Tag: Pet Food Recall

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Pet Food Recall: Wellness Canned Cat Food

Wellness announced a recall due to possible inadequate levels of thiamine (B1). The products affected by the recall are:

Wellness Canned Cat Food

  • All flavors & sizes:  best by dates 14APR 13 – 30SEP13
  • Chicken & Herring (all sizes):  best by dates 10NOV13 or 17NOV13

Only cats who were feed only food from the affected lots are at risk for thiamine deficiency. Symptoms include:

  • Ventroflexion (bending in a downward position) of the neck
  • Muscle weakness
  • Ataxia (wobbly walking)
  • Seizures
  • Fixed, dilated pupils
  • Paralysis of the muscles around the eye

Interestingly, they are recalling all product manufactured during the time in question in order to avoid confusion.  They also made the announcement on a Monday instead of pulling a “dump & run” —a trick a lot of companies use of issuing a press release late on a Friday so the story gets lost in the news cycle.  And I’ll give them points to for having a link to the recall info. on the home page.  Some companies just file their recalls under “News”.

If you have cat food from these lots, you should stop feeding it to your cats. Call WellPet at 1-877-227-9587 to arrange for return of the product and reimbursement.

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Pet Food Recall: Blue Buffalo Company

The FDA announced that Blue Buffalo Company is recalling some of their dry dog food due to possible excessive levels of Vitamin D.

Researchers at Michigan State University put the pieces together when blood samples started arriving with high levels of calcium.  The samples also tested with very high levels of Vitamin D. The 16 effected dogs had increased thirst & urination, and some also experienced weight loss, loss of appetite & signs of kidney damage.  All of the dogs had been fed Blue Buffalo’s Wilderness Chicken Recipe.

If you have product affected by the recall, stop feeding it to your dogs. You can return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a refund or call Blue Buffalo at 1-877-523-9114 for more information.

The recall includes:

Blue Wilderness Chicken Flavor dry dog food

  • 4.5 1b—Best If Used By JUL2611Z, JUL2711Z, JUL2811Z
  • 11 lb—Best If Used By JUL1211B
  • 24 1b—Best If Used By JUL1211B, JUL1311B

Blue Basics Limited Ingredient Formula Salmon & Potato Recipe dry dog food

  • 11 lb—Best If Used By AUG2111B, AUG2211B
  • 24 lb—Best If Used By AUG2111B, SEP2311P, OCT2611P

Blue Life Protection Formula Natural Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe Large Breed Adult dog food

  • 30 lb—Best If Used By SEP2211P, SEP2311P, OCT2611P
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Pet Food Recall: Iams Renal Diet Cat Food & Mice Direct Frozen Reptile Food


Iams is recalling their Veterinary Prescription Renal Diet Cat food due to salmonella contamination. FDA testing came up positive for salmonella in two lots. For information or a product refund call P&G toll-free at 877-894-4458 (Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM EST).  These are the effected lots (lot codes are on the lower right corner on the back of the bag):

  • Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5lbs, Lot Code 01384174B4, UPC Code 0 19014 21405 1
  • Iams Veterinary Formulas Feline Renal 5.5lbs, Lot Code 01384174B2, UPC Code 0 19014 21405 1


Mice Direct is recalling frozen mice, rats, and chicken due to possible salmonella contamination. According to the FDA, Human illnesses that may be related to the frozen reptile feed have been reported in 17 states. The recalled product should not be fed to animals, even after heating in a microwave oven, since the heating may not be adequate to kill Salmonella. The recall is based upon sampling by the FDA of frozen mice. The company continues their investigation.

The frozen reptile feed was distributed in all states, except Hawaii, through pet stores and by mail order and direct delivery.

Frozen reptile feed was shipped in plastic bags with the following product codes:

  • M-SP100, M-P100, M-PF100, M-F100, M-H100, M-W50, M-A50, M-JA25
  • R-P100, R-F50, R-PUP50, R-W50, R-S50, R-M20, R-L10,R-J5, R-C5, R-M3 followed by E9, F9, G9, H9, I9, J9, K9, L9 or A10, B10, C10, D10, E10, F10, G10
  • whole frozen chicks in 25 count bags.


What you need to know about Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and there can be cross-contamination to humans causing serious illness in humans.

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Pet Food Recall: Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food

photo credit: Rocky Mountain Laboratories, NIAID, NIH

The recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken was triggered when the FDA reported a random sample tested positive for salmonella.  There have been no reports of illness.  This recall effects:

Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food

  • 5lb. bags
  • best-by-date June 17, 2011
  • UPC code 7-23633-9000-4


  • 28lb. bags
  • best-by-date June 17, 2011
  • UPC code 7-23633-99002-8

The product was distributed to Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Natural Balance’s president has written a letter to customers. If you have product included in the recall, you can return it to the store from which you bought it for a refund.  Some good news is Natural Balance had samples tested by a 3rd party and the results were all negative.  Natural Balance stands out from a lot of pet food companies in that they have in-house testing, show results on their site, & don’t distribute product until tests are completed.  Also, they aren’t burying the recall on their website, though they did do the Friday press release. (Friday night press releases happened all the time during the huge melamine contamination recalls.  Friday nights were late nights for me during that time because recalls would be issued in the middle of the night on Fridays so the stories would get minimal coverage.  It’s a tradition in business and government.)

What you need to know about Salmonella

Salmonella can cause serious illness in cats and dogs and there can be cross-contamination to humans causing serious illness in humans.

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How To Report Pet Food Complaint to FDA

If you suspect your pet has gotten sick from it’s food or you think there’s something wrong with the food, be sure to file a report with the FDA. The FDA has instructions on the information to include and where to file the report. It’s okay if you don’t have all the info. listed, just include as much as you can.

If you transfer your pet food to bins or other containers, it’s important that you keep the packaging until all the food is eaten so you can provide information on the variety, point of manufacture, lot numbers, best-by dates, etc.  I haven’t been good about this at all.

When you file a report, you’ll deal with your state’s Complaint Coordinator.  Check the FDA list for each State’s contact information.

I think it’s also a good idea:

  • to file a report with the manufacturer and let them know you’ve filed one with the FDA
  • to get your veterinarian to file a report
  • to be diligent about reporting concerns given how long it can take the FDA to respond
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