Have Hill’s Hypo Treats been Recalled? Hill’s hypo treats are one of the prestigious pet food brands. Hill’s Pet Nutrition Inc. produces dog and cat foods under Hill’s Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription Diet, Hill’s Healthy Advantage, and Hill’s Bioactive Recipe. (A brand line called Hill’s Ideal Balance was discontinued in 2019.)
Hill’s Packing Company, established in 1907 by a guy named Burton Hill, started producing dog food and horse meat for human use in 1930. The packing business was formerly known as Hill Rendering Works.
Hill’s Packing Company and Dr. Morris’ partnership turned out well. To be nearer the cannery, Dr. Morris relocated his lab to Topeka, Kansas, in 1951. When there were four items, the dog food business underwent another name change and became Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Morris’s son Mark Jr., a veterinarian, expanded the company in the 1960s.
Now and then, many pet foods are recalled due to various reasons. Some companies voluntarily make recalls, while the FDA makes other recalls after research. Hill’s pet food company is very concerned about pets’ health because this company was started with this vision only. Still, minor mistakes happen in vast industries, due to which recalls must be made. Recalls are just like speed breakers to keep you safe.
The Biggest Recall
When the Hill’s hypo treats were recalled recently, it was all over the news. It is the biggest recall in Hill’s history ever. The most recent recall was in January 2019, when Hill’s Pet Nutrition recalled 22 million cans of 33 different varieties of canned dog food due to hazardous levels of Vitamin D that they attributed to a “supplier error.”
Hill’s Prescription Diet and Hill’s Science Diet brand lines were also affected by the recall. The recall does not cover dry foods, cat food, or pet treats. It is said that hundreds of dogs perished after consuming contaminated dog food. Families who talked with Petful described how their dogs had been in excellent health but that within a few days, their pets’ health had drastically declined, leading to kidney issues, kidney failure, and in some cases, death.
“We believe hundreds, if not thousands, of pets, have died or become seriously ill due to eating Hill’s foods with toxic levels of Vitamin D,” attorney Nyran Rose Rasche told CBS News. When that recall was looked into, the U.S. Hill’s was accused of not adhering to its protocols by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), according to a warning letter that was made public. “A systematic failure of your food safety plan occurred that resulted in the recall of canned dog food,” the FDA said.
In response, Hill’s said, “We care deeply about all pets and are committed to providing pet parents with safe and high-quality products.… We continue cooperating with the FDA, including all inspections and requests for information.”
Symptoms of Vitamin D toxicity
Vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, and weight loss can all result from consuming too much vitamin D in the diet. Toxic doses of vitamin D can result in renal failure and death.
When dogs consumed Hill’s pet food, all these symptoms could be seen within a few days. Some were treated, but some could not make it. People’s trust has shaken after the incident.
Hill’s has been recalled more than once
The biggest and most recent recall was made in January 2019 due to the food’s excessive Vitamin D. Other than that, many recalls were made previously for other reasons. The previous recall was in November 2015. The reason for the recall was minor but not ignorable. In this case, the product was withdrawn from the market. According to the FDA, a market withdrawal occurs “when a product has a minor violation that would not be subject to FDA legal action. The firm removes the product from the market or corrects the violation.”
Earlier, a recall was made in June 2014 because of the presence of Salmonella in the canned food. And a recall was made in March 2007 due to the imbalance level of melamine. These reasons for recalls are sort of familiar to every pet food company, but the recall for Vitamin D toxicity was beyond harmful. People should always cross-check the pet food that they are serving to their pets.