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Dog Food Recalls

In this category, we keep you posted with current and past dog food recalls either voluntary or involuntary. We share the specific details of the recalls including the warnings, safety precautions, which brands are recalled and much more.

IAMS Dog Food Recall 2007 – 2022

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IAMS dog food recalls

Do you love the IAMS brand? You must be concerned about the products you are feeding your pooch, especially for his or her safety. In my article today, we shall look into IAMS dog food recall to weigh up its suitability for the health of your canine friend. As we say, a nourishing diet is a key to your pooch’s well-being and happiness.

IAMS dog food brand has found itself in hot soup from recalls which have made many, though not all, dog owners doubt its health benefits to their pooches. Among the reasons for these recalls include 

My friends Nathan & Sarah Walker own a couple of dog breeds including a yellow Lab, a black German Shepherd, and a Chihuahua, all males. A crazy combination, right? I know! Now what’s even crazier is that they rarely eat the same brand. Upon visiting them in Wyoming last year, their dog food selection caught my attention and IAMS was among them. And since I don’t feed Chester – my Labrador – the brand, I wanted to know more about the brand. Which between the wet and dry varieties is better and why?

Today, I’m glad to share info on IAMS dog food recall in this comprehensive review, looking at their recall history on certain products as well as quick facts about the company. 

About the Company

Now that we know something little about the brand’s dog food, let us look at 9 quick facts about IAMS.

  1. The company was named after the founder Paul F. Iams in 1946 which he started when he was 30 years old.
  2. Iams was a self-taught animal nutritionist who got a recipe from Kentucky Chemicals, a firm that focused on grain processing.
  3. He had sold dog food during the Great Depression after graduating from The Ohio State University in a rented feed mill in Tipp City, Ohio.
  4. The first original line of dog food was called IAMS 999 that was launched in 1950, high-protein dry dog food that was low in grain content.
  5. Iams introduced dog food that was specifically prepared to meet the needs of puppies and diversified its production to meet the different needs of a dog at a particular age.
  6. Iams increased his dog food production by relocating his company to Daytona, Ohio where Clay Mathile, Iams’ long-time business partner, bought the firm out later.
  7. Iams company was acquired by Proctor & Gamble in 1999 under Mathile’s ownership for more than $2 billion and magnified its sales to 70 countries globally.
  8. Mars Inc. purchased Iams Proctor & Gamble in 2014 and is headquartered in 6885 Elm St., McLean, Virginia (VA 22101)
  9. Iams brand line comprises 11 dog food products including Iams Smart Puppy, Adult, Adult Minichunks, Mature Adult, Adult Healthy Weight, High Protein, Healthy Kitten, Healthy Adult, Healthy Senior, and Hairball Care. 

Iams makes an incredible range of dog foods for different ages, breed sizes as well as health needs with marketing emphasis on ingredients. And while you will trace corn and other controversial ingredients in the list, the brand makes decent dog food. Today, you can buy Iams dog food even in grocery stores, although the vet formulas have to be bought via veterinarians.

History of IAM Dog Food Recall

Iams dog food brand has been recalled four times between 2007 and 2013 for its wet and dry dog foods for different reasons that we shall look at below in the complaints section. For now, let us see a breakdown of these recalls in the table below.

Date of RecallAnnouncement What Was It Recalled 
August 2013FDA Report on 14/08/2013Iams Healthy Naturals Chicken Adult 13.3 lb. bags with best before dates of Nov. 7 to Nov. 13, 2014Iams Premium Protection Chicken Adult 12.1 lb. bagIams ProActive Health Large Breed – Mature Adult (30 lb.), Senior Plus (13.3 lb., 26.2 lb.), Chunks Adult (15 lb.), Small Breed Adult (13.3 lb., 3.1 lb., 5 lb.) & Small Breed Puppy (5 lb.)
March 2013PetSmart released on 22/03/2013Iams Shakeables 6 oz. Turkey (2342, 2325, 2331, 2332, 2341, 3016, 3017, 3018 or 3046) and Lamb (2338). Only the named lot codes were recalled.
December 2011FDA Report on 6/12/2011Iams ProActive Health Smart Puppy dry dog food (7, 8, and 17.5 lb. bags)
March 2007Menu Foods webpagesIams Select Bites Dog Food 5.3 oz. pouches – Puppy with Chicken in Gravy, Adult with Beef/Chicken/Turkey in Gravy, Adult with Beef, Potatoes & Carrots in Gravy, Adult with Lamb & Wild Rice in Gravy, Weight Control with Chicken in Gravy, Variety Pack with Beef, Lamb, Chicken & Rice, and Variety Pack With Beef & ChickenIams Small Bites Dog Food 6 oz. cans of Puppy with Beef & Chicken in Gravy, Small Dogs with Beef & Vegetables in Gravy, Small Dogs with Beef & Vegetables in Gravy, and Variety Pack for Small Dogs with Beef & Vegetables & Chicken in GravyIams Chunk Dog Food 13.2 oz. cans of Beef & Vegetables in Gravy, Chicken in Gravy, Puppy with Beef & Chicken in Gravy, Active Maturity with Beef in Gravy, Multipack with Beef & Vegetables/Beef & Chicken in Gravy, and Multipack with Chicken in Gravy

Complaints about IAMS Dog Food

The reasons for recalls on Iams dog food comes from a variety of causes including melamine contamination in 2007, aflatoxin in 2011, the potential for mold in 2013, and the potential for salmonella contamination in 2013. Their recent recall was on their dry dog food variety with different sizes and date codes in 2013 and 2011. Wet dog foods varieties, on the other hand, were recalled in 2007. 

Other than recalls, however, the brand’s worst terrible occurred in September 1997 when a small dog died after consuming a bag of Iams Lamb & Rice Dog Food. After analysis, this bag of dog food was found to have a rat poison (defined as a bluish-green foreign material resembling a seed)

IAMS Dog Food Recall 2019, 2020

There have been no recalls on Iams dog food in 2019 or 2020 and the brand is not among those under scrutiny in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) list. 

IAMS Dog Food Recall 2021

There have been no recalls on Iams dog food in 2021 and it is not on the list of those being eyed by the FDA. The most recent Iams dog food recalls were made in 2013 when their dry dog food variety was taken out of the shelves for possible salmonella contamination.

IAMS Weight Control Dog Food Recall

Iams Weight Control with Beef in Gravy in the brand’s Chunks Dog Food category was recalled in March 2007 for melamine contamination. The recall followed an announcement in the Menu Foods webpages on the 13.2 oz. cans. During the same time, Iams Select Bites dog food Weight Control with Chicken in Gravy was pulled out of the shelves for the same reasons.

The Iams Weight Control Dog Food category includes both wet and dry varieties that meet AAFCO nutrient profile requirements for adult maintenance. Typically, some recipes are highly recommended than others, but I tend to believe this depends on the dog’s first choice and the ingredients. Like other weight management dog foods from most brands, this line of products uses fewer animal-based ingredients in its recipes. This means low caloric content with a limited meat quantity.

IAMS Toy Breed Dog Food Recall

IAMS has had several recalls on its small breed variety for various reasons including possible salmonella contamination among others. In August 2013, for instance, its Iams ProActive Health Breed Small Breed Adult 13.3, 3.1, 5 lb. bags were recalled for salmonella. The puppy formula from the same line of products 5 lb. bags was recalled for the same reasons.

Wet foods were also included in the recall for melamine contamination on Iams Small Bites Dog Food category in March 2007. They included 6 oz. cans of Small Dogs with Chicken in Gravy and Small Dogs with Beef & Vegetables in Gravy, as well as Variety Pack for Small Dogs with Beef & Vegetables & Chicken in Gravy recipes.

IAMS Grain Free Dog Food Recall

No grain-free dog food in the history of Iams has been recalled yet. The IAMS grain-free dog food is a plant-based line of products which makes it ideal for dog owners that prefer feeding their pooches a grain-free diet. Most recipes use a moderate quantity of named sources of animal protein which is why most dog parents, including me, recommend this dog food.

There have been hot debates regarding the inclusion of grains in dog food and their assumed relation to allergies. As such, many dog owners like me still have reservations when it comes to grain-free diets. Having said that, however, dog foods with wholesome grains can be ideal for your dog’s health and digestion.

IAMS Canned Dog Food Recall

Canned dog food was the first to be recalled in IAMS pet food history where different cans of several product lines were pulled out of the shelves in 2007 for melamine contamination. These included 9 products in the Iams Chunks Dog Food 13.2 oz. cans, 4 products in the Iams Small Bites Dog Food 6 oz. cans, and 10 products of Iams Select Bites Dog Food 5.3 oz. cans.

Iams canned or wet dog food, however, is known for using a significant amount of specified and unidentified meats and meat by-products as the main source of animal protein. The most ideal diet for your dog should contain real meat as the first ingredient for the most part. As such, I do not recommend Iams canned dog food for your pooch.

FAQ

Has IAMS ever been recalled?

Iams cat and dog foods have all been recalled for a range of reasons including potential aflatoxin, mold, salmonella, and melamine contaminations from 2007 to 2013. Products from the brand’s wet and dry varieties have been pulled out of the shelves. Luckily, there have been no severe injury reports from pet owners after their dogs and/or cats ate these foods.