Thursday, May 24, 2012

Diamond Has Added Cat Food to the List

Diamond Pet Foods is voluntarily recalling certain lots of its Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula and Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula dry cat foods because the products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

For product code and best by dates visit: http://diamondpetrecall.com/kirkland/
 

For the most up to date information on the Diamond recalled brands, product codes and best by dates, visit: http://diamondpetrecall.com/

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Yet Another Diamond Recall

Diamond Pet Foods is "voluntarily" recalling its Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb and Rice Formula  dry dog food because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled bags have a Production Code & Best Before Dates of:

    *Bag Code DSL0801 20-Oct-2012  *Updated Best Before Date
    *Bag Code DSL0801 26-Aug-2012
    *Bag Code DSL0801 27-Sept-2012
    *Bag Code DSL0801 18-Oct- 2012
    *Bag Code DSL0801 Samples

For further information or to obtain a product refund, contact Diamond Pet Foods at 866-918-8756.  Also visit www.diamondpetrecall.com for the latest information.


ABOUT SALMONELLA
Salmonella is a bacteria that can cause severe gastrointestinal disease. It can also affect other organ systems as well. Typical signs associated with Salmonella in pets include but are not limited to: vomiting, diarrhea, diarrhea with blood, lethargy, depression, weakness, loss of appetite, weight loss, fever, and abdominal pain.

Animals that don't show clinical signs can also be carriers of Salmonella and pass it to other pets and humans.

If your pet has any signs or has ingested the product mentioned above, please contact your veterinarian.


Salmonella can also affect humans and there is a risk if you or someone you know has come in contact with pet food, treats or supplements contaminated with Salmonella, this includes dry products. The elderly, children and immunocompromised individuals are most at risk.

To reduce risk of infection, people should wash their hands with hot soapy water after touching pet foods and surfaces pet foods have come in contact with.

The clinical signs for people are similar to pets. If you or anyone you know is showing clinical signs after coming in contact with this product, contact your health care provider.


Saturday, May 19, 2012

Diamond FDA Inspection Report - Quite Disturbing!

The FDA has conducted an inspection of the Diamond Pet Food facility. This inspection was initiated after an outbreak of Salmonella Infantis was found in humans. This infection was traced back to pet food manufactured at the Diamond facility.

What they found is disturbing.
The FDA inspectors made the following observations:

OBSERVATION 1

All reasonable precautions are not taken to ensure that production procedures do not contribute contamination from any source.

Specifically, no microbiological analysis is conducted or there is no assurance that incoming  animal fat will not introduce pathogens into their production and cause contamination of finished product. Also, the firm's current sampling procedure for animal digest does (sic) preclude potential for adulteration after sampling and during storage in warehouse. On 4/13/12, an employee was observed touching in-line fat filter and oil with bare hands.



OBSERVATION 2

Failure to provide hand washing and hand sanitizing facilities at each location in the plant where needed.

Specifically, there are no facilities for hand washing or hand sanitizing in the production areas where there is direct contact with exposed finished feed/food.



OBSERVATION 3

Failure to maintain equipment, containers and utensils used to convey, hold, and store food in a manner that protects against contamination.

Specifically, paddles in conveyor (South or Middle conveyor leading to the screeners going to packaging) were observed to have gouges and cuts, which exhibited feed residues. The damage to the paddles may allow for harborage areas for microorganisms and are difficult to clean and sanitize.



OBSERVATION 4

Failure to maintain equipment so as to facilitate cleaning of the equipment. Specifically, firm utilizes cardboard, duct tape, and other non cleanable surfaces on equipment.

These materials were observed to have residues adhering. The foam gaskets around access doors to the bucket elevators were observed in deteriorating condition and exhibited an accumulation of feed residues and dust.


Read the full Form 483 report

This report shows that this facility isn't even trying to uphold a higher standard. If you are still using Diamond Pet Food brands that haven't been recalled, my recommendation would be to STOP until Diamond can get its act together.

Pet food companies need to do a better job in general. I highly doubt that this FDA report is an isolated incident. I'm sure this lack of care happens at other facilities as well.

The other issue I have is that well known companies produced some of their products here. It seems to be a common practice for pet food companies to outsource some of their products to other facilities.

Why did Natural Balance and Wellness even allow any of their products to be manufactured at this plant? Did they not have their own checks and balance system to make sure that the outside facilities they use produce at a high standard?

Companies who outsource need to tell us they do so, where they outsource and which of their products are outsourced.

In addition, pet food manufacturing facilities need to have their facilities audited twice yearly, let consumers know who the auditing company is and let the consumer know the results of the audit. This will force these companies to adhere to a higher standard and allow consumers to make educated decisions about the products they buy.

Do I feel another comparison website coming?

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Purina Veterinary Diets Recall

NestlĂ© Purina PetCare has issued a voluntary recall of one lot of Purina Veterinary Diets® OM Overweight Management canned cat food.  Analytical testing of the product sample by FDA indicated a low level of thiamine (Vitamin B1).

The affected lot is:

* Purina Veterinary Diets® OM (Overweight Management) Feline Formula - 5.5 oz cans - "Best by Date" of JUN 2013 - Production Code of 11721159 - UPC Code - 38100-13810

“Best By Date" and Production Code are found on the bottom of the can.


ABOUT THIAMINE DEFICIENCY

Early signs of thiamine deficiency involve the gastrointestinal tract and may include vomiting, loss of appetite, salivation and weight loss. Advanced cases of thiamine deficiency involve the neurological system and may include ventroflexion (downward curving) of the neck, wobbly gait, circling, falling and seizures.

Contact your veterinarian immediately if your cat is displaying any of these signs. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.


If you have cans from this lot, stop feeding them and contact Nestlé Purina for more information:

U.S. Consumers and Veterinarians:
Call toll-free 1-800-982-8837 Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Central Time, or visit www.purinaveterinarydiets.com

Canadian Consumers and Veterinarians:
Call toll-free 1-866-884-8387 Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time, or visit www.purina.ca
   
  

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Solid Gold Recall

Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall of WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food and Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog.  These products have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

This recall has been issued because this product was produced at the same Diamond Pet Foods facility that has been linked to recalls of the Diamond Pet Foods brand.

Affected lots are:

1) Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 33 lb, with a best before date of  December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGB1201A31X.

* 4 lb - identifying UPC 093766750005

* 15 lb - identifying UPC 093766750012

* 33 lb - identifying UPC 093766750029


2) Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 28.5 lb, with a best before date of December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGL1201A32X

* 4 lb - identifying UPC 093766750050

* 15 lb - identifying UPC 093766750067

* 28.5 lb - identifying UPC 093766750081


For more information, call Solid Gold at (800) 364-4863 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM
Pacific time).

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Natural Balance Recall

Natural Balance has issued a voluntary recall of several brands of their foods because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

This recall has been issued because these products were produced at the same Diamond Pet Foods facility that has been linked to recalls of the Diamond Pet Foods brand.

For a list of affected brands visit:
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/home/NB_recall.html

Customers who have questions or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact the Customer Service team at (800) 829-4493 or info@naturalbalanceinc.com.


In addition, Diamond Pet Foods has extended its recall to include:
    * Kirkland Signature/Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain
    * Apex
    * Canidae

For more information visit: http://diamondpetrecall.com/

Wellness Pet Food Recall

Wellness has issued a voluntary recall of Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

This recall has been issued because this product was produced at the same Diamond Pet Foods facility that has been linked to recent recalls of the Diamond Pet Foods brand.

Affected bags are:

    *Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy, 15 and 30 lb. bags and 5 oz. samples with best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013

According to Wellness - "The majority of Wellness natural products for pets are produced in WellPet’s own modern state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mishawaka, Indiana. WellPet no longer purchases any products from Diamond Pet Foods."

For more information, call Wellness at (877) 227-9587 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM through 6:00 PM Eastern time and Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 AM through 5:00 PM Eastern time) or visit http://wellnesspetfood.com/news.aspx

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Diamond Pet Food Recall Expands - Again

Diamond Pet Foods has extended its recall to include several brands of its dry dog.  Diamond Pet Foods has issued this extended recall due to possible salmonella contamination.

Brand affected are:

    * Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
    * Country Value
    * Diamond
    * Diamond Naturals
    * Premium Edge
    * Professional
    * 4Health
    * Taste of the Wild
    * Apex *Updated
    * Kirkland Signature/Kirkland Signature Nature's Domain *Updated
    * Canidae
*Updated



Please visit http://diamondpetrecall.com/  to get the affected batch information and information on how to  read "Product Codes" and "Best By Dates".

This website also has information on the states affected. Please be aware that it is always possible for the food to have entered other states from other pet food distribution channels. In other words, go by the "Production Codes" and "Best By Dates".

Friday, May 4, 2012

14 People Sick from Diamond Pet Food

Multiple brands of Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food (including several that have been recalled in recent days) are the cause of illness in 14 people in 9 states.


Read more at:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/05/salmonella-tainted-dog-food-sickens-14-people/

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/dog-food-05-12/index.html


With all of the salmonella related pet food recalls lately, please be careful.

After handling any pet food or after handling feces from your pet, wash your hands and any surfaces thoroughly.


Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Kaytee Forti-Diet Recall

Kaytee Recalls Forti-Diet Pro Health Mouse, Rat and Hamster food because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

The recalled lots are:

- 6/3 lbs with the UPC code 71859 99994, Material # code 100502085 and best before date of 31-Mar-2013 K63

- 6/5 lbs with the UPC code 71859 00001, Material # code 100502315 and best before date of 03-Apr-2013 K61

- 25 lbs with the UPC code 71859 99995, Material # code 100502086 and best before date of 31-Mar-2013

- 25 lbs with the UPC code 71859 00000, Material # code 100502275 and best before date of 30-Mar-2013


Customers who have purchased these lots are urged to discard them. For further information or contact Katee at 1-800-Kaytee1 (800 529-8331) or visit http://www.kaytee.com.

Diamond Pet Food Recall Expands

Diamond Pet Foods has extended its recall to include Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food due to possible salmonella contamination.

The recalled bags are:

- 40 lb bag with the production code DPP0401B22XJW and best by date of 6-Apr-2013

- 40 lb bag with the production code DPP0401A21XAW and best by date of 6-Apr-2013

- 40 lb bag with the production code DPP0101C31XME and best by date of 11-Jan-2013

- 40 lb bag with the production code DPP0401B21XDJ and best by date of 7-Apr-2013


- 20 lb bag with the production code DPP0401B22XJW and best before date of 6-Apr-2013

- 20 lb bag with the production code DPP0101C31XME and best before date of 11-Jan-2013

- 20 lb bag with the production code DPP0101C31XRB and best before date of 11-Jan-2013


- 8 lb bag with the production code DPP0401B2XALW and best before date of 7-Apr-2013


- 6 oz samples with the production code DPP0401


Customers who have purchased these bags are urged to discard them. For further information or to obtain a product refund, contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402 or visit www.diamondpetrecall.com