Nature's Variety Product Withdrawal

[GreyGhost]

If you remember, they also voluntarily "withdrew" some dog food, I believe Instinct, a while ago.  The reason was "nutrient dense".  Excuse my ignorance but WTF does that mean?

I was feeding it at the time so I took it back.  When I gave the printed copy of the voluntary "withdrawal" to the rep at the pf store, she had not a clue what that meant.  Glad it wasn't just me. 

I do tend to be a bit cynical.......if something is wrong with a pf, no matter how "nutrient dense" it may be, I will no longer feed it.

At least NV is doing something about it when they find a problem so they do get some Brownie points for that but now I'm a little nervous about feeding NV. 

The nutrient dense was exactly that. It was like feeding twice what you would normally feed. So if you fed 1 cup of food because of the density of the that batch it would be like feeding 2 cups. That could cause a gastro upset in some animals since its grain free and already nutrient dense to begin with. SO they withdrew it as soon as they knew about it. Unfortunately some made it to some stores but not much. They acted pretty quick on that one too.

[GreyGhost]

I wonder if "nutrient dense" means too much zinc like Nutro's recall?  I wonder if Trouw's makes the vitamin pre-mix for NV? I wonder if the vitamin pre-mix is the problem even if it's another vitamin?  I wonder, I wonder, I wonder because they won't freaking state what the problem is!

They don't have the test results back yet.

[5CatMom]

Tried to contact Nature's Variety at 1-888-519-PETS.

Answering machine only, so had to leave a message.

[5CatMom]

From Nicole Martin, Pet Products Examiner:

"They coat their dry food with freeze dried raw so their dry food products may eventually become involved as well."

http://www.examiner.com/x-1747-Pet-Products-Examiner~y2009m6d15-Natures-Variety-withdraws-freeze-dried-food-lots

Not exactly sure what Nicole's comment means.  That's a question for Nature's Variety.

[Bonkers]

  I just have to ask the same question as Nicole Martin.

Quote:  "The thing I always wonder in these instances is, why did it leave the factory if it wasn't up to their standards?"

[GreyGhost]

They test in batches and they exactly which batch was affected so I myself am not worried about it going any further.

[kaffe]

 I just have to ask the same question as Nicole Martin.

Quote:  "The thing I always wonder in these instances is, why did it leave the factory if it wasn't up to their standards?"

That's a bit of a mystery to me too, unless the self-testing that they do takes several days to complete.

This is just my sily 'ol opinion, but at least NV voluntarily recalls faulty products as soon as they realize that there is a problem... not like some petfood companies we can name that deny and deny in the face of so many consumer complaints that something is the matter with their product.  A few days ago, I though the trouble with the NV Freeze-Dry may have something to do with the preservatives they use (the tocopherols, rosemary, sage, clove herb mix) or something went sub-standad in the processing itself (freeze-drying is  very long process compared to the processes involved in canned, kibble or raw diets).  

Thing is, and this is not going to be popular, whenever you need to mass-produce, problems will occur; especially if there are so many ingredients involved and steps in the processing.

That's why I make my own cat's food --- well, most of it anyway.  I still do feed a bit of kibble and keep commercial canned food handy just in case - with the knowledge behind my head that something may be wrong with them and like the great majority of pet parents now, praying that "whatever could be wrong" won't be lethal.

[Bonkers]

 Kaffe, I am going to have to disagree.  If testing is done on a finished product then it should not be released untill it meets the companies requirements and/or standards for that particular food. Maybe QC missed testing this batch. Who knows. Unless Nature's Variety explains why this food did not meet their standards we can only guess as to what the issue really is.
 
 Quote from Kaffe:  "Thing is, and this is not going to be popular, whenever you need to mass-produce, problems will occur; especially if there are so many ingredients involved and steps in the processing."

That is why regular testing and inspections are critical in the production of any food product.  JMHO

[kaffe]

Kaffe, I am going to have to disagree.  

well, why not?  of course you can disagree.

[Perseus]

Pet Food Express determines Nature's Variety is no health risk to pets: http://bit.ly/CAkQE

This is great news and should ease a lot of people's minds.  I also commend Pet Food Express for taking a stand against a pet food company instead of just taking profits.

[Bonkers]

   This is a relief. Just wish Nature's Variety had been forthcoming with this info to avoid all the speculations as to what the problem was.  Now we know....

[GreyGhost]

   This is a relief. Just wish Nature's Variety had been forthcoming with this info to avoid all the speculations as to what the problem was.  Now we know....

When was NV not forthcoming? They are the ones that told the stores and wharehouses. You know more now only because NV has been forthcoming. If it wasn't for their honesty no one would have ever known anything. Like Pet Food Express I'll give credit where credit is due. To NV.

[5CatMom]

http://www.petfoodexpress.com/petfood/default.asp?pageid=99&Section=About

The comment about the co-packer is interesting.  Holly Peterson called me back and said the food was manufactured by Nature's Variety, in Lincoln, NE.
- so no co-packer was involved.

Maybe it's me, but I no longer understand a word they say.

LOL, got another call in to Holly, and will ask her to "clarify".

Update:  Yes, yes, the WITHDRAWN foods.  THOSE were manufactured by a local co-packer, but she didn't know the name of the company.