Vitamin and Nutrient Problems in Pet Product Recalls: What Three 2026 FDA Notices Say
Three recent entries on the FDA’s animal recall list are about nutrient levels rather than contamination: feline milk replacers with low potassium, copper, folic acid, choline and/or vitamin B6; canine and goat-milk replacers with low or elevated vitamin D; and a freeze-dried food with possibly low thiamine (vitamin B1). This page compares what each official notice says. Everything below comes from the notices, linked in the table.
The Three Notices Compared
| Revival feline milk replacers | Revival canine and goat-milk replacers | Steve’s Real Food freeze-dried chicken | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Announced | Aug. 26, 2026 | June 25, 2026 | June 8, 2026 (expanding a Feb. 17, 2026 recall) |
| Nutrient problem | Low potassium, copper, folic acid, choline and/or vitamin B6 | Low or elevated vitamin D | Potentially low thiamine (vitamin B1) |
| How it came to light | Third-party test results suggested a possible deficiency in one lot; the company’s own confirmatory testing on multiple lots was reviewed by an independent animal nutritionist on Aug. 12, 2026; the company attributes it to third-party manufacturing inconsistencies | The notice cites variable vitamin D levels; the recall was expanded to goat-milk products after testing confirmed elevated vitamin D | The company expanded its earlier recall to one more lot as part of its investigation |
| Illness reported | None confirmed; nine complaints of potential gastrointestinal and bone development issues under investigation | Two complaints of rickets reported to date | The notice does not report any illnesses; it says the affected lot is no longer in distribution channels |
| Where it was sold | Nationwide, online and in retail pet stores | Nationwide, online and in retail pet stores | Retail stores in 20 states listed in the notice |
| What owners were told | Stop feeding immediately and contact the company for a full refund | Discontinue use immediately and contact the company for a full refund | Stop feeding it and return it to the place of purchase for a refund or replacement |
| Official notice | FDA | FDA | FDA |
Source: the three FDA-posted company announcements linked above, read October 26, 2026.
What the Notices Say About the Risks
- Kittens (Revival feline): the notice says kittens, especially newborns, are very vulnerable because they grow rapidly and depend entirely on milk for nutrients. It says deficiencies that might be subclinical in adult cats can be rapidly fatal or cause permanent developmental damage in kittens, and that signs may appear within days to a few weeks.
- Puppies (Revival canine): elevated vitamin D may cause vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weakness, lethargy, reduced growth and weight loss, and at very high levels calcification of soft tissues such as the kidney. Puppies that get low vitamin D over several weeks may develop lethargy, weakness, bone deformities, painful swollen joints and lameness (rickets).
- Cats and dogs (thiamine): the notice says thiamine is needed for normal carbohydrate metabolism and nerve function, and that cats are considered more susceptible. Early signs include decreased appetite, vomiting, excessive salivation, weight loss or poor growth, followed by neurological signs as deficiency progresses. It says deficiency recognized early and treated is generally reversible.
All three notices tell owners whose animals show signs to contact their veterinarian.
Things Worth Noticing
- Two of the three are milk replacers for young animals, which is why those notices focus on the risks to kittens and puppies.
- Testing can be hard. The Steve’s Real Food notice says thiamine is a sensitive nutrient and test results can vary significantly. That is the company’s own statement, not a finding by the FDA.
- Two of the three come from the same company, so they should not be read as three independent events.
See the full list of recent FDA animal recalls, and comparisons of Salmonella recalls and foreign material recalls.
General information, not veterinary advice. Follow the instructions in the official notice for your product and contact your veterinarian if your pet is ill.