Again in the Veternary Technician magazine. An update. I posted last months article before and here is this months.
Issue Date: Veterinary Technician
June 2009
(Vol 30, No 6)
Nutro Recall Not Related to FDA Investigation Rumors
Paul Basilio
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Nutro Products, manufacturers of Nutro pet food, voluntarily recalled select varieties of Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care dry cat foods and Nutro Max Cat dry foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010, and August 22, 2010. Nutro has not received any consumer complaints related to a formulation error.
This recall does not affect any Nutro dog food products, canned dog or cat food or dog and cat treats, according to the company.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Nutro officials said the dry cat food recall was the result of a third-party production error that resulted in incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in the product. “A third-party supplier produces the premixes,” said Monica Barrett, pet specialty communications manager at Nutro Products. “We have a formula for them to follow, but the premixes were misformulated at the supplier’s [facility].”
A premix is a combination of ingredients in the diet that are preblended to ensure that they are evenly distributed in the product, Barrett said. The ingredients are typically included at low levels. Vitamins and minerals are often premixed.
Barrett said the misformulation was discovered on May 18 after an audit of documentation from the supplier. “We conducted an extensive review of all of our products that use premix from this supplier and confirmed that only two of the premixes were affected,” she said. “That led us to conduct a recall, which we announced on May 21.”
The delay, Barrett said, was to confirm the problems with the premixes. “When we became aware of the issue, we held all of the products we still had in our inventory, but we felt it was prudent to go through the checks to make sure we knew which products were impacted to get accurate information to consumers, retail partners and veterinarians.”
A press release announcing the recalled products was emailed to more than 40,000 veterinarians on May 21.
“[Nutro] has been very cooperative in enacting the voluntary recall,” said Laura Alvey, spokesperson for the FDA.
Last month, Nutro was the subject of an incorrect media report that claimed the company was being investigated by the FDA. The Internet article claimed that Nutro was being targeted for potential criminal or civil investigation into the complaints.
The FDA does not usually comment on potential or current investigations, but Alvey reiterated that Nutro is not the subject of an investigation.
For a list of recalled products, visit
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm154317.htm.
Author