How to Report a Pet Food Problem to the FDA: What to Have Ready

If you think a pet food or treat made your animal sick, or you find something wrong with the product itself, you can report it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA says you can submit a pet food complaint electronically through its Safety Reporting Portal. This page summarizes what the FDA asks you to have ready, based on its page How to Report a Pet Food Complaint (content current as of July 20, 2026).

Keep the Packaging

The FDA points out that people often move dry food into other containers. It asks you to keep the original packaging until the food has been used up, because the packaging carries information that is often needed to identify the variety, the manufacturing plant and the production date.

Product Information the FDA Asks For

• The exact product name and description as printed on the label
• The type of container (box, bag, can, pouch)
• Whether the product is meant to be refrigerated, frozen or kept at room temperature
• The lot number, usually a mix of letters and numbers stamped on the package close to the best-by or expiration date
• The best-by, best-before or expiration date
• The UPC (bar code) and the net weight
• When and where you bought it
• Results of any laboratory testing of the product
• How the food was stored, prepared and handled

Examples of product problems the FDA lists include a foul odor or off color, a swollen can or pouch or a leaking container, and a foreign object in the product.

If You Think Your Pet Became Sick

The FDA also asks for details about the animal:

• Species, age, weight, breed, and whether the animal is pregnant or spayed/neutered
• Previous health status and any pre-existing conditions
• Any other foods, treats, supplements or drugs the animal receives
• How much of the suspect product the animal normally eats, how much was eaten from the package, and how much you still have
• Signs you saw (such as vomiting, diarrhea or lethargy) and how soon after eating they began
• Your veterinarian’s contact information, diagnosis, medical records and any diagnostic test results
• How many pets ate the product and showed signs, and whether any that ate it were not affected
• Whether your pet spends time outdoors unsupervised, and why you suspect the food

What the FDA Will and Won’t Do

According to the FDA, it reviews each report to decide whether a follow-up investigation is possible or needed, which could include collecting pet food or treats or seeking a diagnostic sample from your pet. Even when no testing is done, the report becomes part of its adverse event and product problem surveillance. You may choose to have a product tested at a private laboratory, but the FDA notes that this can be costly. The FDA cannot pay for private laboratory testing or reimburse veterinary costs related to your animal’s illness.

Related Pages

• Recent FDA recall notices for pet food and veterinary products
• What FDA animal drug adverse event reports show
• If a vet bill is more than you can pay

General information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal hospital first; reporting to the FDA does not replace veterinary care.