Nutro Pouches...Oxidization Problems???

Originally Posted by babyharley

I'm just now seeing this thread.

I went to Petsmart the other day and got Davidson 2 cans of Nutro Max for kittens, he loves them (warmed up), but I haven't seen any of the black spots that you were saying - would they be in the kitten cans?

I'm definitely going to double check very carefully next time I feed him. I was so excited too - that Davidson liked it, how disappointing!!

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The problem with the black spots that I observed was in Nutro's CC Wt. Maintenance pouches.
Nutro's customer service rep told me that they had occasionally appeared in their canned food over the last 3 years.

If I were you... because Davidson like the food, I would call the company and ask about it.

I opened a pouch this morning with only a couple of tiny spots. I tossed those pieces then fed the rest to my cats.
After reading more posts here....
I am really beginning to wonder if I should look for another food.

When I called last Monday, after seeing the spots for about 3 weeks....
I really expected to be told that they were a new part of their formula.
I was shocked when I found out that was not the case.

Moggiegirl...
I had always heard that Nutro was a highly respected pet food company,
that is why I put Sadie & Dexter on it in the first place.
What a mess.

I dread looking for another brand.
I have tried in the past and was not successful.

I hate to say it but if I found black stuff I would switch.... the only poches I use are Meow mix and the worst thing I have found was a piece of skin... I do use some nutro cans and no issues

Skin is good for kitties but I am afraid that unknown black spots are not.

I just want to be sure that I am not overreacting.
I might call our vet's tech tomorrow get her feedback about this.

Originally Posted by sharky

I hate to say it but if I found black stuff I would switch.... the only poches I use are Meow mix and the worst thing I have found was a piece of skin... I do use some nutro cans and no issues

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I agree - I feed Harley Meow Mix and he loves it and I've never had any problems with it.

I wanted to start Davidson out on a kitten wet food, and I found the Nutro Max for kittens and thought that would be a pretty good food to start him out on wet. (He won't eat anything but Meow Mix dry right now... trying to wean him off that...) but I guess I'll be going off to Petsmart again and searching for another brand for Davidson!

I wish Meow Mix sold kitten wet food

The food our kitties should eat is a whole other subject.

Originally Posted by sharky

I will note some issues with many companies.. but Iams is one of the worst as an offender ...
I actually feed alot of raw and homeade cause all companies have issues...

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Other than using by-products which I personally am not against, I would like to know what they have done that makes them one of the worst offenders???

They check their food very thoroughly for mycotoxins and if they find any they don't put the food on the market, and they use New Zealand lamb because they don't trust the lamb in the United States, I think that's pretty caring.

Originally Posted by moggiegirl

Other than using by-products which I personally am not against, I would like to know what they have done that makes them one of the worst offenders???

They check their food very thoroughly for mycotoxins and if they find any they don't put the food on the market, and they use New Zealand lamb because they don't trust the lamb in the United States, I think that's pretty caring.

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Corn chemical preservatives ... most companies( I know of ten( off the top of my head )and only half claim it ( one that doesnt claim it uses up to 80% of the exported lamb from New Zealand)) are now using New Zealand lamb .... I think if they cared the price woulnt be 2x what the same quality product is.. ie cat chow or most grocery... IMHO

I remember about a year ago when I was discussing my kitties diet with our vet...
He said that one good thing about most prescription food is their quality control.
Because of Nutro's current problem....that statement is beginning to feel relevant.

I am beginning the search for a different company, with better quality control, to provide food for my precious cats diet.

I just deleted a vent...
I am sure that you know how I feel about what has happened.

Mackenzie, I feed the Nutro Max Gourmet Classics cans, but in adult formula. I've been feeding them for months now & haven't had any problems. I ran the can I opened last night under a microscope. I'm still feeding the Gourmet Classics. I can't find any other chunks in gravy for Twitch to eat, so she would have to be on an all dry diet if I don't feed Nutro.

I also told "my pet store guy" last night about what I saw when I opened the pouch. He was going to call Nutro demanding to know what was going on. I'm a very good customer of his, & his cats also eat Nutro pouches. He hasn't seen any spots. He offered to replace my pouches with new ones. He even opened one of his new pouches & there weren't any spots. The pouches he opened should've been from the same shipment mine were from.

I mailed 3 unopened pouches to Nutro today.
I think that those pouches probably had the spots.
According to Nutro's customer service...they came from the same batch...sell by date, etc.

You pet store guy sounds great.
I am glad that he is going to call Nutro about this.
I hope that they will begin to realize that, quality control of their products, is critically important to their customers.
There is no room for error.

Our indoor kitties long term health depends on our food choices for them.
They have no other options.
We have to get it right.

I need to buy cat food today. What do you think should I buy something else instead of Nutro pouches. It's a shame my kits like that food alot.

Originally Posted by ckatz

I need to buy cat food today. What do you think should I buy something else instead of Nutro pouches. It's a shame my kits like that food alot.

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Meow mix is good ///

Originally Posted by ckatz

I need to buy cat food today. What do you think should I buy something else instead of Nutro pouches. It's a shame my kits like that food alot.

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Have you had a problem with the black spots in the pouches yet?
I would just buy a few at a time and check the food before you feed it to your kitties.
If you find the spots....call Nutro & let your pet food store know.
Also...if you find a pouch with a lot of black spots...return it and show the food to the store manager, if you are comfortable doing that.
Maybe the store will call Nutro about this too.

Dexter & Sadie love the pouches too.
I let them share one this morning.
It is a tough decision...

Let us know if you bought the pouches and if you found spots.
I just wish Nutro would fix the problem.

xocats, can you give us any information on the sell by date to see if we can determine if the pouches we have are from the same batch?

I told the HS president this & she said she doesn't remember seeing any....it is the only food that her cat with take his anti-psychotic pill in, so she must continue to feed it. She will be on the lookout for any spots, though.

On the back of each pouch, usually at the bottom edge or on one of the sides, in small black typed print, you should see....
Best by...followed by the month, day & year it should be used.
After that there are a group of numbers & letters that identify the place & time it was made.
Only Nutro can decipher that info.

I did not have a problem with pouches who's Best By year was '07.
I discovered the spots in some Best by...'08 pouches.

I asked Nutro's customer service person about this and was told that the '07 pouches were manufactured earlier.
Because I only recently saw the spots....
I have concluded, without conformation from Nutro, that this is a recent problem.

I hope that this helps...

I did buy the Nutro pouches. I haven't seen any black spots on the previous batch. One pouch I opened before clearly had gone bad. Horrible smell.

I mentioned this problem to the store owner, she hasn't have any complaints but if I found any issues I could return the food. I got two cases and some backup Mother Hubbard canned food just in case. One case is dated '08 so I'll keep an eye on those pouches.

I'll let you know.

Cynthia

Thanks for your feedback Cynthia.

Unfortunately, this morning (Sunday) I opened 2 pouches and had to throw them away.
Both pouches had what I would consider a large amount of black spots.
They came from a box, that had pouches I fed to my cats because thay only had tiny spots.
Apparently the Sell by date or the box that they came in, is not a reliable way to tell which pouches will have the problem.

Dexter and Sadie are freaking out.
They were ready for their AM pouches and then....nothing.

I cannot afford to keep opening and tossing pouches.
I am done with these until I positively know this problem has been resolved.
When that will be .... if ever, who knows?

I bought them from a large pet store chain.
I know the store manager...I will tell her about this when I return the pouches I have left.
I intend to call the corporate offices about this problem also.

I really doubt that they will do anything because most people...just like I did for the first 3 weeks, will ignore the spots and assume that they belong in the food.

I feel really sad about this.

I know that you take quality control in your cat's food very seriously.
I want to be very clear about something...

During my 2nd call to Nutro's customer service, I was rather arrogantly reminded that anyone can say anything on the Internet and to not believe what I read there.

I was at a loss for words because it was during my first call to Nutro's customer service when I was told that the spots were minerals that had oxidized from to much oxygen getting into the pouches and that a lot of people had called about them.

After learning that, I felt obligated to let my peers on TCS, who feed Nutro pouches to their cats, know what I was told by Nutro.

Sophia loves her nutro pouches and is pretty much the only wet food she will eat. Unfortunately for about the past couple of weeks every single pouch (which are all different flavors and are the indoor and regular cat formula) have had black spots. Not until a couple of days ago did I know that this could be a serious problem! I am going to stop giving her the nutro pouches but are there any other good quality pouches out there? I know Eukanuba makes some, any ideas on these? Are the meow mix pouches good or are they full of junk? I'm not sure so any help would be greatly appreciated!!