Hill’s Response to FDA Warning Vitamin D Recall – Truth about Pet Food

November 23, 2022 Kar-Bay-Inc

In January 2019 Hill’s Pet Food issued a pet food recall that had deadly consequences. The recall notice stated “Hill’s Pet Nutrition is voluntarily recalling select canned dog food products due to potentially elevated levels of vitamin D.” While Hill’s told pet owners “select” canned dog foods were being recalled, FDA stated in an email (to me) that: “The overall total was 1,445,202 cases.” At 12 cans per case, the “select canned dog food products” were more than 17 million cans.

The FDA issued a warning letter to Hill’s – regarding this recall – in November 2019 (10 months AFTER the recall). Kohl Harrington, producer of the documentary Pet Fooled, was recently provided with a Freedom of Information Act request which included Hill’s response to FDA inspection of the plant that manufactured the recalled pet food.

In the letter Hill’s explains to FDA what actions they have taken to correct the problem that caused two deadly excess vitamin D recalls in 2019. In addressing the recall, the letter from Hill’s Pet Food to FDA stated:

“We are, of course, disappointed that this event happened and are making every effort to learn from this experience.”

After Hill’s tells FDA they were “disappointed” that thousands of dogs suffered serious health consequences and many (many!) died, Hill’s tells FDA they have a new plan to prevent this deadly ‘disappointment’ from happening again.

“We now require and receive such [redacted] COAs for [redacted] incoming shipment of vitamin and trace mineral premixes at our Topeka facility.”

To prevent another recall, Hill’s stated “we now require” Certificates of Analysis for vitamin and mineral premixes shipped to their facility.

(A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is a document that provides the results of a laboratory test done on a product such as the vitamin premix.)

But…even though Hill’s told FDA they “now require” Certificates of Analysis for vitamin and mineral premixes, told FDA this is how they are correcting the problem…this EXACT system was in place at Hill’s when the deadly 2019 recall occurred.

Per the FDA Warning Letter issued to Hill’s months BEFORE their response to FDA:

“Your ingredient specification for the vitamin premix included a target specification for vitamin D and states that the “Supplier must include Certificate of Analysis…”

And the FDA Warning Letter continued with:

“…but your firm did not obtain Certificates of Analysis upon receipt of your vitamin premix from your supplier.”

Recap: Hill’s stated they were “disappointed” that the recall which resulted in the death and illness of many, many pets occurred. Part of Hill’s manufacturing corrections to prevent another deadly recall is to implement the exact same system they had in place when the recall occurred.

How can pet owners and veterinarians have any faith in Hill’s Pet Food?

Wishing you and your pet the best –

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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