Bad Batch of Blue cat food

otto

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I just opened a new case of Blue Healthy Gourmet Flaked Chicken Entree. I was about knocked over by the disgusting smell, and it looks wrong.

I held the can in front of Tolly and Queen Eva, they both took one whiff and backed away, looking at me like I was offering them poison.

I opened another can, thinking perhaps this can had been contaminated in some way. Same thing. Absolutely disgusting color and smell.

Now, I know in the cheaper foods quality can be inconsistent and you do get what the cats will consider a "bad batch" now and then, not because the food is harmful but because the manufacturer found a way to make it cheaper, my cats could always tell the difference though.

But when I am paying $1.25 for a 3 oz can of food, (and that is the by the case price) I expect consistency and quality in every single can.

I have written to both Blue and the on line store I purchased the food from. This is why I feed more than one brand, so I know I at least have something else here Tolly and Queen Eva will eat. But I never expected this problem from Blue.

It's so discouraging.
 

runnerup

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I totally agree with you.
I hope they respond to you with some sort of explanation!

At least you have something else to feed them in the meantime.
 
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otto

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Blue has written that they have not had any other complaints but they want me to send them a can from the case. They are sending me a postage paid envelope to do this.

I haven't heard from the store yet.
 

ducman69

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Of course they are going to act like you're the only person who has noticed a bad batch, even if they have gotten other complaints.

To say otherwise without a corresponding recall out would be an instant class action suit.
 

lauren_miller

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My cats absolutely will not eat Blue. They are eating Wellness Core dry and Wellness chicken or turkey and salmon canned.
 

mycatpaulie

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Hi otto, I had the same thing happen to me with the complete healh dry food I am feeding paulie. I went to 6 different stores and they all smelled the same. today I finally found a bag with a differnt code and it smells normal but I worried because he was eatiing the off smelling stuff for almost three weeks and now there is that wellness canned recall.
 
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otto

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Originally Posted by MyCatPaulie

Hi otto, I had the same thing happen to me with the complete healh dry food I am feeding paulie. I went to 6 different stores and they all smelled the same. today I finally found a bag with a differnt code and it smells normal but I worried because he was eatiing the off smelling stuff for almost three weeks and now there is that wellness canned recall.
@#$%^&*()+!!!

Here is the info on this recall.

http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/letter.aspx


I knew nothing about it. What's WORSE is I was at the feed store TODAY buying Wellness and they did not mention the recall.

As it turns out the food I bought today is not within the date frame for the recall. However of the previous cases purchased, 2 are. The press release says there is only one reported case of B-1 deficiency. It says not all the foods are affected but they were doing a food wide recall, obviously to cover all the bases and their butts.


Because I feed a variety of foods my cats are not exhibiting any signs of Thiamine (vitamin b-1) deficiency but my gosh! Those 2 affected cases are more than half used up!

I'm going to call my vet to see if she thinks they should be tested for B-1 deficiency. I'll send the bill to Wellness. @#$%^&*()+!!!

I am just so discouraged. Seriously maybe I just ought to go back to Fancy Feast. That food's never been under a recall, has it? Good grief.
 

mycatpaulie

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I know I am so nervous about this too Otto. I don't know if you remember but Paulie has so many allergies and this is the only food that helps so I don't want to switch it right away. What does a thamin deifancy mean? I am so confussed???
 
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otto

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A thiamine deficiency means the cat is not getting enough B-1. According to the press release the symptoms of thiamine deficiency are:

Cats fed only the affected lots for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is essential for cats. Symptoms of deficiency displayed by an affected cat can be gastrointestinal or neurological in nature. Early signs of thiamine deficiency may include decreased appetite, salivation, vomiting, and weight loss. In advanced cases, neurologic signs can develop, which may include ventriflexion (bending towards the floor) of the neck, wobbly walking, circling, falling, and seizures. If your cat has consumed the recalled lots and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.
Jennie also does best on Wellness only, especially only the Wellness chicken. Fortunately I have been branching out with her lately, but like I said two of the cases I've been feeding from (the chicken and the turkey) are part of the recall.

Jennie shows no signs of B-1 deficiency. The letter in the link I posted says

Please know, the vast majority of products tested had the appropriate levels of thiamine; however, with the number of recipes we offer, we did not want to make this more confusing. Therefore to avoid confusion and in an abundance of caution, we have decided to recall all canned cat products with the specific date codes noted below. Cats fed only product with inadequate levels of thiamine for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.
It's so discouraging. First the trouble with the Blue, now this. What am I going to feed these cats? Today I picked up a couple of cans of Natural Balance limited ingredient. I opened the Duck tonight. Queen Eva gobbled it up. Tolly looked at me as if I'd lost my mind.

<big sigh>
 

mycatpaulie

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I know this is terrible, I thought wellness was a safe good brand??? Does anyone know a good fish based dry food?
 
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otto

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Is Paulie eating dry food? The dry food was not affected in the thiamine deficiency recall, only cans.

I don't feed my cats fish foods, so I can't help you there.
 

mycatpaulie

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Paulie only eats the dry wellness so I'm so happy about that. But the reason I'm still concerned is because the last few bags of food I brought smelled very off, he was eaiting that food for almost three weeks until I found a bag with a differnt code. I sent in the bag that didn't smell right to wellpet to get tested so I hope they do. Do you know if wellness test there products regularly?
 
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otto

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National Pet Pharmacy (a sub store of Pet Food Direct), the online store that I purchased the food from has credited me for all three cases, without requiring me to return them. They did ask that I send in the labels off the cans, which I did. (boy what a pain in the neck that was, taking the labels off the cans, can you say paper cuts? LOL)

While removing the labels I noticed that the cans had numbers stamped on the sides of them and there were five different numbers in the 72 cans of food.

I emailed Blue and asked if they wanted a can with each number. Blue replied that the identifying numbers were on the bottoms of the cans. I found two different numbers on the bottoms of the cans so sent one of each.

I do not know if they intend to follow up with me their findings on the samples I sent, but I will not be buying the Blue flaked chicken again. I need foods with consitency.

So the search continues.

I've just ordered some Merrick Before Grain, along with more of the Soulistic Chicken in gravy, Tolly and Queen Eva both like the Soulistic a lot.

The only problem with the BG is it is pate and Tolly only likes pate once in a while. But hopefully the others will like it, and Tolly can have it as part of his once in a while rotation.

Still searching for something to replace the Innova Flex Stew chicken and brown rice that he loved so much.
 

zerosoma33

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sorry to hear about Blue. And they say they are such a reputable brand, head and shoulders above the rest.

Never had a problem with Natura products. I'm staying with them.
 
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