Key Points
- Claims of Purina pet food making pets severely sick have proliferated across Facebook and TikTok, with ongoing reports of sickness being shared.
- Purina has asserted that at this time, there is no evidence to support the claim that Purina pet food is the cause of these illnesses.
- There is currently no FDA issued recall for the Purina pet food in question, their last recall was in 2023 for their Purina PPVD EL.
- By using words like “claim” or “rumors”, we are in no way trying to diminish the loss of any pet owners who have suffered from their experience with Purina products, nor are we trying to imply any disbelief.
- This article will be updated if more evidence surfaces.
Purina Responds to Negative Pet Food Claims
Purina has found themselves in some hot water as of late over online rumors spawning from Facebook and TikTok that claim their pet food has caused a large amount of pets to develop health issues, leading many concerned pet owners to wonder about a Purina dog food recall. The latest news from Purina themselves has been a statement issued on Monday, January 15th, in which they deny any issues with Purina products. In it, they wrote that “this rumor is false, and we are saddened to see the confusion and fear that it has caused for pet owners. There are no health or safety issues with our products, and they can continue to be fed with confidence.”
This updated statement comes only a week after Purina acknowledged what they say are “online rumours” on January 5th. In that announcement, Purina attempted to ease the minds of pet owners and deny the claims, stating that “these false statements may be creating unnecessary stress for pet parents. There are no health or safety issues with any of our products,”. They also urged pet owners and social media users to exercise caution when reading posts online, recommending that they research “the source of these posts. Some are well-intentioned pet parents who are genuinely concerned and trying to be helpful, while others may be trying to create chaos and distrust of certain brands as an opportunity to sell their own products.”
What Claims Have Been Reported?
Though the Nestlé Purina PetCare Company remains firm in their declaration, this is an ongoing situation and there are still many accusations of their pet food causing illness in dogs and cats circulating from concerned pet parents. One Facebook user stated in a post made just a few days ago on January 24th that her pup was suffering from a constant cycle of vomiting and other gastrointestinal issues after eating Purina, and suggested that the pet food she was feeding him may be the culprit.
NBC news reported that these upsetting stories and speculations started back in December, when the administrator of the Saving Pets One @ A Time Facebook group posted that she noticed multiple members had reported sudden illness in their pets after feeding them Purina Pro Plan. Since then, there have been continuous reports of sickness in cats and dogs after eating the Purina pet food, citing symptoms like changes in behavior, loss of appetite, weight loss, and gastrointestinal dysfunction. One article by eFoodAlert summarized just a few of the purported 197 reports that are sharing these stories and claiming their pets fell ill after eating Purina Pro Plan, including cases of dogs being hospitalized:
“I have 5 sick dogs on Purina pro plan. Severe diarrhea and dehydration. One dog was hospitalized on Friday and then another today which led me to think it had to be the feed. My 2 dogs who are raw fed are perfectly fine. Purina Pro plan adult.
- posted January 2, 2024”
These claims are not isolated to just that Facebook group, though that is where most pet owners are sharing their claims and concerns. TikTok is another social media site that has been putting Purina on blast and wondering about a recall, with videos such as @hoslisticpetradio’s, who stated that pet owners should discontinue feeding Purina to their pets after the claims they have seen people make online.
Other groups on Facebook, like the Truth About Pet Food page, are urging more action to be taken by the FDA and Purina. The page shares many pet owner’s concerns over the recent reports and tries to keep updates on the claims they see online.
They are not the only ones sharing their frustrations and fears over what is going on with these pets who are getting sick. Social media is a place where people can find solace and community with others by sharing their own experiences and questions. Thus, when multiple people share stories online that suggest the same logic, it can help people draw certain conclusions and raise concerns. Given the ongoing nature of this situation, until enough time has elapsed for a full investigation into all of these online claims, pet owners can remain cautious and choose what to feed their dogs based on what they deem is safe, using the information they currently have.
Has There Been A Purina Dog Food Recall?
Purina’s most recent recall was back in 2023 when the company recalled their Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EL Elemental (PPVD EL) prescription dog food over concerns for their ingredients containing high levels of vitamin D. Despite this being an essential nutrient, the concern was that such high levels could have caused symptoms like excessive drooling, thirst, increased urination, kidney failure or even death.
As of now, there is no FDA issued Purina dog food recall in effect. In a Q&A from their updated statement on January 15th, 2024, Purina further confirmed for their customers and concerned pet owners that they do frequent quality checks and “do not have any current or pending recalls,”. They assured worried consumers that any “information about a recall is immediately shared with the FDA, consumers, retailers and veterinarians.”
Moreover, the New York Times reported that a Purina spokeswoman has asserted there is no data that points to there being a pattern of issues associated with Purina pet food; they hold firm that Purina is safe for pets. This incident seems to point to the concerns associated with social media and the convenience and speed with which it allows rumors or possible false statements to spread. The spokeswoman has also proposed that some of the people who are making these claims online have previously endorsed pet food brands that are in competition with Purina, noting that there seems to be “benefits to them promoting this rumor.”
The posts and comments shared online are continuing to come in as more and more pet owners are suffering with these tragic illnesses and health issues in their beloved pets with little to no explanation as to why. The stories and incidents on Saving Pets One @ A Time and on TikTok will continue to raise concerns and questions in pet owners, and Purina urges pet parents to contact their veterinarian if they notice any changes in their pet’s usual behavior or health. We also urge pet owners to share their stories and thoughts with us as this situation continues, contact us at our email: [email protected].
Updated as of January 30th, 2024. New developments will be updated as they unfold.
