Recent concerns circulating online about pet illnesses linked to Purina pet food have been addressed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). After a comprehensive review, the FDA announced on July 31st that there are no public health concerns associated with Purina pet food, including popular lines like Purina En Dog Food. This conclusion comes after a spike in adverse event reports last year prompted a thorough investigation.
The FDA’s official statement clarified, “After thoroughly analyzing pet food adverse event reports, testing opened products from pet owners and sealed products from retail settings, and conducting a facility inspection, the FDA has determined the existing evidence does not identify a public health concern that could explain the symptoms detailed in these adverse event reports about Purina pet foods.”
This announcement provides reassurance to pet owners who may have been worried about the safety of Purina products, including specialized diets like Purina EN dog food, often recommended by veterinarians for pets with specific dietary needs. The investigation was initiated following social media complaints in late 2023, where some pet owners, particularly on platforms like TikTok, claimed Purina pet food was making their pets sick and called for a boycott.
As a result of these concerns, the FDA received approximately 1,300 adverse event reports for various Purina pet food products between November 22, 2023, and April 15, 2024. The reported symptoms in both dogs and cats varied, with the most common being gastrointestinal issues, followed by signs related to kidney, liver, or neurological problems.
FDA’s Rigorous Investigation Process
To address these reports, the FDA launched a detailed investigation, applying specific criteria to ensure a focused and effective review of the adverse events. These criteria included verifying pet owner contact information, product details, descriptions of the pet’s symptoms, and the timeline of events.
From the initial 1,300 reports, the agency identified 107 reports that contained sufficient information and met their criteria for further investigation. Veterinarians from the FDA’s Office of Surveillance and Compliance and the Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN) played a crucial role in this stage. They contacted pet owners to gather detailed medical and dietary histories of their pets, tested pet food samples provided by owners, reviewed veterinary medical records, and conducted diagnostic tests related to the reported illnesses.
Initially, Vet-LIRN’s testing was broad in scope because there were no clear patterns or common factors in the adverse event reports to suggest specific contaminants or hazards. This comprehensive approach included comparing test results from opened food samples provided by pet owners with the FDA’s own regulatory testing of sealed, unopened packages. This comparison was designed to pinpoint when and where any potential contamination or issues might have occurred.
Key Findings: No Contamination or Safety Issues in Purina EN Dog Food and Other Products
The extensive testing conducted by Vet-LIRN on both opened and unopened Purina pet food samples yielded reassuring results. Tests came back negative for a wide range of potential contaminants, including:
- Mycotoxins: Aflatoxin, fumonisin, and deoxynivalenol
- Excess Vitamin D
- Bacteria: Salmonella and E. coli
- Pesticides
- Phosphine: A fumigant used in grain storage
Furthermore, levels of metals found in the pet food samples were not considered to be clinically significant. While the bacterium Bacillus was detected in some opened product samples, further analysis through whole-genome sequencing revealed that the Bacillus cereus strains were not related, ruling out a common source of contamination.
In addition to product testing, the FDA also conducted an on-site inspection of the Purina manufacturing facility in Clinton, Iowa, where the most frequently reported products in the adverse event reports were produced. The FDA did issue a citation to the facility, but it was related to the facility’s food safety plan reanalysis under the Food Safety Modernization Act, and not directly linked to product contamination or the reported pet illnesses.
FDA Conclusion: Purina Pet Food, Including Purina EN Dog Food, Not Linked to Pet Illnesses
Overall, the FDA’s final conclusion was clear: “there was no direct or consistent connection between the wide range of adverse events submitted to the FDA, and evidence does not conclusively link the reported adverse events to Purina pet food.” This finding directly addresses the concerns raised about Purina products, including specialized diets like Purina EN dog food.
Lorie Westhoff, senior director of corporate communications for Purina, responded to the FDA’s findings by stating, “The FDA’s investigation confirmed that there are no quality or safety issues with Purina pet foods. The quality and safety of our products is our highest priority, and we respect that the FDA invested time and resources into investigating any potential concerns. We always encourage consumers to contact us directly if they have any questions about Purina products and to consult their veterinarian if they have questions about their pet’s health.”
This comprehensive investigation and the FDA’s findings should reassure pet owners about the safety and quality of Purina pet food, including specialized veterinary diets like Purina EN dog food. While adverse events can occur in pets, this investigation found no evidence to link them to Purina’s products.
