Pet Food Recall: Ingredient Lists Cannot Be Trusted

Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance Pet Food has added four more foods to their voluntary recall. According to Natural Balance, the manufacturer American Nutrition had added rice protein to Natural Balance products without their consent.

The FDA had previously confirmed that rice protein used by American Nutrition is tainted with melamine, the same chemical found in recalled wheat gluten.

The newly recalled Natural Balance products are:

Chicken Formula Canned Dog Food 13 oz
Lamb Formula Canned Dog Food 13 oz
Beef Formula Canned Dog Food 13 oz
Ocean Fish Formula Canned Cat Food 3 oz & 6 oz

Previously recalled Natural Balance products were recalled because they were known to contain potentially contaminated rice protein.

Previously recalled products include:

Venison and Brown Rice Dry Dog Formula
Venison and Brown Rice Canned Dog Food
Venison & Brown Rice Formula Dog Treats
Venison and Green Pea Dry Cat Formula
Chicken Formula Canned Dog Food
Lamb Formula Canned Dog Food
Beef Formula Canned Dog Food
Ocean Fish Formula Canned Cat Food

For more information on Natural Balance recalls please visit :

www.naturalbalanceinc.com

The American Nutrition recall also affects at least five other companies.

In addition to Natural Balance, the recall of food manufactured by American Nutrition affects the following:

Diamond Pet Foods:

Lamb & Rice Formula
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul: Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Kitten Formula
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul Puppy Formula

Costco's Kirkland Signature Super Premium Canned Food

Blue Buffalo:

All Blue brand can dog foods
All Spa Select brand can cat foods
All Blue Health Bar treats.

Blue Buffalo states that American Nutrition did not have their permission to add rice protein to the foods.

In a press release on Thursday, a representative from Blue Buffalo stated:

"And while we test for known toxins and contaminants, we don't test for protein sources, like rice protein concentrate, especially when we did not formulate our products to contain them."

Royal Canin products affected include:

Canine Early Cardiac EC 22™
Canine Skin Support SS21™
Feline Hypoallergenic HP23™

For full list of Royal Canin products please visit:www.royalcanin.us/recalled.html

Drs.Foster&Smith:www.drsfostersmith.com/general.cfm?N=2001&gid=568

Smartpak:

LiveSmart Adult - Chicken and Brown Rice
LiveSmart Senior - Chicken and Brown Rice
LiveSmart Puppy - Chicken and Brown Rice
LiveSmart Adult - Lamb and Brown Rice

Note: No Illnesses have yet been attributed to pets consuming these foods and these latest recalls are voluntary.

As the recall grows, so grows Pet owners' concern and dismay about the state of the pet food industry. Many pet owners have decided to take action. Marches are planned across the nation for Saturday, April 28th

Sources: http://www.itchmo.com; http://www.diamonpet.com;