natural balance dog food lawsuit

Natural Balance Pet Food Recall History

Natural Balance Pet Food Recall History

Has Natural Balance Ever Been Recalled?

Yes, Natural Balance has been recalled five times throughout its history. The most recent recall occurred on May 4, 2012 because of a salmonella contamination.

Prior to the 2012 recall, Natural Balance has been recalled four more times for salmonella, botulinum, and melamine contamination.

The Natural Balance brand was established in 1989 by an actor named Dick Van Patten. Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Foods is a subsidiary of Big Heart Pet Brands, which is owned by The J.M. Smucker Company.

Here's a comprehensive list of brands owned by Big Heart Pet Brands: Milk-Bone, Nature's Recipe, Kibbles 'n Bits, Pup-Peroni, Milo's Kitchen, Snanusages, Gravy Train, Canine Carry Outs, 9Lives, Meow Mix, and Pounce.

List of Natural Balance Recalls

May 4, 2012

Natural Balance Pet Foods issued a voluntary recall for select dry dog foods manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods. According to the company's press release, the affected products may be contaminated with salmonella.

The following recipes were included in the recall:

• Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog Food
• Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Food
• Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog Food
• Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food
• Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites

According to Natural Balance, none of the recalled products tested positive for salmonella. However, other products manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods tested positive for salmonella. Natural Balance decided to recall the recipes listed above as a precautionary measure.

June 18, 2010

Natural Balance issued a recall for Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food. The recall was issued in response to a positive salmonella test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Here are the identifying details for the products included in the recall:

• Name: Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Formula
• Bag Size: 5 lbs or 28 lbs.
• Bag UPC Codes: 7-23633-9000-4 or 7-23633-99002-8
• Bale UPC Code: 7-23633-99003-5
• Best By Date: June 17, 2011

July 21, 2007

Natural Balance was included in a recall issued by Castleberry's Food Company, a co-packer for canned Natural Balance pet foods. The recall was issued because of a ofbotulinum toxin contamination. Ofbotulinum toxin is a bacterium which can cause botulism.

Here are the potential side-effects of botulism (for humans) mentioned in the press release:

Botulism can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension and constipation may also be common symptoms.

Here are the identifying details for the products included in this recall:

• Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Irish Stew With Beef, Potatoes & Carrots, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359860)
• Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Chinese Take Out With Sauce With Vegetables and Chicken, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359861)
• Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs HOBO Chili With Chicken & Pasta, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359863)
• Natural Balance Eatables for Dogs Southern Style Dumplings With Chicken & Vegetables, 15 oz can (UPC 2363359862)

April 27, 2007

Natural Balance issued a recall in response to the recall initiated by American Nutrition Inc., who manufactures canned pet food for Natural Balance.

Here is an except from the press release:

Natural Balance Pet Foods is taking this voluntary action after learning the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed rice protein concentrate used by American Nutrition contained melamine, a substance not approved for use in food. These products are being recalled in addition to our previously recalled Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog foods, Venison and Brown Rice dog treats, and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.

The products included in this recall were not formulated or labeled to contain rice protein concentrate. Natural Balance said that they believe this error was caused by a manufacturing deviation by American Nutrition. In other words, they are claiming that American Nutrition did not follow directions.

April 17, 2007

Natural Balance announced a nationwide recall for all Venison dog foods and Venison dry cat foods.

The recalled products include Venison and Brown Rice canned and bagged dog foods, Venison and Brown Rice dog treats, and Venison and Green Pea dry cat food.

According to Natural Balance, laboratory testing showed that the products contain melamine. Natural Balance received complains involving dogs and cats that developed kidney failure after eating the affected products.

Natural Balance believes that the source of the melamine was rice protein concentrate, not wheat gluten.

Where Is Natural Balance Made?

Natural Balance Pet Foods are made by Diamond Pet Foods, American Nutrition, and Castleberry's Food Company. Diamond Pet Food facilities are located in the United States. American Nutrition and Castleberry facilities are located in the United States and many other countries .

Natural Balance does not write "Made In The USA" on any of its pet food products. This could mean that either the entire product in manufactured overseas or ingredients are sourced from outside the United States.

The Natural Balance website does not provide information that would tell us exactly where foods are manufactured. The website also does not provide any useful information regarding how ingredients are sourced.

The lack of transparency suggests that the brand does not want consumers to know where ingredients come from and where products are manufactured. In general, premium brands of pet food proudly display all of this information when it is favorable for their image.

Is Natural Balance Pet Food Safe?

We have many concerns regarding the safety of Natural Balance Pet Foods. Throughout our research process, we found it very difficult to find information about manufacturing and ingredient sourcing.

In our option, most of the information provided on the Natural Balance website is carefully crafted to sound good but side-step many of the important questions.

The brand relies on other companies to make its pet food products. Natural Balance is large enough to build and manufacture its own pet food products, but they choose to outsource this process.

After reviewing the recall history of Natural Balance, we believe that many of the recalls could have been avoided if Natural Balance made its own pet food.

For example, Natural Balance said inside an official press release that the April, 2007 melamine contamination was a result of manufacturing deviation by American Nutrition. An issue that would have never happened if Natural Balance controlled the manufacturing process. American Nutrition was adding a contaminated rice protein concentrate into Natural Balance products when rice protein concentrate was not even listed on the label.

Because Natural Balance doesn't make any of its own pet food, all recalls associated with Natural Balance involved a third-party co-packer. These co-packers produce food for dozens of other brands. In these arrangements, the chance of manufacturing error and contamination are much higher. The specific co-packers used by Natural Balance have a long history of quality problems.

We'd like to mention that after the 2007 melamine recall, Natural Balance invested hundreds of thousands of dollars to build a testing laboratory. Today, every batch of food or treats manufactured for Natural Balance are tested for the following 9 substances.

• Aflatoxin
• Cyanuric Acid
• Don (vomitoxin)
• Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia Coli (STEC)
• Fumonisin
• Melamine
• Ochratoxin
• Salmonella SPP
• Zearalenone

Pet owners can actually check test results for each batch of Natural Balance pet food directly on the Natural Balance website.

Although we appreciate the steps taken by Natural Balance to improve safety, we cannot ignore the aforementioned safety concerns.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Summary

Company Announcement Date:

May 20, 2021

FDA Publish Date:

May 20, 2021

Product Type:

Animal & VeterinaryFood & Beverages Pet Food Foodborne Illness

Reason for Announcement:

Recall Reason Description

Potential Salmonella Contamination

Company Name:

Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc.

Brand Name:

Product Description:

Product Description

L.I.D. Green Pea & Chicken Dry Cat Formula

Company Announcement

Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. of San Diego, CA, is voluntarily recalling the cat food products listed below due to possible contamination with Salmonella. This was discovered from a routine state surveillance sample from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

Products were distributed nationwide in the U.S. and Canada via both retail and online distribution. No customer complaints or illnesses have been reported to date, and no other Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. products are impacted by this recall.

Salmonella can infect cats eating a product contaminated with Salmonella bacteria. Symptoms of Salmonella infection in cats may include vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, fever, or excessive salivation. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. Some cats may not appear sick but can spread infection to other animals and humans in the household.

Salmonella can spread to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not washed their hands after having contact with their cat's foods, surfaces and/or cats that have been in contact with the contaminated product. Healthy people infected wit Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. People exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product or a cat that has eaten this product should contact their healthcare provider.

If pet parents have matching products in their possession, they should stop feeding it to their cats and dispose of it immediately or return it to their retailer for a refund. (See product photos below.) This information can be found on the back panel of each 5 LB and 10 LB bag. Natural Balance Pet Foods products are 100% guaranteed and all returned product will be refunded.

Pet parents who have questions or would like to report adverse reactions should call 1-833-558-0908, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. PST or visit www.naturalbalanceinc.com/contact-us.

The health and well-being of the pets that enjoy our Natural Balance pet foods is our priority. Our company and our team take seriously our responsibility to provide safe, wholesome, nutritious pet foods for dogs and cats.

Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. is conducting this voluntary recall in in cooperation with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.

Company Contact Information

Consumers:

1-833-558-0908

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Dog Food Review (Dry)

The Natural Balance Limited Ingredient product line includes the 21 dry dog foods listed below.

Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Reserve Grain Free Sweet Potato and Venisonwas selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient in this dog food is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.

The second ingredient is venison. Although it is a quality item, raw venison contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.

After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.

The third ingredient is potatoes. Potatoes can be considered a gluten-free source of digestible carbohydrates. Yet with the exception of perhaps their caloric content, potatoes are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is pea protein, what remains of a pea after removing the starchy part of the vegetable.

The next ingredient is potato protein, the dry residue remaining after removing the starchy part of a potato.

Even though pea and potato proteins contain over 80% protein, these ingredients would be expected to have a lower biological value than meat.

And less costly plant-based products like these can notably boost the total protein reported on the label a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The fifth ingredient is canola oil. Unfortunately, canola can be a controversial item. Thats because it can sometimes (but not always) be derived from genetically modified rapeseed.

Yet others cite the fact that canola oil can be a significant source of essential omega-3 fatty acids.

In any case, plant-based oils like canola are less biologically available to a dog than fish oil as a source of quality omega-3 fats.

The next item is brewers yeast, which can be a controversial ingredient. Although its a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.

Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.

Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.

In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim weve not been able to scientifically verify.

In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.

Whats more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

After the natural flavor, we find dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this Natural Balance product.

With 6 notable exceptions

First, we find flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided theyve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

Next, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.

Additionally, we note the use of dried potato products, the dried residue of the potato processing industry primarily consisting of potato pieces, peelings and culls.

With the exception of perhaps its caloric content and a small amount of protein, potato products are of only modest nutritional value to a dog.¹

This recipe also includes taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.

Since taurine deficiency appears to be more common in pets consuming grain-free diets, we view its presence in this recipe as a positive addition.

Next, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.

And lastly, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Natural Balance Limited Ingredient looks like an average dry dog food.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 22%, a fat level of 11% and estimated carbohydrates of about 59%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 25% and a mean fat level of 13%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 54% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 50%.

Which means this Natural Balance product line contains

Below-average protein. Below-average fat. And above-average carbs when compared to other dry kibbles.

When you consider the protein-boosting effect of the pea and potato proteins, brewers yeast and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a recipe containing a moderate amount of meat.