Natural Balance Dry Dog Food Recall
- 6-18-2010
- Categorized in: Pet Food Recall
Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food recall. Best by date of June 17, 2011.
PACOIMA, Calif., June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., of Pacoima, CA, announces a voluntary recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, in 5-lb. and 28-lb. bags because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
No illnesses have been reported to date. The recall notification is being issued out of an abundance of caution based on an isolated instance in which a product sample with a "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, had a positive result for Salmonella in a random sample test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This product was originally manufactured on December 17, 2009, and is the only Natural Balance product being recalled.
Salmonella can affect animals and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products. People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. This product was manufactured on December 17, 2009.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Recalled products were only distributed in pet specialty stores in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
The only product affected by the recall is the Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, product information as follows:
Consumers who have purchased Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog formula with the "Best By" date of June 17, 2011, are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. A separate letter and instructions will be forwarded to all relevant Natural Balance customers. For additional information, please contact Natural Balance Pet Foods Customer Service at (800) 829-4493 (8am – 5pm, PDT) or by visiting www.naturalbalanceinc.com.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural-balance-pet-foods-inc-announces-a-voluntary-recall-of-natural-balance-sweet-potato--chicken-dry-dog-food-due-to-a-possible-health-risk-96675044.html
The Natural Balance website provides a letter from President Joey Herrick; click here to read.
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/letter_from_president.html
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If Joey & the missus started the company 22 years ago, & he's the president, why is it called Dick van Patten's Natural Balance? If they hold it for 2-3 days, how would this happen? With the stated expiration date of June 17, 2011, that means it was produced just yesterday. So much for 2-3 days. Any way to find out which plant this stuff came out of? Diamond makes Natural Balance products. Should we expect other NB formulas to be impacted, or even other companies, like Canidae or Solid Gold to have the same potential problem? I hope this isn't the tip of the iceberg. Since Diamond makes product for all the companies listed above, giving them the huge buying power to buy the same ingredient named on the label for all products from the same place, the potential for a large problem exists. Tho, I believe salmonella is a "hygiene" issue of the equipment during the manufacturing process, what's to keep the contamination from transferring to the next brand running thru that equipment? A rather unsettling circumstance.
PJ- I work for Natural Balance. I wanted to correct something you mentioned- our website states that this particular production run was "manufactured on December 17, 2009 with a “Best By” date of June 17, 2011". All of our lab tests and independent third party lab tests show this run is negative for Salmonella. However, we wanted to be extra cautious and of course follow the advice of the FDA to recall that particular run. We take safety very seriously, because pets are part of our families too. Most important to us is we acted immediately, are being transparent with consumers and will continue to strive to provide the safest and healthiest pet products possible. We really appreciate our customers a great deal. Our website has more information: naturalbalanceinc.com or call us at 800-829-4493
Thanks
It pains me to read the letter dated June 18th concerning the salmonella contaminated food. I have spent the better part of 2 weeks cleaning up throw up and diarrhea for 2 adult lab's and more the $500 at the vet testing for their illnesses. After reading this letter I firmly believe the Venison and sweet potato food purchased has sicken them and therefore me. We do not have the original bag for identification which also is unfortunate. I noticed upon opening the bag that it did have a different color and texture than normal. That should have been my first clue... The should be testing all of the food and notifying all retail outlets of the problem.
My dog has diarrhea too! Just started my Lab on a new bag of Dick's Venison & Sweet Potatoes purchased in San Dimas California in End of July 2010. The Bag is of course gone! If I had known Diamond produced Dick's product I would not be using it.
Any problems with the NB Green Pea & Chicken dry for Cats?? Any potential future problems with ALL the NB dry food? Just cautious as this is how the last food recall happened... started slowly and then escalated.
Thanks!
I had no idea that even the better foods had such a long shelf life. Manufactured in December '09 and "good"(?) until July '11! Wow.
A question: WHEN did the FDA run the test? Does anyone know?
Salmonella's not great, but it's not a chemical contaminant; it's a naturally occurring bacteria which, unless the infected party already has a compromised system, does not usually cause permanent damage. A certain amount of bacteria are going to occur naturally in any food products, even with good hygiene; in the absence of further evidence, I'm inclined to believe this was an anomalous sampling, since no one's gotten ill and I'm not finding anything about tests indicating salmonella hotspots all over the plant.
I'm not too worried about the sell by dates, either; even before agro-business, people had the technology to can and jar and dry foods in such a way they would keep for years. Strawberry preserves, anyone?
slightly different topic, but since I came to check out the recall, I figured I'd ask my question.
I have used the NB rolls for training my dogs for many years, and recently was told that sugar was moved up to position 3 in the ingredient list. First, is it true? Second, if so...why?? The animals loved it the way it was. No need for more sugar.
Let me know your thoughts at your earliest convenience.
A quick look at the ingredients for NB rolls (http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/DFRolls.html#Product) shows yes, sugar is the third ingredient in all three flavors.
As to why...that question would probably be better asked of NB. In my recipe book, sugar is added for one reason...to make things taste sweet.
yes...but it used to be ninth or something like that. I understand why sugar (would prefer none, but get it)...but it's the increase that bothered me. Will check with the NB folks.
I personally feel that there must be many changes going on with this food/company. There is never any consistency from bag to bag. Sometimes my dogs will smell food from a new bag and refuse to eat it. Then, if they do, they need to go outside and eat grass and either throw up or they have diarrhea. This has happened too many times so I cannot trust this company. My dogs have special health needs and I have to buy food I can count on and trust. We have used this food for years on end but with all of the problems I have had with it (and not just one flavor!) within this last year, I will never buy it again. Also, it is no longer worth the price.
My dog has recently started refusing her Natural Balance food. She'll go for up to 3 days without eating, doesn't even want to go near that food. Then she'll give in and eat for a few days. The vet agrees that there's something about the food that's probably making her nauseous. (she'll eat it if the flavor is masked). So we're trying an overpriced prescription diet for awhile to see if she will eat regularly. I guess then we'll be trying another brand.