Natural Balance Recall

[Geff]

There is a new post on page 5 of the blog from "JC" where he states that 2 of his dogs had renal failure from Natural balance & one has died.
http://petsitusa.com/blog/?p=251

[Geff]

Pardon the multiple posts, but it's just really hitting me that I fed Sylvester (my cat) 2 sample pouches of the NB Venison dry for cats which is part of the recall. I could have killed him. Thank God he's ok (we had his kidneys tested 2 weeks ago, after eating Solid God & NB).

[Geff]

Posted this morning on the NB website:

"We are receiving consumer complaints regarding the Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Foods. We do not know what is wrong with the food at this time, but we have heard that animals are vomiting and experiencing kidney problems. Please discontinue feeding all Venison and Brown Rice Dry Dog Food, and Venison and Green Pea Cat Food.

We are working closely with the FDA.
We will update this website today, as more information comes available."

[JC]

Hello!  I am the "JC" person referred to in previous posts. 

Yes, I have lost one dog already.  Yes, it looks like my other one will die too.  Yes, they were eating NB venison and brown rice.  As were 3 other dogs in our local vet hospital.  Of those 3 other dogs, one has also died and the other 2 are starting to improve after 10 days on IV supportive therapy.

Yes, I am furious with NB for not posting that they have had calls with deaths reported.  IMHO, they are downplaying their part in this recall.  Including my dogs, I know of at least 3 deaths in this area due to NB venison and brown rice. 

This is just freaking ridiculus and criminal.  My heart, and my families, are just broken wide open.

[garypen]

So sorry about your loss and illnesses.

[JC]

Thanks Gary.

[Loren]

Let me add my condolences to you as well.  Can I also provide a "cyber hug?"

[JC]

Thank you too Loren.

[JC]

I spoke with Joey Herrick (pres. of NB) again this morning.  To his credit, he has been very compassionate and responsive.  I am sure he is feeding his animals the food too!  Natural Balance will also be picking up our ever mounting vet bills...as well they should.

Please don't get me wrong, I am not defending NB in any way.  What has happened is inexcusable.  But they have responed to me personally in an appropriate manner.  I hope they continue to respond to pet owners this way.

[nepeta]

http://www.itchmo.com/

BREAKING NEWS: Natural Balance Recall Expands to Canned Food and Treats
April 17th, 2007

Itchmo has confirmed with Natural Balance that their recall has expanded and now covers the following items for all dates:

    * Venison and Brown Rice Treats for Dogs (New today)
    * Venison and Brown Rice Canned Formula for Dogs (New today)
    * Venison and Brown Rice Dry Food for Dogs (Reported Sunday)
    * Venison and Green Pea Dry Food for Cats (Reported Sunday)

[garypen]

At least it confirms that they do buy their own ingredients, and provide them to the actual manufacturers, as their wet and dry foods are manufactured by two different companies. (American Nutrition and Diamond).

OTOH, it didn't keep their foods any safer.

[alek0]

What I would like to know is where is the rice concentrate in the list of ingredients of Venison &Green Pea cat food:

Ingredients (from natural balance website):
Peas, Venison, Venison Meal, Rice Protein Concentrate, Canola Oil, Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Methionine, Choline Chloride, Inulin, Taurine, Natural Tocopherols, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D Supplement, Folic Acid (Vitamin B).

From omlynaturalpet.com store:
INGREDIENT LISTING:
Venison, Whole Dried Green Peas, Venison Meal, Canola Oil, Venison Liver, Natural Flavor, Phosphoric Acid, Choline Chloride, Potassium Chloride, Sodium Chloride, Kelp, DL Methionine, Salmon Oil, Flaxseed Oil, Lysine, Rosemary Extract, Dried Parsley, Taurine, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Acetate, Riboflavin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Vitamin C Supplement (Ascorbic Acid), Yucca Schidigera, Folic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Manganous Oxide, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (a source of Vitamin K activity), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Ethylene Dihydriodide, Sodium Selenite.

Why is Peas now first ingredient (different from the ingredeints elsewhere) and where is rice concentrate?

[Geff]

They've changed the official ingredients list today to include Rice Protein. Read Itcmo for more info.
http://www.itchmo.com/read/natural-balance-recall-expands-to-canned-food-and-treats_20070417

[alek0]

Sorry, I meant to say where is the rice protein oncentrate in the old list of ingredients? Wasn't this food supposed to be grain free?

[garypen]

I think all of these companies play with symantics, and don't consider these glutens to be grains, even though they are derived from grains. In NB's case, they call it "protein concentrate", instead of gluten. I guess "gluten" has such a bad rep now.

Personally, I didn't know rice had any appreciable amount of protein. Perhaps that's why the supplier added melamine, to make it seem like it had more. (That's a theory about how it ended up in the tainted wheat gluten.)

I hate to keep repeating myself. But, if people are looking for a good dry food for their cats, I recommend California Natural Chicken and Brown Rice. So far, so good. I realize their wet foods are made by Menu. So, don't buy their wet foods. Simple.