The Cal Nat controversy

[jenny]

Hi Gary - Thanks for the tip. I just looked at Anergen. Unfortunately it's heavy on the herbs & also uses Garlic & Seafood oil.

don't tell "Doctor" Wysong that. He's liable to post a scathing rebuttal on his website. 

  LOL, that's about right.  I can see the page now:  "Rebuttal to Geff, from The Pet food List"

LOL!!

[garypen]

I was not referring to any posters in particular and am very grateful that this was publicized.  As a result, I am looking for another food.  However, that thread has taken on a magnitude and popularity the likes of which I have never seen, and has become like an entire movement which so many people have jumped into, unlike any other pet foods issues I have seen, even the worst of them.   

Apparently, you forget the "menadione in Blue Buffalo" stampede.

[eternaljester81]

I was not referring to any posters in particular and am very grateful that this was publicized.  As a result, I am looking for another food.  However, that thread has taken on a magnitude and popularity the likes of which I have never seen, and has become like an entire movement which so many people have jumped into, unlike any other pet foods issues I have seen, even the worst of them.   

Apparently, you forget the "menadione in Blue Buffalo" stampede.

The problem is obviously these companies (Natura in particular) paint themselves in such angelic light, as if they can do no wrong. Then when something does go wrong, and it's handled so poorly, the whole thing turns into a sort of crusade. What's so sad is that Natura could have avoided this on nearly every level, but have instead dropped the proverbial ball every single time it has landed in their court.

[garypen]

All they had to do was admit to a problem in limited production runs; point out that no animals were reported injured; describe the problem, so that people know what to look for; recall the affected foods as a precautionary measure; and offer refunds to anyone returning any Natura product for any reason.

They would have looked like they cared about their customers' pets. Instead, they look they they only care about marketing, image, and the bottom line, which, of course, tarnishes their image further. Never admitting to any mistakes worked for the White House for so long, I guess they figured they'd give it a shot.

I say F 'em. I'm not buying their products any more, have recommended to others not to buy their products, and it will take a long time before they regain my trust, if ever. I have a low tolerance for this crap, at this point.

[Geff]

Hi Gary - Thanks for the tip. I just looked at Anergen. Unfortunately it's heavy on the herbs & also uses Garlic & Seafood oil.

don't tell "Doctor" Wysong that. He's liable to post a scathing rebuttal on his website. 

  LOL, that's about right.  I can see the page now:  "Rebuttal to Geff, from The Pet food List"

While it's been several months & I can't be more specific because of a fading memory, I do remember having similar concerns back in April with Wysong (though to a lesser degree) to the concerns i currently have with Pet Promise. I THINK it had to do with Wysong outsourcing their wet food manufacturing & not being real forthcoming about it. It was several months ago, & my memory is less then clear.

[garypen]

It was several months ago, & my memory is less then clear.

Replace the word "months" with "minutes", and I'm right there with you.

[Geff]

All they had to do was admit to a problem in limited production runs; point out that no animals were reported injured; describe the problem, so that people know what to look for; recall the affected foods as a precautionary measure; and offer refunds to anyone returning any Natura product for any reason.

They would have looked like they cared about their customers' pets. Instead, they look they they only care about marketing, image, and the bottom line, which, of course, tarnishes their image further. Never admitting to any mistakes worked for the White House for so long, I guess they figured they'd give it a shot.

I say F 'em. I'm not buying their products any more, have recommended to others not to buy their products, and it will take a long time before they regain my trust, if ever. I have a low tolerance for this crap, at this point.

I admit Natura's reaction to the situation really has raised red flags for me ( & pushed my emotional buttons, though I suspect that's been rather obvious!).

As i've stated ad nauseum, I'm a bit scared. It appears that Cal Nat & Royal Canin may be the only foods my guy can tolerate. i will not feed Royal Canin again. I wonder if part of the vitriol being shown towards Natura is that people are really feeling betrayed. Natura was SUPPOSED to be better then the others.
Better food, better people. My perception is that currently they are treating this situation like any other corporation.

The open letter I posted intentionally had a naive tone to it. But the main point was, I'm (we??) giving you 1 last chance to keep me (us?) as a customer. I really hope you choose to run with that chance.

[Geff]

It was several months ago, & my memory is less then clear.

Replace the word "months" with "minutes", and I'm right there with you.

 

[garypen]

It appears that Cal Nat & Royal Canin may be the only foods my guy can tolerate. i will not feed Royal Canin again.

At least Royal Canin admitted when there was problem, as far as I know. And, they took the appropriate actions. (There was the Vitamin D thing in some of their prescription formulas, and rice gluten in their prescription, sensible choice, and kasco brands. Also, some non-prescription formulas in South Africa had suspect corn gluten, I believe. But, I don't recall any non-prescription problems here.)

I'm not defending them. But, they seemed to step up to the plate. And, my cats did great when they were eating their Light 37 dry food. I know it's grain-heavy. But, so is Wysong and especially Kumpi, both of which get raves and have a cult-like following.

[jenny]

I would probably be more comfortable with RC myself.  We just recently tried peas & etc... on my IBD cat - he didn't like it.  They also ate the Weight Control 38 formula for years with no problems.  I know they had recalls but at least they acted on those related to melamine.  I do understand that they may have dragged their feet a little on the Vit D recall.

[Geff]

It appears that Cal Nat & Royal Canin may be the only foods my guy can tolerate. i will not feed Royal Canin again.

At least Royal Canin admitted when there was problem, as far as I know. And, they took the appropriate actions. (There was the Vitamin D thing in some of their prescription formulas, and rice gluten in their prescription, sensible choice, and kasco brands. Also, some non-prescription formulas in South Africa had suspect corn gluten, I believe. But, I don't recall any non-prescription problems here.)

I'm not defending them. But, they seemed to step up to the plate. And, my cats did great when they were eating their Light 37 dry food. I know it's grain-heavy. But, so is Wysong and especially Kumpi, both of which get raves and have a cult-like following.

I only dealt with RC during the first week or so of the recall. Their attitude/behavior was quite similar to Natura's last week.

[Davis]

The problem is obviously these companies (Natura in particular) paint themselves in such angelic light, as if they can do no wrong. Then when something does go wrong, and it's handled so poorly, the whole thing turns into a sort of crusade. What's so sad is that Natura could have avoided this on nearly every level, but have instead dropped the proverbial ball every single time it has landed in their court.

Yes, a crusade is a very good description.  It's too bad they cannot live up to the picture they paint.  But it's odd that they would go so far in the opposite direction, even knowing what is being said about it, which makes me wonder if there isn't more to this and we do not have the full story.  It's very strange.

All they had to do was admit to a problem in limited production runs; point out that no animals were reported injured; describe the problem, so that people know what to look for; recall the affected foods as a precautionary measure; and offer refunds to anyone returning any Natura product for any reason.

I couldn't have said it better myself.  That is it exactly!  So why didn't they?  It makes me think that they themselves are holding strong convictions that the food runs are fine, even if less than perfectly mixed, and they are afraid all their other loyal customers that do not know about this would question the quality for no reason.  It's the only thing I can figure.  I just looked at the pics from the link that Jenny posted earlier in this thread (thank goodness someone finally put it together on one page).  The pic of the Cal Nat cat food looks about like some of the food I've been known to make when I don't mix things perfectly  (which is usually).  It actually looks a lot like my homemade cookies. , because they always have spots of them.  For whatever reason, that does not alarm me, but their PR does.  (I also noticed on that link that they showed the Evo powder and someone was talking about their pet sneezing.  That is exactly what my cat did!!)

I wonder if part of the vitriol being shown towards Natura is that people are really feeling betrayed. Natura was SUPPOSED to be better then the others. Better food, better people. My perception is that currently they are treating this situation like any other corporation.

Geff, I think you've nailed it.  It's that people did not expect anything but the highest concern and compassion from this company, and they have really let people down.

[garypen]

I only dealt with RC during the first week or so of the recall. Their attitude/behavior was quite similar to Natura's last week.

I never dealt with them personally. I only know what I saw of their actions publicly. OTOH, when I spoke to a Natura rep on the phone, she seemed quite nice and caring. And, look at how they are reacting publicly.

[garypen]

The pic of the Cal Nat cat food looks about like some of the food I've been known to make when I don't mix things perfectly  (which is usually).  It actually looks a lot like my homemade cookies. , because they always have spots of them.

I'll bet a dollar that the bits in your cookies never tested positive for acetaminophen and cyanuric acid. I'm just guessing.

[Davis]

And if it was the vitamins, then other pet foods would/could result in some similar tests.  I don't know what is lurking in the ingredients that go into my cookies, since I don't have them tested.  With the way things are, could be anything these days.  Hey,I think maybe my cookies cure headaches as good as tylenol.  Hmmmm....