Fi supplement recall: pull stock, sanitize, and notify clients

What happened, and who needs to act

Pet Age reports that the FDA has announced a recall of Fi brand dog supplements due to potential Salmonella contamination. If you retail supplements in your salon or mobile van, or if you have been giving clients' dogs any Fi supplements at check-in, this is a stop now situation. Contaminated product can sicken dogs and people, and it creates immediate liability for your business.

Use the linked report to verify affected products against what is on your shelves. Until you confirm, treat any Fi supplements in your possession as potentially affected.

Immediate triage in your shop today

• Stop sale and use: Pull all Fi dog supplements from retail shelves, grooming stations, treat jars, welcome bowls, and staff areas. Place products in a clean plastic tote or bag, label Do not use, and store away from grooming and laundry zones.
• Document inventory: Photograph product labels, lot codes, expiration dates, and quantities. Record the date you pulled them. Keep purchase receipts. This file protects you for supplier returns and any claims.
• Isolate tools and containers: Collect scoops, bowls, measuring spoons, treat jars, and any containers that contacted the supplements for separate cleaning and disinfection.
• Staff safety: Require handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds after handling the products or any exposed surfaces. Use disposable gloves for cleanup and avoid touching face. Launder any towels or rags used in cleanup on hot with detergent. Add bleach when fabric allows.
• Hold for return or disposal per supplier guidance: Do not discard until you have instructions from your distributor or the manufacturer, or you may lose credit. Keep items sealed and documented.
• Start a recall log: Date, products pulled, quantities, staff involved, areas sanitized, clients notified, and supplier contacts. Keep this with your retail records for at least two years.

Sanitation protocol for possible Salmonella exposure

Focus on any area where the supplements were stored, opened, or portioned, including countertops, shelving, point of sale counters, and the floor directly below displays.

• Pre-clean: Remove visible debris with detergent and water. Disinfectants do not work through organic matter.
• Disinfect: Use a fresh bleach solution at 1:32, which is 1/2 cup of regular household bleach per gallon of water. Wet surfaces thoroughly and allow a 10 minute contact time before air drying or rinsing. Alternatively, use an EPA registered quaternary ammonium disinfectant with a Salmonella claim and follow the labeled contact time.
• Small wares: Wash bowls, jars, and scoops with hot soapy water, rinse, then disinfect as above. Rinse food contact items after disinfection and air dry.
• Soft surfaces: For porous retail displays or mats, clean as best as possible and apply a compatible disinfectant per label. If you cannot properly disinfect, remove the item from service until you can replace it.
• Waste handling: Bag disposable cleanup materials and gloves. Tie bags closed and place in a covered trash receptacle.

Client communication and refunds

Move fast and keep it simple. Your goals are to alert, advise on symptoms, and offer a clear remedy.

• Who to contact: Anyone who purchased the specific Fi supplement from you, and any client whose dog you know received it on site for pill pockets or post-groom treats.
• How to reach them: Use your client database to filter by product sales or visit dates. Text for speed, then follow with email for detail and a paper notice at checkout for the next two weeks. If you use software with SMS reminders and client records, such as GroomBoard, you already have the essentials to reach the right clients quickly.
• What to say, concise version for SMS: We have removed specific Fi dog supplements due to an FDA reported recall for possible Salmonella. If you bought this item from us or your pet received it here, stop use, keep the product, and contact us for a refund or credit. Monitor for diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or lethargy and contact your vet with concerns.
• Email or printed detail to follow: Include product name, purchase window if known, what you want clients to do with the product, how to get a refund or credit, and a short list of common Salmonella symptoms in dogs. Remind clients that people in the home can be at risk, especially young children, pregnant people, older adults, and anyone immunocompromised.
• Refunds and returns: Offer a full refund or account credit equal to the purchase price plus tax upon presentation of the item or receipt. If the distributor credits you, process refunds promptly and document each one in your recall log.
• Staff script for in-person questions: We pulled the item immediately, sanitized contact areas, and are issuing refunds or credits. If your dog shows diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or unusual lethargy, please call your veterinarian.

Tighten retail controls for next time

Recalls happen. Your resilience depends on traceability and speed.

• Lot tracking: When receiving supplements, record supplier, product, lot or batch code, and expiration date in a simple spreadsheet. Affix a price label that does not cover the lot code.
• Sales linkage: At checkout, add the lot code to the receipt notes or select the lot from a preset list. Even a manual note is enough to trace buyers in a pinch.
• Recall binder: Keep purchase docs, vendor contacts, and a blank recall checklist at the front desk. Include a one page sanitation SOP and a prewritten client notice you can customize.
• Vendor expectations: Ask suppliers for written recall procedures and credit policies before you bring in a new line. Favor vendors who provide timely email alerts and replacement programs.
• Margin cushion: Build a 3 to 5 percent spoilage and recall reserve into retail pricing to cover disposal, labor, and refunds without stressing cash flow.

If you do not sell supplements

Still take this moment to review exposure points. Many salons offer treats or use pill pockets for seniors during nail trims.

• Standardize treat handling: Store food items in sealed containers, label open dates, and discard on a set schedule. Limit open handling near grooming tables.
• Client-supplied edibles: Set a policy that staff will only administer client-supplied supplements or treats that are in original packaging with visible ingredient and lot information.
• Training refresher: Review hand hygiene, glove use for cleanup, and donning and doffing steps with staff this week. Post the bleach mix and contact time at the sink.

Act now on inventory, sanitation, and client messaging. Then lock in your tracking so the next recall takes hours, not days.