, in March 2016, a few varieties of Pro Plan wet dog food sold in tubs were recalled because of inadequate vitamin/mineral levels. Also, in summer 2013, Purina voluntarily recalled a batch of Purina ONE dog food for suspected salmonella contamination.
A year earlier, a single lot of Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management Feline Formula was recalled because of levels of thiamine that were deemed to be too low.
Also, twice in 2011, certain Purina dry cat foods were recalled for suspected salmonella contamination.
For full details about all of these recalls, please see the list below.
Pre-2004 Recalls: Purina pet foods have been around a very long time, so there certainly have been earlier recalls, which are not listed below. For example, our research turned up a 1978 recall of Purina Cat Chow because of possible contamination with PCBs — a nasty cancer-causing chemical. We also found a 1983 recall of 150 cans of cat food that Ralston Purina Co. had mistakenly labeled “Chicken of the Sea,” which consumers (and probably grocery store employees) naturally mistook for cans of tuna for people. Although those historic recalls are fascinating, this website tracks only the recall events that have taken place since about 2005.
Other Brand Lines: Purina is just one of the many pet food lines produced by Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. Others include Mighty Dog, Alpo, Friskies, Beneful and Deli-Cat.
List of Purina Recalls
February/March 2023
Cause: Potentially elevated Vitamin D. Announcement: FDA recall notices dated Feb. 8, 2023 (archived here) and March 10, 2023 (archived here). What was recalled: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental dog food in 8 lb. (UPC #38100 19190) and 20 lb. (UPC #38100 19192) bags in which the first 8 characters in the Production Code is one of the following:
- 2213 1082
- 2214 1082
- 2249 1082
- 2250 1082
- 2276 1082
- 2277 1082
- 2290 1082
- 2360 1082
- 2361 1082
December 2022
Cause: Mislabeling. Announcement: FDA recall notice dated Dec. 2, 2022 (archived here). What was recalled: 13.4 oz. cans of Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN Gastroenteric Low Fat (PPVD EN Low Fat) prescription wet dog food, UPC #38100 17599 — only cans stamped with “22581159 L4TR6” and best by date of SEPT2024.
July 2021
Cause: Could potentially contain plastic pieces. Announcement: Company statement dated July 14, 2021 (archived here). What was recalled: Purina Pro Plan Complete Essentials Tuna Entrée In Sauce Wet Cat Food, UPC #38100-11197 — only 3 oz. cans with Lot Production Code #11621160 and best by date of June 2023
Was YOUR Pet Food Recalled?
Check Now: Blue Buffalo • Science Diet • Purina • Wellness • 4health • Canine Carry Outs • Friskies • Taste of the Wild • See 200+ more brands…
March 2016
Cause: Inadequate vitamins and minerals. Announcement: Company news release dated March 10, 2016. What was recalled: The following with both a “Best Before” date range of June 2017 to August 2017 and production code range starting with the first 4 digits of 5363 to 6054:
- Pro Plan Savory Meals, 10 oz. tubs (limited to 5 varieties: Braised Chicken Entrée, Braised Pork Entrée, Braised Turkey Entrée, Grilled Salmon Entrée, Braised Beef & Rice Entrée)
- Beneful was also part of this recall; we list the Beneful brand line separately.
August 2013
Cause: Possible salmonella risk. Announcement: FDA report dated Aug. 30, 2013. What was recalled: Purina ONE beyOnd Our White Meat Chicken & Whole Barley Recipe Adult Dry Dog Food, 3.5 lb. bags with BOTH a “Best by” date of October 2014 and Production Code #31071083.
May 2012
Cause: Possible low thiamine. Announcement: FDA report dated May 11, 2012. What was recalled: Purina Veterinary Diets OM Overweight Management canned cat food, 5.5 oz., with “Best by” date of June 2013 and Production Code #11721159.
July 2011
Cause: Possible salmonella risk. Announcement: Press release dated July 29, 2011 (archived on FDA site). What was recalled: Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ dry cat food, 3.5 lb. and 7 lb. bags, with a “Best by” date of May 2012 and Production Code #03341084 or #03351084.
June 2011
Cause: Possible salmonella risk. Announcement: Company press release dated June 27, 2011. What was recalled: Purina Cat Chow Naturals, 6.3 lb., Production Code #10331083 13, with “Best by” date of August 2012.
See also: Mighty Dog, Alpo, Friskies, Beneful and Deli-Cat
If you have not done so already, we urge you to sign up now for Petful’s FREE recall alerts by email. Our free alerts are saving pets’ lives.
Have You Had a Problem With Purina?
- See our reporting page for contact info.
- Leave a comment below to share your experience with others.
