New Natural Balance Recall (not Menu related)

The blog I read said something about it only being within the last week if I read it correctly. Still, I am tripping about this, I mean I change food to avoid wheat gluten in the Pro Plan and now I might be endangering my cats still because of something bad in the new food? Comeon, I can't deal with this. Everytime I open a can or bag of food I feel like I'm playing a sick game of Russian Roulette with my cats lives. What can I feed my cats without putting them in danger?

RIght now ... MOST dry food is still safe for canned I would talk with the vet about homemade ... I am using Natura ( cal natural ) , Nutro ( the stuff made by them not MENU ) , Wellness, By Nature and Solid gold for the one who eats canned

Ashley gets the By Nature canned too, and she seems to be doing well on it.

so - the venison and pea wet is out, what about the dry? sharky are you feeding wellness wet?

That 2nd link above, is very interesting....
Early last week, I was at PetCo attempting to find a safe canned food for my kitties.

NB, small cans, looked like a good option to try but after I discovered that cans of the turkey & giblets and the chicken pate, both still shrinked wrapped and in their cases ----were rusted on the bottoms, I showed them to a PetCo clerk who took them off of the shelves.....I hope.
Now, after this silent recall...
I find this very disturbing.

Originally Posted by Renovia

so - the venison and pea wet is out, what about the dry? sharky are you feeding wellness wet?

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Yes I picked up a few cans... I do have to revisit GARLIC and cats with my vet after realizing it is still in there... kandie loved it

My cats all eat the NB venison and pea dry food. So far they have been fine on it. They were eating the NB canned also (not venison and pea) but I just ran out. I just ordered another bag of NB venison and pea dry food from petfooddirect.com last week. When it comes I don't know whether or not I should feed it.

I'm just ready to cry. I thought I finally found something that my cats would eat that's also good quality, not menu related, and no wheat gluten. Now this? I just ordered $100 of food from PetFoodDirect, and most of it Natural Balance (cans). What do I do now?

I won't feed Wellness because of the garlic, they won't eat Chicken Soup, they won't eat Felidae, they won't eat by Nature, the Solid Gold I got was manufactured in Thailand so I won't feed them that. Is there anything I can feed them where I don't have to worry I'm poisioning them?? I hope somebody frys for putting us all through this (although I know they won't).

Ok. I think I woke up with hives this morning; that is how anxious I am about all this. I thought I was fairly under control before this NB news.

First of all, as someone said upstream, we have to stay calm. The more stressed and confused we get, the stressed and confused our cats get.

The more food switches we make and watching/hovering over our cats we do, then they certainly will have reactions. Animals are truly empathic creatures.

It's good to be vigilant but speaking as someone who can feel panic setting in, I just want to do a group check!

Question: Has anyone found any actual statements by Natural Balance foods? I cant' find anything on their websites. I *DEMAND* their full disclosure and attention to this matter. Not only have countless people trusted their food over time, but countless have *switched* to NB after the recent recalls and after weeks of research.

One of the links provided had some wild back and forthing between posters who say NB has been lying all along. This totally confuses me?! Other posted that NB is just being responsible and careful in light of all the recalls and stepping up to the plate to voluntarily remove questionable batches, despite lack of documented tamperings.

I have ordered both NB and Chicken Soup for Cat Lover's and still have plenty of Purina One standard variety on hand. I can just imagine the confusion and frustration and worry in pet households I posted earlier that I do believe a couple of my cats are going through a new digestion process and changeover can take a few days, but until there is a response to THIS latest news, I am on full guard.

Originally Posted by xocats

That 2nd link above, is very interesting....
Early last week, I was at PetCo attempting to find a safe canned food for my kitties.

NB, small cans, looked like a good option to try but after I discovered that cans of the turkey & giblets and the chicken pate, both still shrinked wrapped and in their cases ----were rusted on the bottoms, I showed them to a PetCo clerk who took them off of the shelves.....I hope.

Now, after this silent recall...
I find this very disturbing.

Click to expand...

FWIW, I have found that to be the case with many of the foods at *my* neighoborhood Petco. I always have to sift through dented, rusted cans with FADED labels, etc...in ALL brands. To me, locally at least, it seems to be a handling/storage problem with PETCO.

ETA: I see this as nothing more than a rumor at this point. I don't know what to say. The story in the 2nd link could happen to any brand...especially if it's handled poorly, as I have observed at Petco (dented cans are vulnerable).

I just called NBalance (1 (800) 829-4493). They are not sure what is causing the problem yet, but they are looking into it. They are pulling all Pea and Venison (DRY ONLY, CAT & DOG versions) from the shelves until they know what the heck is going on. They confirm that it is something other than just people switching foods too quickly. They said they are in the middle of updating their website right now and the newest info about this will be posted shortly. www.naturalbalanceinc.com

They did confirm that all of the other varieties of the NBalance food is NOT affected.

Will this ever end?????

Originally Posted by beandip

ETA: I see this as nothing more than a rumor at this point. I don't know what to say. The story in the 2nd link could happen to any brand...especially if it's handled poorly, as I have observed at Petco (dented cans are vulnerable).

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ITA with this. As for cans, I have seen less than pristine quality exterior no matter where I have shopped. I avoid and usually tell the clerks.

I am not belittling any new info regarding recalls; I think anything in question merits thought and investigation. However, I can see how even the smallest of questionable aspects now can lead to another panic and food switching, perhaps leading to more stress for all involved.

It's beyond frustrating because there is a fine line between being vigilant and aware and losing clarity and good judgment.

Me: **FISTS IN AIR**

Originally Posted by Sadie's Mom

I just called NBalance (1 (800) 829-4493). They are not sure what is causing the problem yet, but they are looking into it. They are pulling all Pea and Venison (DRY ONLY, CAT & DOG versions) from the shelves until they know what the heck is going on. They confirm that it is something other than just people switching foods too quickly. They said they are in the middle of updating their website right now and the newest info about this will be posted shortly. www.naturalbalanceinc.com

They did confirm that all of the other varieties of the NBalance food is NOT affected.

Will this ever end?????

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No. The recall may finally end eventually, but I don't think my concerns ever will!

Thanks for the update. I was just considering calling NB myself. I expect they will be handling refunds on newly purchased dry. I only had one bag of pea and venison on order (my cats only tried the ultra dry so far), so if I toss it no matter. But plenty of people have stocked up and have been using it for weeks!

"They confirm that it is more than just people switching foods too quickly....". Err..ok, that is very cloudy to me. Very scary.

Gah, i just switched to NB Venison & Green Pea dry for my dry junkie! Grrrr.

Anyone know what the effected lot numbers are?

Originally Posted by Jpawz

"They confirm that it is more than just people switching foods too quickly....". Err..ok, that is very cloudy to me. Very scary.

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Me too...I wish they would clear up what they mean by that.

I've been feeding NB wet for a few months now. I switch up the flavors, including venison & green pea. everyone in my house is fine & to me this sounds like a small problem that just happens to fall at a bad time. Thankyou so much Sadie's Mom for sharing the information that you got when you called.
Right now we are all suspicous of foods because of the recal. It is possible that due to all the issues with the food recal NB is just trying to be proactive.

Here's what NBalance just posted on website:

NOTICE:
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.

Thank you Sadie's Mom. That makes my decision.

ETA: I couldn't find that on the NB website so please keep us updated.

Since I feed Sadie the dry Ultra Premium, I'm very worried about Natural Balance now pulling the Pea & Venison formula. I feel so badly for those who have been affected by this as you must be going crazy with worry for your babies. Here's keeping my fingers and toes crossed that it isn't another Menu problem and that everyone is safe.

I could not find this posting on the site either. Where was it located?