RECALL: Nature’s Variety recalls Instinct Raw Chicken Formula

Dog food has potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Nature’s Variety has announced a voluntary recall of its Instinct Raw Chicken Formula for dogs with a “Best By” date of 04/27/16 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
The affected products are limited to the Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Frozen Diets packaged in the following forms:

• UPC# 769949611431 – Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Bites for Dogs 4 lb.; Best By 04/27/16
• UPC# 769949611448 – Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Bites for Dogs 7 lb.; Best By 04/27/16
• UPC# 769949611486 – Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Patties for Dogs 6 lb.; Best By 04/27/16

The “Best By” date is located on the back of the package below the seal. The affected product was distributed through retail stores in the United States and limited distribution in Canada. No other Nature’s Variety products are affected.
No illnesses have been reported to date. Even though no illnesses have been reported, consumers should follow the Simple Handling Tips published on the Nature’s Variety package when disposing of the affected product.
Nature’s Variety became aware of a potential issue after receiving notification from the FDA that a routine surveillance sample of seven pound Instinct Raw Chicken Bites for dogs tested positive for Salmonella.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has the symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Consumers feeding the affected product should discontinue use and monitor their pet’s health, and contact their veterinarian if they have concerns. Consumers who have purchased one of the above products can obtain a full refund or exchange by either returning the product in its original packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer.
Consumers with additional questions can call our Consumer Relations team at +1.888.519.7387 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. CDT, 7 days a week during the recall. Or, consumers can email Nature’s Variety directly via cservice@naturesvariety.com.
 Reed Howlett, CEO of Nature’s Variety, stated, “At Nature’s Variety we take quality and safety very seriously. We believe that under all circumstances, health and safety comes first, and we are committed to providing the best possible nutrition for pets.” 

RECALL: Nature's Variety Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula

Pet food maker Nature's Variety is voluntarily recalling of one batch of Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties and medallions because the pet products may contain pieces of clear plastic that could potentially cause pets to choke.
Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula products marked with a "Best if Used By" date of October 4, 2013, are being recalled because clear plastic pieces were found in some bags. The company said the source of the plastic has been identified and the issue has been resolved.
Products affected by the recall include:

• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions in 3-lb. bags, marked with UPC# 769949601371
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula medallions in 27-lb. cases, marked with UPC# 769949701378
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties in 6-lb. bags, marked with UPC# 769949601272
• Instinct Raw Organic Chicken Formula patties in 36-lb. cases, marked with UPC# 769949701279
The affected product was distributed through retail stores and Internet sales in the United States and Canada. Nature's Variety said there have been no reports of harm to dogs or cats.
Consumers with questions may contact the Nature's Variety Consumer Relations team at +1.888.519.7387, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or email cservice@naturesvariety.com.

Nature's Variety donates petfood for nationwide canine cancer walk initiative

Nature’s Variety will team up with 2 Million Dogs Puppy Up! Against Canine Cancer for a nationwide walk initiative on November 7.
Nature’s Variety will donate 3,600 sample bags of its Instinct and Prairie lines of kibble. The donation will be spread to dogs in cities throughout the US, including Atlanta, Georgia; Auburn, Washington; Boston, Massachusetts; Cincinnati, Ohio; Edinboro, Pennsylvania; Fairborn, Ohio; Fort Collins, Colorado; New Milford, Connecticut; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Poughkeepsie, New York; Richmond, Virginia; and Seattle, Washington.
The 2 Million Dogs initiative began from Luke Robinson's quest to walk 2,000 miles with his two dogs across the US in 2008, raising awareness of canine cancer, in memory of his other dog, Malcolm. Afterward, he felt that if he and his dogs could walk 2,000 miles, he could get 2 million dogs to walk 2 miles to raise funding for canine cancer research. 

Nature's Variety presents research, new logo at expo

Nature's Variety, a manufacturer of raw frozen petfood, presented research on raw diets for dogs and unveiled a new look for its brand at the 2010 Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Florida, USA.
The research was conducted independently by Kelly Swanson, PhD, associate professor of nutrition and animal sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with his team. Preliminary results of the study, which Swanson and Nature's Variety said was the first conducted on raw dog foods, showed high palatability and digestibility for the diets tested.
Beginning with a new, more contemporary brand logo, Nature's Variety has also reworked its product packaging and overall brand identity to reflect its new company purpose, “Empowering people to transform the lives of pets.”

Nature’s Variety expands raw petfood recall

Nature’s Variety expanded its voluntary recall to include all Chicken Formula and Organic Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diets for dogs and cats with any “Best If Used By” date on or before 2/5/11.

Nature's Variety issues raw diet recall

Nature's Variety has initiated a voluntary recall of its Chicken Formula Raw Frozen Diet for dogs and cats with a "Best If Used By" date of 11/10/10 because the products may be contaminated with Salmonella. The products affected are limited to chicken medallions, patties and chubs.
The affected product was distributed through retail stores and internet sales in the US and in limited distribution in Canada.
No pet or human illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this lot code.