As a pet parent, you’re careful about picking quality, nutritious food for your four-legged friend. But what about storage? Do you know how to store your pet’s food so it stays fresh and safe?
Here are five tips for properly storing pet food:
Store Kibble in the Original Bag
To avoid spoilage or contamination, keep dry dog food and dry cat food in the sealed bags in which it was bought, recommends Dr. Judy Morgan of Clayton Veterinary Associates in Clayton, New Jersey. “The bag’s impervious, coated lining maintains freshness by keeping out air and light,” says Morgan. “Air and light causes oxidation of the fats in the kibble, which could turn your pet’s food rancid.”
If you prefer to store the food in a plastic bin, place the entire bag in the container.
Before buying food or treats, make sure the package isn’t damaged—no matter how you store it, the food could already be spoiled. “Damaged packages potentially allow pet food or treats to be exposed to harmful bacteria,” says Dr. Bernadette Dunham, the former director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine.
Seal Containers Properly
Be sure to roll the top of the bag to keep it airtight, then seal it with a clip of some sort, suggests Morgan. Open bags of kibble are vulnerable to mites, which can contribute to allergies in both dogs and cats.
As for canned dog food and canned cat food, reseal the can and store any unused portion in the refrigerator, recommends Dunham.
Monitor Expiration Dates
Be sure to keep on eye on expiration dates. “Dry kibble stored properly may be shelf-stable beyond the printed expiration date,” says Morgan. “But if there are any holes in the bag allowing air to enter, think oxidation and rancidity.”
Keep the Original Packaging
No matter how you store your pet food, be sure to keep the original packaging. If the food is recalled, you’ll want to have information such as the lot code, UPC number and expiration date. “If the pet food is suspected as the source of illness in your pet, this information will be helpful in an investigation,” says Dunham.
Clean Bowls and Utensils
In addition to storing food safely, it’s important to keep your pet’s food bowls clean.
“To remove any harmful bacteria that might be present, wash bowls and utensils used for pet food,” says Dunham. “Using utensils strictly for pet food is an additional precaution against the possible transfer of bacteria from pet food to human food.”
And don’t forget to wash your hands after handling kibble or treats!