Natura testing all foods for melamine

[Therese]

Natura has posted a message on their website saying they're now testing all of their foods for Melamine:

http://www.naturapet.com/about-natura/news.asp?id=22

[Cindy Nevarez]

Thank goodness! I had bought some of their CN canned chicken/brn rice. I was so worried!

[garypen]

If I didn't hate Menu so much, I'd consider their canned foods.

[Geff]

This is the direct kind of non avoiding response response we've all been waiting for from ANY pet food company. Hooray for NATURA!

As I've mentioned before, my cat is acting 2 years younger ever since we stared on Cal Nat in mid April (he's 10 1/2). This is a very selfish statement, & I may eat these words later, but for me & my kitty it appears that this nightmare may have really improved his life. I'd still be feeding Royal Canin Sensible Choice Otherwise. 

On the down side, we are now receiving reports of cross contamination at Menu, so I would only consider this to be a bill of health for the dry food.

[amy]

Gary and everyone:

I understand the hatred of Menu and can only hope that some good will come out of this process.  Still, now we see that while they were at fault, so were a lot of other companies and individual people.  Their reaction was certainly questionable at the outset and yet I wonder if American Nutrition isn't maybe worse for deliberately adding ingredients to its food products.  Don't know, nor am I trying to defend the horrible nature of this whole thing.

My actual idea that I am now pondering is, Natura appears to be trying pro-active measures right now.  I like the fact that they have kept people up to date, are trying to switch plants (supposedly) and now testing all of their food for melamine.  They also say on their website that their canned cat food was made in the South Dakota plant where there is no risk of cross-contamination.  SO.....despite a hatred of Menu, do you now feed the canned food, given that there is probably a greater degree of care and effort made to make sure it is safe?   
I have never fed any of Natura's canned foods, so it would be a totally new product for me.
But, maybe for the sake of the animals, it may be time to put aside the anger and feed them the products that seem to be safe--there are so few right now.

What do others think?

[Cindy Nevarez]

I had tried Cal. Nat. for dogs before the recall. Afterward, I didn't think I'd be ever buying it again. Then the co-owner of the company came out with his video and statements, and around the same time Garypen said he was having trouble getting his cats to eat the poultry canned products by Evangers...a company I had started purchasing from after the recall, but had only one flavor (mackeral) of theirs that my cats liked. So based on his opinion and the statements by CN, I decided to buy their chicken/brn. rice for cats.

Then the chicken tainting news broke at the same time that I received my CN order. I was freaking out to say the least.

But now I am relaxed about it since they are testing everything before it goes out the door, which BTW is something that I was yelling about back in March; 'why don't these companies test their stuff before we get it?'

I am so happy about it too. My cats now have 2 flavors that they go nuts for.

[garypen]

Amy - Yes. I think that American Nutrition is worse than Menu, at least as far as being honest and reputable. However, Menu still has ethical problems when it comes to animal cruelty. (I believe that 15 of the 16 "official" deaths from the tainted food were their own test animals, given the food AFTER they new there was a problem with it.)

So, I do not by products made by Menu, even if they appear safe. And, Natura's canned products seem to be quite safe. But, I do not want my money going to Menu.

However, if I found out there was a problem with Merrick canned food that I use now, I'd have to consider CalNat canned. I'd really have no other choice, other than home-cooking or going dry only. (Both very unlikely.)

[Geff]

My vet suggested no canned at all until this is over, & especially with the new info on cross contamination I think for me & my kitty she's right.

[garypen]

Since I don't home cook, I can't really avoid all canned foods. But, I can avoid all Menu and ANI canned foods.

[Geff]

I sent Natura the following email tonight, regarding their Cal Nat Chicken & Rice Cat Dry:

"It appears to be because of your quality product & more importantly your quality product control that my beloved kitty is still alive. Please don't lower your standards, My kitty is depending on you."

[Therese]

Good going, Geff! We do a lot of complaining but we really need to thank companies when they do what we ask! I think positive reinforcement (and affecting the bottom line, of course) is what is going to make the changes happen.

[lacy]

I think thats a great idea. I am going to write them and thank them right now!!

[jenny]

I started feeding my cats canned EVO on April 26.  I like the statements that Natura makes on their web page (and in that special blog you all had, this is a perfect example of the types of statements pet food companies need to start making).  My three cats love this food.  I have also tried Felidae canned (poor quality - bones, etc), and Wellness (after four weeks, the new case smells really bad - one cat didn't feel well after eating and then rejected completely).

I plan on continuing with Natura products as long as their written statements and quality of food continue.

[garypen]

Jenny - Wellness canned products are made by Menu, FYI. I'm just sayin'.

[jenny]

Hi gary - yeah I know.  That added on to their lack of response to my email about the awful smell in their canned product after using it for 4 weeks made me discontinue the use of Wellness.