Hills Science Diet, like any pet food manufacturer, has faced recalls throughout its history. These recalls, stemming from various issues, highlight the importance of pet owners staying informed and vigilant about the food they provide their companions. This article provides a comprehensive overview of past Hills Science Diet recalls, focusing on the causes, affected products, and the company's response.
Salmonella Contamination (2014)
In May 2014, a voluntary recall was initiated, limited to 62 bags of 15.5 lb. Hills Science Diet dry dog food. This recall was triggered by the accidental release of a product potentially contaminated with Salmonella during a single production run. The suspect product was distributed to 17 veterinary clinics and pet stores in California, Hawaii, and Nevada between April 24 and May 13, 2014.
Symptoms of Salmonella Infection
Both humans and animals can be affected by Salmonella. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for symptoms such as:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- Abdominal cramping
- Fever
In rare cases, Salmonella can lead to more serious conditions, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms.
Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit:
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- Lethargy
- Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Abdominal pain
It's important to note that some infected pets may be carriers without showing obvious symptoms, posing a risk to other animals and humans.
Identifying the Recalled Product
The SKU number, crucial for identifying the recalled product, was located on the bottom of the bag, both side panels, and on the back lower right-hand corner below the UPC code.
Vitamin D Toxicity (2019)
In January 2019, Hill’s Pet Nutrition began recalling canned dog foods due to reports of vitamin D toxicity in dogs. The FDA alerted pet owners and veterinary professionals about the expanded recall of 86 total lots of 33 varieties (SKUs) of canned dog foods manufactured by Hill’s Pet Nutrition. The problem was discovered after complaints that dogs eating the food experienced vitamin D toxicity. The firm expanded the scope of the recall to include additional products and product lots in March 2019 and again in May 2019 to include an additional product lot code for a variety of canned food in the recall.
Testing leading up to the recalls found excessive, potentially toxic amounts of vitamin D in samples of the dog food. While vitamin D is essential for dogs, very high amounts can cause serious health problems like kidney failure or death.
Symptoms of Vitamin D Toxicity
Excessive vitamin D in a dog's diet can manifest in several ways:
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- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Increased thirst
- Increased urination
- Excessive drooling
- Weight loss
At toxic levels, vitamin D can lead to kidney failure and death.
Affected Products
The recall was specific to canned dog food and did not affect canned cat food, dry food (kibble), or treats. The initial list of recalled dry dog food products included various sizes and formulations of Hill’s Prescription Diet and Hill’s Science Diet canned foods.
Initial Recall List (January 31, 2019):
- Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Canine Chicken & Vegetable Stew 12.5 oz, SKU 3384 (Lot Codes: 102020T10, 102020T25)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Canine Chicken & Vegetable Stew 12.5 oz, SKU 3389 (Lot Codes: 102020T04, 102020T10, 102020T19, 102020T20)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Canine Chicken & Vegetable Stew 5.5 oz, SKU 3390 (Lot Codes: 102020T11, 112020T23, 122020T07)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Canine 13 oz, SKU 7008 (Lot Codes: 092020T30, 102020T07, 102020T11, 112020T22, 112020T23)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat Canine Rice, Vegetable & Chicken Stew 12.5 oz, SKU 10423 (Lot Codes: 102020T17, 102020T19, 112020T04)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Canine 5.5 oz, SKU 5403 (Lot Codes: 102020T17, 112020T22)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d Canine 13 oz, SKU 7006 (Lot Codes: 112020T19, 112020T20)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet j/d Canine 13 oz, SKU 7009 (Lot Code: 112020T20)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Canine 13 oz, SKU 7010 (Lot Codes: 102020T10, 102020T11)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Canine Vegetable & Chicken Stew 12.5 oz, SKU 10129 (Lot Codes: 102020T04, 102020T21)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Canine 13 oz, SKU 7017 (Lot Codes: 092020T30, 102020T11, 102020T12)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet z/d Canine 13 oz, SKU 7018 (Lot Codes: 102020T04, 112020T22)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Metabolic + Mobility Canine Vegetable & Tuna Stew 12.5 oz, SKU 10086 (Lot Codes: 102020T05, 102020T26)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Defense Canine Chicken & Vegetable Stew 12.5 oz, SKU 10509 (Lot Code: 102020T05)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Small & Toy Breed Chicken & Vegetable Stew 12.5 oz, SKU 4969 (Lot Code: 102020T18)
- Hill’s Science Diet Puppy Chicken & Barley Entrée 13 oz, SKU 7036 (Lot Code: 102020T12)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley Entrée Dog Food 13 oz, SKU 7037 (Lot Codes: 102020T13, 102020T14, 112020T23, 112020T24)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Turkey & Barley Dog Food 13 oz, SKU 7038 (Lot Code: 102020T06)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken & Beef Entrée Dog Food 13 oz, SKU 7040 (Lot Code: 102020T13)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Light with Liver Dog Food 13 oz, SKU 7048 (Lot Code: 112020T19)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Chicken & Barley Entrée Dog Food 13 oz, SKU 7055 (Lot Codes: 092020T31, 102020T13)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Beef & Barley Entrée Dog Food 13 oz, SKU 7056 (Lot Codes: 092020T31, 112020T20, 112020T24)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Turkey & Barley Entrée 13 oz, SKU 7057 (Lot Code: 112020T19)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Healthy Cuisine Braised Beef, Carrots & Peas Stew Dog Food 12.5 oz, SKU 10452 (Lot Codes: 102020T14, 102020T21)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Youthful Vitality Chicken & Vegetable Stew Dog Food 12.5 oz, SKU 10763 (Lot Codes: 102020T04, 102020T05, 112020T11)
Expanded Recall List (March 20, 2019):
- Hill’s Prescription Diet k/d Kidney Care with Lamb Canned Dog Food 13 oz, 12-pack, SKU 2697 (Lot Code: 102020T25)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food, 12.5 oz, 12-pack SKU 3384 (Lot Code: 092020T29)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet c/d Multicare Urinary Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food, 5.5 oz, 24-pack SKU 3388 (Lot Code: 102020T18)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food, 12.5 oz, 12-pack SKU 3389 (Lot Codes: 092020T28, 102020T24, 102020T25)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat Canine Rice, Vegetable & Chicken Stew 5.5 oz, 24-pack SKU 3391 (Lot Code: 092020T27)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Low Fat Digestive Care Rice, Vegetable & Chicken Stew Canned Dog Food, 12.5 oz, 12-pack SKU 10423 (Lot Codes: 092020T27, 092020T28, 092020T24)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet g/d Aging Care Turkey Flavor Canned Dog Food, 13 oz, 12-pack SKU 7006 (Lot Code: 092020T22)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Digestive/Weight/Glucose Management Vegetable & Chicken Stew Canned Dog Food, 12.5 oz, 12-pack SKU 10129 (Lot Codes: 112020T11, 112020T05)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d Digestive/Weight/Glucose Management with Chicken Canned Dog Food, 13 oz, 12-pack SKU 7017 (Lot Codes: 102020T24, 102020T25, 112020T09, 112020T10)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet r/d Canine 12.3 oz, 12-pack SKU 7014 (Lot Codes: 092020T21, 102020T27, 102020T28)
- Hill’s Prescription Diet Digestive Care with Turkey Canned Dog Food, 13 oz, 12-pack SKU 7008 (Lot Code: 092020T21)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley Entrée Canned Dog Food, 13 oz, 12-pack SKU 7037 (Lot Code: 092020T22)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Beef & Barley Entrée Canned Dog Food, 13 oz, 12-pack SKU 7039 (Lot Codes: 092020T31, 102020T21)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Chicken & Beef Entrée Canned Dog Food, 13 oz, 12-pack SKU 7040 (Lot Codes: 112020T10, 112020T11)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Beef & Barley Entrée Canned Dog Food, 13 oz, 12-pack 7056 (Lot Code: 102020T28)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult 7+ Healthy Cuisine Roasted Chicken, Carrots & Spinach Stew Dog Food, 12.5 oz cans, 12-pack SKU 10449 (Lot Code: 092020T28)
- Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Cuisine Adult Braised Beef, Carrots & Peas Stew Canned Dog Food, 12.5 oz, 12-pack SKU 10451 (Lot Code: 102020T28)
- Hill’s Science Diet Healthy Cuisine Adult 7+ Braised Beef, Carrots & Peas Stew Canned Dog Food, 12.5 oz, 12-pack SKU 10452 (Lot Code: 102020T28)
- Hill’s Science Diet Adult Perfect Weight Chicken & Vegetable Entrée Dog Food 12.8 oz, 12-pack, SKU 2975 (Lot Code: 092020T28)
Additional Lot Code (May 17, 2019):
- Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d Digestive Care Chicken & Vegetable Stew Canned Dog Food, 12.5 oz, 12-pack SKU 3389 (Lot Code: 102020T21)
The recalled products were distributed through retail pet stores and veterinary clinics nationwide.
FDA's Response
The FDA took swift action upon receiving a complaint about a dog experiencing vitamin D toxicity after consuming Hill’s canned dog food. Hill’s Pet Nutrition notified the FDA on January 31, 2019, about the initial recall.
Following a complaint submitted to the FDA by a pet owner, the FDA requested that Hill’s Pet Nutrition test a retain sample. Based on these findings, the firm expanded its recall on March 20, 2019, to include an additional 19 lots of food, and again on May 17, 2019, to include an additional product lot code for a variety of canned dog food that was already on the recall list.
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FDA scientists analyzed reports and available information to determine if the illnesses were definitively connected to the recalled products.
Recommendations for Retailers, Pet Owners, and Veterinarians
The FDA provided clear instructions for each group:
- Retailers: Stop selling the recalled foods and contact the manufacturer for further instructions. Retailers were also encouraged to contact consumers who purchased recalled products.
- Pet Owners: Immediately contact a veterinarian if your pet is showing symptoms of vitamin D toxicity. Provide a full diet history to your veterinarian, including a picture of the pet food label and lot number. Do not feed the recalled products to pets and dispose of them properly. Report suspected illness to the FDA electronically through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling your state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators.
- Veterinarians: Do not sell the recalled foods and contact the manufacturer for further instructions. Contact clients who purchased recalled products. The FDA urged veterinarians treating vitamin D toxicity to ask clients for a diet history and submit case reports through the Safety Reporting Portal or by calling their state’s FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinators. Veterinarians were also advised that vitamin D toxicity may present as hypercalcemia, similar to dogs that have consumed rodenticide, and to verify diet history in such cases.
The 2007 Melamine Crisis
While not exclusive to Hills Science Diet, the 2007 pet food recalls serve as a stark reminder of the potential dangers in the pet food industry. This crisis involved widespread contamination of pet food with melamine, a chemical used in plastics manufacturing.
The Cause
It is speculated that ingredients originating in China may have intentionally been spiked with melamine to boost its apparent protein content. Melamine can skew test results to make a product appear more protein-rich than it really is, thereby creating a more marketable, expensive product. Melamine has never been approved for use in food for companion animals. So far, melamine’s been found in both wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. Media reports from South Africa suggest a third pet food ingredient, corn gluten, used in that country also was contaminated with melamine.
The Impact
In mid-March of 2007, Menu Foods Income Fund, a pet food cannery for numerous well-known brands including Iams, Ol’Roy and Nutro, initiated a voluntary recall of nearly 100 brands of canned cat and dog food sold nationwide, which totaled approximately 60 million units. Many other pet food manufacturers began recalling their canned brands as well, while labs frantically tried to identify the problem. At the end of March, Hills Science Diet recalled a number of its dry foods, due to tainted wheat gluten. The following day, Del Monte recalled a number of their treats for dogs and cats for the same reason. Sunshine Mills followed suit soon after.
Lessons Learned
The 2007 melamine crisis led to increased scrutiny of pet food ingredients and manufacturing processes. Pet owners became more aware of the importance of reading labels and choosing high-quality pet foods.
General Guidance for Pet Owners
In light of these recalls, pet owners can take several steps to ensure the safety and well-being of their animals:
- Stay Informed: Keep up-to-date on pet food recalls by monitoring the FDA website and other reliable sources.
- Read Labels Carefully: Scrutinize the ingredients in your pet’s diet. The easier a label is to understand, and the simpler the ingredients, the better the food.
- Choose High-Quality Food: Consider upgrading to premium pet food, which contains quality proteins, whole grains, fruits, vegetables, skin conditioners, and all necessary vitamins and minerals.
- Monitor Your Pet: Watch for any signs of illness, such as vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, or lethargy, and consult a veterinarian immediately if you notice anything concerning.
- Report Problems: If you suspect your pet has become ill from contaminated food, report it to the FDA.