Recall: kitten milk replacers withdrawn for low levels of essential vitamins and minerals

In August 2026, a US animal health company recalled six kitten milk replacer products sold under two brands after testing found potassium, copper, folic acid, choline and vitamin B6 below intended levels. This alert sets out the affected products, why nutrient shortfalls matter so much for newborn kittens, what owners and shelters should do, and what makers and buyers of nutrition-critical products should check.

PNL
Guires PNL InsightsWritten by the nutrition science and regulatory teams
Reviewed byGuires PNL scientific team
Published26 Aug 2026
Last checked26 Aug 2026
Reading time6 minutes
Key takeaways
  • Six powdered kitten milk replacers across two brands are recalled for low potassium, copper, folic acid, choline and vitamin B6.
  • The problem was traced to manufacturing inconsistencies at a third-party manufacturer, found after independent testing of several lots.
  • No illnesses were confirmed at announcement, but nine complaints of possible digestive and bone-development problems were under investigation.
  • Milk replacer is often a kitten’s only food, so nutrient errors matter more than in most products — every lot should be verified by analysis.
Voluntary recall · United StatesCompany announcement and FDA publication 26 August 2026
Risk levelSerious — nutrient deficiency
StatusVoluntary recall
AuthorityUS FDA (company announcement)
Announced26 Aug 2026
Applies toSix kitten milk replacers, two brands
Illnesses reportedNone confirmed; 9 complaints under investigation
EvidenceRecallRated by the Guires Pet Nutrition Lab scientific team
ProductsSix kitten milk replacers, 12 oz to 18 lb
ProblemLow potassium, copper, folic acid, choline and vitamin B6
ActionStop feeding, contact the company, call your vet

01Affected products

All best-by dates in the ranges below are included. Check the UPC and best-by date on the pack.

BrandProductSizeUPCBest-by range
Shelter’s ChoiceFeline Milk Replacer1 lb8 17160 01103 231 Oct 2026 – 12 Mar 2028
Shelter’s ChoiceFeline Milk Replacer3.5 lb8 17160 01104 931 Oct 2026 – 6 Aug 2027
Shelter’s ChoiceFeline Milk Replacer8 lb8 17160 01106 39 Sep 2026 – 12 Mar 2028
Breeder’s EdgeFoster Care Feline Milk Replacer12 oz8 17160 01019 69 Sep 2026 – 12 Mar 2028
Breeder’s EdgeFoster Care Feline Milk Replacer4.5 lb8 17160 01010 318 Apr 2027 – 1 May 2027
Breeder’s EdgeFoster Care Feline Milk Replacer18 lb8 17160 01127 89 Sep 2026 – 12 Mar 2028

The products were sold nationwide through online retailers and pet stores, in resealable bags and 12 oz jars 1.

02What happened

  1. Summer 2026
    Third-party test results suggested a possible nutrient shortfall in one lot 1.
  2. Follow-up
    The company ran confirmatory tests on multiple lots; on 12 August 2026 an independent animal nutritionist reviewed the results and identified manufacturing inconsistencies at the third-party manufacturer 1.
  3. 26 Aug 2026
    The company announced a voluntary recall and FDA published the notice 1.

Five nutrients were below intended levels: potassium, copper, folic acid, choline and pyridoxine (vitamin B6) 1.

03Why it matters for kittens

Orphaned and fostered kittens may rely on milk replacer as their only source of nutrition during the fastest growth of their lives, so a shortfall is not diluted by other foods. The company warns of compounding, multi-system risks including anaemia, neurological problems, liver and kidney damage, skeletal disease and heart problems 1. Nutrient profiles for growth set minimum levels for each of these nutrients for this reason 2.

What to watch for in kittens

  • Poor weight gain or failure to thrive
  • Diarrhoea or other digestive upset
  • Weakness, lethargy or poor coordination
  • Abnormal limb or bone development

Who should take most care

  • Shelters and foster carers feeding orphaned kittens
  • Breeders hand-rearing litters
  • Anyone feeding milk replacer as the only food
  • Owners using it as a supplement for pregnant, nursing or recovering cats

04What owners, shelters and foster carers should do

If you have the product

  • Check the brand, size, UPC and best-by date on your pack against the table above.
  • If it matches, stop feeding it and switch to an unaffected kitten milk replacer — ask your veterinarian which one.
  • Do not stop feeding young kittens abruptly; make the switch straight away, as kittens on milk replacer need frequent feeds.
  • Weigh kittens daily and record their weight; tell your veterinarian about any kitten that is not gaining weight or shows the signs above.
  • Contact the company for a full refund: 1-877-870-4059 (Monday–Friday, 8am–4pm CDT).
  • Shelters and rescues: identify every litter fed the affected products and share the recall with foster carers.

05Reporting a problem to FDA

If a kitten became ill after being fed the product, you or your veterinarian can report it to FDA 3:

How to report

  • Online through the FDA Safety Reporting Portal, or by phone to the FDA Consumer Complaint Coordinator for your state.
  • Include the brand, product, size, UPC, best-by date, where you bought it, and the kitten’s age, weights and symptoms.
  • Add your veterinarian’s details and any test results.
  • Keep the remaining powder sealed in case it is needed for testing.

Outside the US, report to your national authority. Guires PNL also accepts confidential reports through our pet food problem form.

06Similar products with a similar risk

Nutrient errors are usually formulation or manufacturing problems, not contamination — and they are more common than many buyers assume. In one UK study, only 6% of wet and 38% of dry foods met all FEDIAF mineral guidelines 4. Products with a comparable risk profile include:

Product typeWhy the risk exists
Puppy and kitten milk replacersOften the sole food for neonates, so any shortfall or excess has a direct effect on growth.
Growth and all-life-stage foodsTighter limits for calcium, phosphorus and other nutrients apply during growth.
Products relying on a premixVitamins and trace minerals are added in tiny amounts; poor mixing or a premix error changes every bag in the lot.
Contract-manufactured productsBrands that do not make their own product depend on the manufacturer’s weighing, mixing and release checks.
Any product with a nutrient error historyFormulation errors in maxima also cause recalls: some recalled US dry dog foods in 2018–19 contained about 70 times the intended vitamin D 5.

Label accuracy is a wider issue: in a 2026 study, nearly 1 in 5 of 96 pet food products did not meet their declared guaranteed analysis 6.

07What makers and buyers of nutrition-critical products should look for

Buyer checklist

  • A formula checked against the AAFCO or FEDIAF growth profile, including nutrients not declared on the label.
  • Premix specifications and a certificate of analysis for every premix lot.
  • Mixing-uniformity validation for vitamins and trace minerals at the manufacturer.
  • Finished-product nutrient analysis on a defined schedule — every lot for products fed as a sole diet to neonates.
  • Shelf-life testing of the vitamins most likely to decline in storage.
  • Labels whose statements match the substantiation: a product labelled “for intermittent or supplemental feeding only” should not also be positioned as complete nutrition.
Guires Pet Nutrition Lab verdict

When a product may be an animal’s only food, “made to the formula” is not enough. Verify every critical nutrient in every lot before release.

08Questions brands ask

Is my pack affected?

Check the brand, size, UPC and best-by date against the table — all best-by dates within each range are included.

My kittens seem fine — should I still switch?

Yes. Stop feeding the affected product, switch to an unaffected milk replacer on your vet’s advice, and keep weighing the kittens daily.

Was anything contaminated?

No. This recall is about nutrient levels — potassium, copper, folic acid, choline and vitamin B6 were too low.

Can I get a refund?

Yes — contact the company at 1-877-870-4059 for a full refund.

Sources

  1. FDA (26 Aug 2026). Revival Animal Health LLC voluntarily recalls feline milk replacers due to inconsistent levels of vitamins (company announcement). Source ↗
  2. AAFCO. Dog and cat food nutrient profiles. Source ↗
  3. FDA. How to report a pet food complaint. Source ↗
  4. Davies M et al. (2017). Mineral analysis of complete dog and cat foods in the UK and compliance with European guidelines. Scientific Reports. Source ↗
  5. FDA. FDA alerts pet owners about potentially toxic levels of vitamin D in several dry pet foods. Source ↗
  6. Cho et al. (2026). Guaranteed analysis compliance of commercial pet foods. Animals. Source ↗

Evidence reviewed by the Guires Pet Nutrition Lab scientific team. This article is general information for product developers and is not legal or veterinary advice.

How to cite this article

Choose your referencing style, then copy. Check your university’s, journal’s or regulator’s guide for local variations.

Guires Pet Nutrition Lab. (2026, August 26). Recall: kitten milk replacers withdrawn for low levels of essential vitamins and minerals. Guires Pet Nutrition Lab Insights. https://www.petnutritionlab.com/insights/recall-kitten-milk-replacer-nutrients-2026

This article summarises published evidence for product developers. Cite the original sources above for specific findings, and do not reproduce this article as your own work.

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