Just 1 of the 10 Most Popular Brands Has Never Been Recalled

If it seems like every time you turn around, there's another pet food recall — well, you're not too far off the mark.

We researched the most popular dog food and cat food brands in the United States and were shocked to see just how many of them have faced a recall at some point over the past few years.

Out of the top 10 best-selling U.S. pet food brands (listed below in order of sales volume on Amazon), only one of them has never been recalled.

1. Taste of the Wild

⚠ Recalled previously.

In spring 2012, Taste of the Wild recalled thousands of units of dog and cat food because of positive tests for salmonella. (See the full recall history for Taste of the Wild.)

2. Fancy Feast

♥ No recalls.

Believe it or not, Fancy Feast has never been recalled, according to our research. Which means Fancy Feast is the only top 10 pet food brand that has never issued a recall in its history.

3. Blue Buffalo

⚠ Recalled previously.

Blue Buffalo has had many recalls over the years. Causes of the recalls range from high levels of beef thyroid hormone to possible metal contamination to moisture problems and “sequencing errors.” (See the full recall history for Blue Buffalo.)

4. Friskies

⚠ Recalled previously.

In 2011, a Friskies product was recalled voluntarily by the company because of possible salmonella contamination. (See the full recall history for Friskies.)

5. Purina

⚠ Recalled previously.

In late March 2019, the company issued a limited recall of one of its Muse cat food varieties.

In March 2016, 5 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. (See the full recall history for Purina.)

6. Rachael Ray Nutrish

⚠ Recalled previously.

A recall of several wet cat food varieties was announced in late spring 2015. The cause was high levels of Vitamin D, which can lead to serious health complications in cats. (See the full recall history for Rachael Ray Nutrish.)

7. Hill's Science Diet

⚠ Recalled previously.

Most recently, in late January 2019, Hill’s issued a recall for a wide variety of canned dog foods because of potentially elevated levels of Vitamin D. That recall included both the Science Diet and Prescription Diet lines.

In November 2015, the company quietly initiated a market withdrawal of certain Science Diet canned dog foods because of labeling issues. Hill’s maintained that the food itself was fine.

Previously, in June 2014, Hill’s Science Diet voluntarily recalled 62 bags of Science Diet Adult Small & Toy Breed Dry Dog Food in California, Hawaii and Nevada because of potential salmonella contamination. (See the full recall history for Hill's Science Diet.)

8. Meow Mix

⚠ Recalled previously.

A limited recall of certain Meow Mix packages in April 2021 was the first-ever Meow Mix recall we are aware of — which is quite impressive given the brand’s 47-year history.

The recall was announced by the parent company, J.M. Smucker Co., and was limited to just 2 specific lots of dry cat food. (See the full recall history for Meow Mix.)

9. Cesar

⚠ Recalled previously.

In fall 2016, the company recalled packages of Cesar Classics Filet Mignon wet dog food because of reports of pieces of plastic in the food. That was the only recall our research turned up for Cesar. (See the full recall history for Cesar.)

10. Diamond

⚠ Recalled previously.

In 2013, a recall of Diamond cat food was initiated because of potentially too-low levels of thiamine. In 2012, a large recall involving Diamond and several pet food companies that Diamond Pet Foods manufactured for was initiated after people who worked at the plant were found to have been contaminated with salmonella. Diamond’s own pet food brands randomly selected tested positive for the bacteria, prompting other pet food companies that co-manufacture at the South Carolina plant to initiate voluntary recalls of their own.

Earlier, in 2005, aflatoxin was discovered in a plant in South Carolina that manufactures dog food products. It was recalled, but not before being shipped out to 29 countries. (See the full recall history for Diamond.)

Summary

Here again is the list of the top 10 U.S. pet food brands, and which one has never been recalled: Taste of the Wild Fancy Feast — no recalls Blue Buffalo Friskies Purina Rachael Ray Nutrish Hill’s Science Diet Meow Mix Cesar Diamond * * *

This article was originally published in 2016 and has been regularly updated. It was last reviewed and updated July 6, 2021.