A Guide to Pet Food Safety

What is Pet Food Safety?

Pet food safety refers to the measures taken to ensure that pet food is free from contaminants, harmful bacteria, and toxic substances. It involves strict quality control during manufacturing, proper storage, and adherence to regulatory standards to prevent foodborne illnesses in pets. Safe pet food also includes accurate labeling of ingredients and nutritional content to support pet health.

Importance

Pet food safety is important because it prevents contamination, ensuring pets are not exposed to harmful bacteria, toxins, or mislabeled ingredients that could jeopardize their health. There have also been recalls for contaminated pet food in 2024 and 2025, which further highlights the importance of ensuring proper and safe manufacturing of pet food.

Maintaining high safety standards also helps build consumer trust and loyalty, as pet owners rely on companies to provide nutritious and safe food for their animals. Additionally, strict adherence to safety regulations protects businesses from costly recalls, legal issues, and reputational damage.

Key Aspects

There are many variables at play when managing pet food safety, which is why it can be a tall task for certain organizations. To ensure manufactured food is safe for consumption, here are a few key aspects pet food manufacturers should consider:

Key Aspects of Pet Food Safety

Ingredient Sourcing and Quality Control

Pet food safety starts with sourcing high-quality ingredients from trusted suppliers to prevent contamination with harmful substances like pesticides, heavy metals, or bacteria that can be present from equipment, airborne particles, and improper handling. Strict quality control measures, including ingredient testing and supplier audits, ensure that only safe, nutritious components go into pet food. Consistently monitoring ingredient purity also helps reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and supports the overall health of pets.

Manufacturing Process Controls

Manufacturing process controls involve stringent hygiene practices, temperature control, and proper handling to prevent cross-contamination and bacterial growth. Facilities must follow standardized procedures, such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP), and conduct regular testing for contaminants like bacteria, mold, and toxins. Regular equipment sanitation, employee training, and quality assurance checks further enhance the safety and consistency of pet food production.

Packaging and Labeling

Proper packaging protects pet food from contamination, spoilage, and exposure to moisture, ensuring freshness and nutritional integrity. Included in this is correct labelling practices.

Clear and accurate labeling helps pet owners make informed choices by listing ingredients, allergens, feeding instructions, and expiration dates. Mislabeling can lead to health risks for pets, so strict labeling regulations must be followed to maintain consumer trust.

Traceability and Recall Preparedness

Efficient food traceability systems, especially those for meat products and other food items necessary for animal health, track pet food ingredients and finished products throughout the supply chain, allowing for quick identification of safety issues. In the event of contamination or defects, recall preparedness ensures companies can swiftly remove unsafe products from the market. Having an effective recall plan minimizes harm to pets, protects brand reputation, and ensures compliance with safety regulations.

Regulatory Compliance

Regulatory compliance involves following safety standards set by authorities, such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), to ensure that pet food is safe and nutritious. Companies must conduct routine testing, maintain proper documentation, and meet ingredient and labeling requirements. Adhering to these regulations helps prevent legal issues, protects consumers, and ensures pets receive high-quality food.

Pet Food Safety Regulations

Pet food safety regulations vary from country to country. This is why organizations must understand the regulations where they operate to ensure compliance. Here are some examples of pet food safety regulations worldwide:

US

The FDA regulates pet food in the US under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), ensuring products are safe, properly labeled, and free from harmful substances. It oversees ingredient approvals, manufacturing practices, and recall procedures, working with the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) to set nutritional standards. Additionally, pet food manufacturers must also comply with the FDA’s Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to prevent contamination and ensure pet health.

Europe

The European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) sets safety and nutritional standards for pet food across Europe, ensuring compliance with other regulations to protect pets and consumers. It provides industry guidelines for best practices in ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, and hygiene, promoting self-regulation through its Code of Good Labeling and Manufacturing Practice. FEDIAF also works closely with the European Commission and national authorities to maintain high safety standards while supporting scientific research on pet nutrition.

Ensure Animal Safety with Digital Solutions

With the complexity that comes with ensuring pet food safety, companies should utilize every tool they have at their disposal. Modern digital solutions present an efficient and convenient way for teams to ensure pet food safety and compliance with regulations. Some ways pet food manufacturers can leverage digital solutions to ensure pet food safety include the following:

Using Digital Checklists

Digital checklists streamline safety inspections by ensuring that employees follow standardized procedures for hygiene, ingredient handling, and equipment maintenance. These checklists provide real-time tracking and alerts for missed steps, reducing human error and improving compliance with safety regulations. Automated record-keeping also simplifies audits and helps manufacturers quickly address potential risks.

Tracking Machines and Equipment with Asset Management Systems

Assigning QR codes to equipment and storage assets allows workers to instantly access maintenance records, safety guidelines, and inspection schedules. This ensures timely servicing of machinery, reducing the risk of contamination due to equipment failure. Quick digital access to asset information enhances traceability and helps manufacturers maintain high safety standards.

Monitoring Equipment and Temperatures Remotely with Sensors

Modern Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors continuously monitor storage conditions such as temperature, humidity, and air quality in storage areas and across transportation chains to prevent spoilage or contamination. There are also vibration sensors that can be used to ensure equipment are in good working condition. These sensors send real-time alerts to mobile devices and desktops if conditions deviate from safe thresholds, allowing for immediate corrective action. By maintaining optimal storage environments, sensors help ensure the freshness and safety of pet food throughout manufacturing and distribution.