We wanted to give you an update on Purina heavy metals test results, because the verdict is in!
Numerous pet owners are worried about giving Purina pet food to their animals, citing concerns about potential toxins in the food. The concerns began in 2023 with a toxicology screening report from Kansas State University, which showed potentially elevated levels of certain metals in Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach food.
Both Purina and the FDA have looked into this issue. The food was retested at two different labs.
FACT CHECK: Repeated testing found that Purina foods are safe to feed. The initial test results were incorrect, due to an error that occured during testing.
Update: March 6th, 2024
After the first round of pet food samples Dr. Morgan sent for testing came back clean (January), she implored pet owners to submit kibble food samples from their homes.
She sent these samples to the lab, and the food returned clean once again.
This information was buried in a 14-minute video posted to her YouTube and Facebook channels on March 6th. Dr. Morgan has spent thousands of dollars trying to prove that something is “seriously wrong” with the food and continues to turn up empty-handed.
To deflect from these test results, her video contains nearly 15 minutes of speculation and misleading information, including:
- Conspiracies about other sites “scrubbing” information
- Pet stores and brands dumping food by the truckload (which has always happened for various reasons; this is not new)
- Pet brands are offering discounts and coupons (she believes that they are desperate to give the food away)
- Speculation that the food contains “pesticides,” which are supposedly what’s causing the problem, and continued testing is needed
- Statements about a widespread problem of pet food containing bugs, spiders, and spider webs (apparently, this is happening despite the supposed use of ‘pesticides,’ which is hugely contradictory to her argument)
She spends a lot of time discussing her theory that the food contains pesticides and believes that they haven’t found a lab willing to find the contaminant.
None of the foods tested positive, but she believes they haven’t yet found the right contaminant to test for.
A few moments later, she blames the lack of verified reports from pet owners on veterinarians not testing the stomach contents of the dogs who died (during an autopsy).
This is also contradictory because if the food comes up clean in lab reports, the stomach contents would also come up clean. It’s not like the stomach contents magically reveal the supposed contamination when the food seems to have nothing wrong with it.
Statements like this are deliberate and meant to mislead pet owners into continuing to believe there is a problem despite the complete lack of evidence.
Dr. Morgan is now imploring people to send her photos and videos of pet food in dumpsters. This is precisely the kind of conspiracy fodder needed to perpetuate this ongoing “kibble fiasco” and does little more than keep worried (and susceptible) pet owners busy.
At the same time, she continues to drag this out.
Update: January 30th, 2024
Two independent lab results from Purina came back clean, and the tests that Dr. Judy Morgan sent also came back clean.
She spent around $4000 to have lab tests done on Purina Pet food. In a video on her Facebook page on January 30th, she mentioned that they did not find heavy metals, Aflatoxins, Pentobarbital, Melamine, Vitamin D, Clostridium, Listeria, or Salmonella.
I will discuss this further, but the key point is that Purina does not contain harmful levels of heavy metals. Any contrary information you encounter is rooted in online rumors and a social media campaign leveraging fear-based marketing to promote “holistic” alternatives.
Kansas State University KSU Heavy Metals Report on Purina Food
In November 2023, a post gained viral traction on social media, suggesting three dogs fell seriously ill after consuming Pro Plan Sensitive dog food. The post showcased a portion of a document containing toxicology results from the Kansas State University laboratory.
The report highlighted heightened levels of specific heavy metals, leading to understandable concern among pet parents.
Numerous individuals questioned the reliability of the report. Purina is renowned for maintaining an extensive quality control and testing program. The notion that they would distribute food with toxic levels of heavy metals to store shelves appeared far-fetched.
Furthermore, the report lacked crucial details, including the specific Purina formula tested (such as the lot/batch number), and reference numbers or information providing context on what an average value might typically be for similar foods.
Despite the red flags, the holistic pet community grabbed hold of this and started spreading it around as “proof” that Purina pet foods are dangerous to feed. That is another discussion, which I cover in depth in another blog post titled “Is Purina Dog Food Making Dogs Sick”. You can read it here!
Heavy Metals Analysis Testing Error
An update was released on January 15th, 2024. Purina published that the samples were tested again by Kansas State University AND Iowa State University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory.
The results of both tests confirmed that there had been a testing error in the initial heavy metals analysis for Purina Pro Plan Sensitive Skin & Stomach.
Purina pet foods are, in fact, safe to feed.
Occasional failures occur in all laboratories. Contamination, storage and processing errors and equipment malfunctions can contribute to issues that skew test results. This underscores the importance of repeating critical tests and screenings to ensure accuracy.
Unfortunately, this now-debunked toxicology screening has caused untold amounts of anxiety and panic among pet parents! Some people are still spreading the initial report as fact, which is misguided, misleading, and disingenuous.
Purina’s Response to Online Rumors
Purina says that as few as two consumer reports associated with any food or product will prompt them to investigate. Due to the viral spread of the heavy metal screening test result on social media, hundreds of reports related to various products in their line were generated.
In light of this rumor, our Quality Assurance team has reviewed all incoming consumer contacts, manufacturing, and quality assurance data (this includes ingredient testing, analytical data throughout the production process, and quality assurance post-production testing) for the past year.
Purina Media
To clarify, Purina did treat this matter seriously. As numerous pet owners seek explanations for their pets’ illnesses and fatalities, it’s crucial to recognize that pets can fall ill irrespective of the food they consume.
There is no concrete evidence suggesting that Purina has caused harm to any dogs. Social media reports seem to stem from individuals who neglected veterinary consultation, disregarded diagnosed conditions (such as Parvo, unrelated to pet food), or attributed every ailment, from obstructions to poisoning and genetic disorders, to Purina.
The media team at Purina has responded swiftly to all reports and has published a page with information about the online rumors. You can read it HERE.
Is There a Silent Recall of Purina Food?
Despite proof from multiple University labs that Purina Pro Plan pet food is safe to feed, anxious pet parents and social influencers continue to promote the idea that a recall is imminent.
Purina has consistently addressed this issue through multiple statements on its social media platforms and website. However, some individuals are reluctant to accept these explanations.
Individuals who suspect that Purina is concealing information promote the notion that the company is engaging in a “silent recall.” Their theory is that Purina is quietly pulling food from store shelves but is not publishing a recall with the FDA.
Of course, this is a theory with no basis or proof. It’s important to emphasize that a “silent recall” is purely speculative and lacks substantiated basis or evidence.
Purina remains readily available for purchase from major retailers like Chewy. If it is unavailable in a particular pet store, it’s more likely due to a stock issue than a recall.
There is no such thing as a ‘silent recall,’ and quietly retracting product from the market that has been proven to be harmful to pets would be both irresponsible and illegal. Information about any recall is shared immediately with the FDA, consumers, retailers and veterinarians.
Purina Media
Whether people want to believe it or not, most veterinarians recommend brands like Purina, Hill’s, and Royal Canin because of the amount of quality control, testing, and nutritional science behind those brands.
Unless the FDA publishes an official recall, there is little (if any) reason to be concerned.
Purina Heavy Metals Test Results from Dr. Morgan
Dr. Judy Morgan, a prominent holistic influencer leading the anti-Purina campaign, purportedly sent samples of Purina pet food to independent labs for testing.
There is no information available regarding how she acquired, stored, or handled the samples, and it’s unclear whether they originated from the homes of pet parents who allege that the food harmed their pets.
Despite several weeks passing, those results are still pending. While she attributes the delay to the time-consuming nature of the process, questions arise as Purina has already disclosed the outcomes of their comprehensive tests.
The whereabouts of Dr. Morgan’s test results remain uncertain; despite this, she continues to promote that the food is full of toxins.
Author’s Note: I am actively monitoring this social activity and the dissemination of misinformation by Dr. Morgan and her followers. Should she present test results, I will assess their validity and provide an update here.
Is Purina a Trustworthy Company?
Ultimately, pet parents have a choice in deciding whom to trust.
The credibility lies with thousands of practicing veterinarians, board-certified Veterinary Nutritionists, and consistent test results from various laboratories. It’s worth noting that 46 million dogs are fed Purina each year and lead long, joyful, and healthy lives.
On the other hand, there exists an opposing viewpoint promoted by “holistic” veterinarians who often engage in fear-based marketing tactics. This perspective advocates the belief that extensively researched foods like Purina are detrimental to pets’ health and contain toxins.
Followers of this viewpoint have been urged to discredit conventional veterinarians and be skeptical of preventive measures such as teeth cleaning, vaccines, and flea/tick medications.
They leverage this information to promote online courses, books, and alternative foods and supplements (which conveniently, they sell).
We see this at play in multiple very concerning Facebook groups, which are run or moderated by Dr. Morgan. A lot of easily debunked misinformation is being spread, along with a healthy handful of promotions and brand recommendations (including products that she either owns or has a strong financial affiliation with).
I think the choice of who to trust is clear as day. I stand with science, evidence, and critical thinking. My dogs eat Purina Pro Plan and are thriving; the proof is in the pudding.
Notably, with few exceptions, most other social media groups on Facebook are now restricting discussions related to the current “Purina Panic.” This indicates a substantial number of moderators in the pet community actively curbing the spread of misinformation, and we appreciate that!
Share your perspective! Do you trust Purina, or do you suspect that Purina food may have affected your pet? Feel free to leave a thoughtful comment below. If you align with our scientific approach, please share this post, too!
10 Responses
I hope and pray that this is true. It would be heartbreaking, (with Purina having the funds to protect the company), to find out this is written for their benefit. How can so many pets be getting sick and dying and all of them are eating Purina products?
I’m curious. Why would Purina want a bunch of sick pets on their watch? How does that benefit them? They can’t make money if pets are dying.
Why would Purina scientists and nutritionists…many of whom hold majorly advanced degrees and extensive education and board certifications that they are proud of and paid dearly for, want to participate in the creation of food that would harm pets? They don’t want their name on that. Yet, they are still there, working at Purina, making food, testing food, innovating. Why?
It doesn’t even make logical sense to believe that Purina is hiding something to avoid a recall.
Pets are sick and dying because unfortunately, that’s what pets do. Walk into ANY veterinary ER and look around. Sick and dying pets. Are they all there because of Purina? No.
Purina is one of the most widely fed foods, so this is literally just a numbers game. It would be like finding out that ALL of the sick pets sleep on dog beds…and blaming the bed. It doesn’t compute.
I’ve seen many people in the saving pets group have dogs who are getting the poops, bloody stool and other health problems on their new homemade diets and expensive foods. Nobody blames the food then. But if the pet had eaten Purina? They blame the food. Double standard.
A small faction of people, led by Dr. Morgan, are blaming the food. Many of those people are not seeing a veterinarian, they aren’t getting advanced diagnostics. Many more that did found out it was something else, not the food.
Logical, critical thinking = clarity and peace. Emotional, impulsive thinking = hysterics.
We want to help people steer clear of hysterics. Don’t feed Purina if you don’t want to. That’s ok 🙂
My 2 yr old cat developed symptoms of IBD but the treatment methods didn’t heal her. She had massive infection and inflammation in her upper GI tract. She was on Purina foods when she developed the issues. She lost 4 lbs from her original 8lb and never recovered. She passed 12/27. My other cat and 1 dog also got sick with similar symptoms but they were older (6 and 9) and recovered quickly within days of changing their food away from Purina.
I am not a Rumor.
Something is wrong with the food.
I’m so sorry to hear about your cat.
Unfortunately, IBD is thought to be genetic. There are also numerous other causes, which in the interest of your other pets, should be ruled out (example, parasites, infections, and allergies). Seems like your poor cat had an infection, I’m so sorry. 🙁
Here is a helpful article: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/inflammatory-bowel-disease-in-cats
If you feel it’s the Purina food that made your pets sick, have it tested, please! I’m not sure what could possibly be in a specific food to cause something like that, but your veterinarian should know more.
It’s ok to switch. I’m glad you found something that works for your pets.
First off, thank you for posting this update. Purina’s response is not a surprise- however I do not trust Purina or any other large conglomerate corporations, who obviously don’t have our own or our pets best interests in mind. What is clear is that something is making these pets very sick, and it has to do with opening up a new bag of food (not just Purina, either). There should be more tests done, both by the pet food manufacturers and by the affected pet parents and others. Dr. Morgan doesn’t manufacture or sell pet food, she teaches you how to cook for your pet – for free.
Thank you,
I understand your position, and it’s completely fair to not trust large companies. 🙂
Small companies have also been known to engage in dubious business practices. They shouldn’t get a pass on many of the complaints people have about the big companies. Small companies are more likely to sweep quality control issues under the rug (because a recall would devastate them. Look up how Champion/Orijen/Acana swept euthanasia contaminated beef tallow under the rug). They are less likely to do any legitimate research or science, and most do not even have a qualified nutritionist behind their product. How is that ethical?
A lot of tests have been done. Dr. Morgan tested the food, clean. Multiple other independent labs tested the food, clean. Purina and the FDA scoured a years worth of quality control…clean. I’m not sure how many more ‘tests’ people want. NO other veterinarian in the world would continue barking up this tree, they would look somewhere else if the results kept proving the theory wrong.
What needs to be done as far as testing is veterinary reports and necropsy. Where are those? Why aren’t we swimming in them? If there are so many sick pets, we should have results weeks ago. How many “sick pets” had those things done, and found out it wasn’t the food? Hundreds, likely. Most won’t speak up.
Dr. Morgan makes a TON of money selling supplements and pet food. The “free education” to learn how to cook for your pet is how she gets you in the door. She has a massive stake in Allprovide pet food (so yes, she does manufacture and sell pet food, FYI..it even has her label/name on it), and her website is stuffed with profitable items for people to purchase (including online courses, books, etc.). You are absolutely being sold to.
She sells more stuff than any practicing veterinarian with a few Hill’s veterinary diets for sale in the lobby. It’s a huge double standard.
“Small companies have also been known to engage in dubious business practices.”
Exactly! And unfortunately since all the illnesses started being reported I’ve noticed a great many new small brand foods hitting the market, with very little transparency regarding formula development, safety testing or ingredient sources. No proven track record but lots of buzzwords meant to lure people in at this fearful time.
Be careful folks.
100% agree, people need to be careful! There are 100’s of new food brands every year, and it’s no surprise that the current “Purina panic” has prompted many new food and supplement companies to try their hand at the market.
I regularly get ads from a company that will manufacture and white-label dog supplements for anybody with enough money to pay for the service. A lot of these small “holistic” looking foods and supplements are mass-produced in factories just like that one, with their pretty label stuck to the outside of a generic product. Who knows what science (if any) is behind it. Who knows where the ingredients are from. Who knows if the company will even be around in 6 months if/when a pet has a reaction or a recall is needed.
We need more regulation in pet food/supplements and it’s NOT because of the things the “big” companies are doing, it’s because of the things the small ones are doing 🙁
I believe that may not be across the board. Want to provide the independent Lab info? I have a lab from January 2024 Idexx with heavy metals elevation Arsenic,Lead and Mercury. Such the lab that I was feeding high fish diet. At that time Friskies canned and Blue Buffalo. I have transitioned to Farmina. Way too many Animals have died or suffered from similar sickness.
I don’t know what independent labs Dr. Morgan used, as she’s not been transparent about that anywhere I’ve seen.
Purina used the independent labs at both Kansas State and Iowa State Universities. As stated above in the post.
RE Heavy metals in your lab report – are the levels above the acceptable range, or are they within them? Because metals often show up in miniscule amounts, and that is normal. You don’t clarify. Please email those reports to me, hello@hellodanes.com and if they are real and concerning, we’re happy to use our platform to help investigate. Did your veterinarian confirm a diagnosis? How many pets? How long did they eat the food? Have their labs been repeated?
Friskies canned and Blue Buffalo are two different brands. Did the test result show metals in one or both? Was the sample repeated? Please email them to us.