The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the safety and effectiveness of the ingredients of dog food. In most cases, a new dog food does not need preapproval by the FDA for a dog food company to be able to start selling the dog food.

New ingredients that have not been previously established as safe may need FDA approval. For example, sources of meat may not need to be verified as safe since they already have been, but new additives to dog food may need to be approved by the FDA.

The FDA also regulates dog food labeling to ensure that the label does not make false claims about its ingredients or the function of the dog food. If a dog food company makes a specific claim about the health benefits of the dog food on the label, the FDA may test the validity of the claim.

If a dog food becomes contaminated with a substance that is potentially dangerous for dogs, the FDA may issue a dog food recall. In cases that the quality of the dog food has been compromised, but is still safe for dog consumption, the dog food company may issue a voluntary dog food recall.

Some dog food recalls in recent years have been due to a contamination of the dog food with melamine. Rice protein concentrate from China that was contaminated with melamine had been used by pet food manufacturers before the contamination was detected. This caused several pet food recalls at that time.

Information on dog food recalls can be found in the pet food section of the website for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The website also describes the role of the FDA in regulating dog food ingredients and dog food labeling.

Many proponents of raw dog food diets may make biased claims about dog food companies and the safety and nutritious content of commercial dog food. Dog food recalls are often given as a reason to switch to a raw food diet.

When considering what dog food would be the best for their dog, a dog owner should discuss any concerns they have with the veterinarian. Not all dog food has the same nutrition content. A veterinarian can be a valuable source of information in determining which dog food is best for the dog and fits within the dog owner’s budget.

Do you want to know more on how to make homemade dry dog food and found out details on natural dog food recipes that you can give to your beloved dogs? Find out more at our healthy dog food resource site.