Pet food is food, and it deserves basic food-safety habits. Clean hands, clean bowls, sensible storage temperatures, and keeping product information can reduce avoidable problems for pets and people.
Key takeaways
- Keep dry food cool and dry; refrigerate opened wet food promptly.
- Save lot and best-by information.
- Wash bowls, scoops, and hands regularly.
Start with intact packaging
FDA recommends avoiding products with visibly damaged packaging such as torn bags, leaking pouches, or badly dented containers. Once you open a product, keep enough of the original packaging to identify the brand, product, lot, and best-by information.
Dry food: cool, dry, and secure
Store dry food in a cool, dry place and keep it away from excess heat or moisture. FDA recommends keeping dry food in the original bag when possible. If you place the bag inside a storage bin, cleaning the bin between bags helps prevent old fats and crumbs from building up.
Wet food: refrigerate leftovers promptly
Unused canned or pouched food should be covered and refrigerated promptly or discarded. FDA recommends refrigerators be kept at 40°F or below. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for how long opened food can be refrigerated.
Wash bowls and scoops
Wash food bowls and measuring utensils with soap and hot water. Water bowls should be cleaned regularly as well. Use a dedicated scoop or measuring cup rather than the pet’s bowl to scoop from a larger container.
Wash your hands
Wash before and after handling pet food and treats, especially if the food is raw or if someone in the household is more vulnerable to foodborne illness. Children should be supervised around pet feeding areas.
Know what to do during a recall
Stop feeding a recalled product that matches your lot or date information and follow the manufacturer or FDA instructions. Keep the package until you have confirmed whether your specific product is affected. If your pet is sick and you suspect food, contact your veterinarian and consider reporting the issue to FDA.
Common questions
Should I pour kibble directly into a plastic bin?
FDA recommends keeping dry pet food in its original bag. A practical approach is to place the entire closed bag inside a clean storage container. That preserves the lot code and label while adding protection from pests and moisture.
How long can opened canned food stay out?
Time depends on room temperature and manufacturer instructions, but unused wet food should not sit out indefinitely. FDA advises promptly refrigerating or discarding unused canned and pouched food. When in doubt, follow the label and err on the side of food safety.
Why should I save the lot number?
Recalls often apply to specific products, production lots, or date ranges rather than every item from a brand. The lot code and best-by information let you determine whether the food in your home is actually affected and help FDA or the manufacturer investigate complaints.
Do pet bowls really need regular washing?
Yes. Food residue, saliva, and moisture can support microbial growth. FDA advises washing bowls and feeding utensils with soap and hot water. Regular cleaning is especially important with wet or raw foods and in households with people at higher risk from foodborne illness.
What should I do if food smells wrong or the package is swollen?
Stop feeding it. Save the package and identifying information, keep the product away from pets and children, and contact the manufacturer or FDA as appropriate. If your pet is ill after eating the product, contact your veterinarian and provide the food history and package details.