FDA to issue new 'Salmonella in Food for Animals' Compliance Policy Guide

On July 16 in its Federal Register, the US Food and Drug Administration will issue a new Compliance Policy Guide for Salmonella in Food for Animals. 
The Compliance Policy Guide "provides guidance to FDA staff on Salmonella-contaminated food for animals."
According to the guide, the final document is the conclusion of a process that begin in August 2010 when the draft (690.800) Salmonella in Animal Feed was issued. 
This guide coincides with another notice issued by FDA of the withdrawal of CPG 690.700, Salmonella Contamination of Dry Dog Food. Additionally, the term "petfood" is now used throughout the guide and is defined as "food for pets and includes treats and chews for pets." Comments may be submitted at any time on the new guide. 

FreeHand named Best Dry Dog Food winner in Dogington Post Awards

As part of a larger initiative to educate dog owners on proper nutrition, effective training, and other ways to raise a happy and healthy dog, the Dogington Post reviewed pet food and pet products for its first annual Dogington Post Awards of 2012. Readers voted for the winners, selecting FreeHand as winner of the Best Dry Dog Food category.
FreeHand, a company that launched in June 2012, works to save the lives of abandoned dogs in the communities where its petfood products are sold. For each dog food bag sold, the company donates an equal amount to local shelters and rescues.
“We recognize the significance of this award from the readers of The Dogington Post - and we are honored to have been nominated over the hundreds of other pet foods in the market, many of which are well-established and well-financed brands. This proves the most important point of all - that dog owners buy our product because it is good for their dogs as well as for the lives of rescue dogs in their communities,” said Tom Bagamane, FreeHand’s managing director and co-founder.

Walmart launches new ultra-premium dry dog food line

Walmart is launching its own line of ultra-premium dry dog food to compete directly with specialty pet product retailers such as PetSmart and Petco.
The new brand, Pure Balance, is an expansion of Walmart's Ol' Roy brand of dog food that is currently sold and is expected to appear on store shelves in the coming weeks. The Pure Balance line will include a chicken and brown rice variety and a lamb and brown rice variety, which will be sold in 30-, 15- and 5-pound bags. Walmart says the new brand contains no chicken by-products, as well as no soy, wheat or corn additives, artificial colors and preservatives.

RECALL: Dog food recall expanded: Canidae, Wellness, Natural Balance

Following the dry dog food recalls by Diamond Pet Foods over concerns of Salmonella contamination at the company's Gaston, South Carolina, USA, petfood manufacturing plant, Canidae, Wellness and Natural Balance have also issued voluntary recalls for certain dry petfood formulas manufactured at the same South Carolina plant. 


Canidae Pet Foods is recalling select dry dog food formulas manufactured between December 9, 2011, and January 31, 2012, at the Gaston plant. The below list of products being recalled must have production codes that have both a number “3” in the ninth or 10th digit and an “X” in the 11th digit, with a "best before" date of December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013. Recalled products include: 


Canidae Dog, All Life Stages
Canidae Dog, Chicken Meal & Rice
Canidae Dog, Lamb Meal & Rice
Canidae Dog, Platinum
The recall affects only products distributed in the following Eastern U.S. states of Florida, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Tennessee, but may have been distributed further through other petfood channels. The company says no animal or human illnesses have been associated with the products and they have not tested positive for Salmonella. Customers with questions may contact Canidae Pet Foods at +1.800.398.1600,  Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. PST.


WellPet LLC is recalling its Wellness Complete Health Super5Mix Large Breed Puppy formula, also manufactured at Diamond Pet Foods' Gaston plant. The recalled product was sold in 15- and 30-pound bags and 5-ounce sample bags, marked with "best by" dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013, on the back of the bag in the bottom right-hand corner. Consumers with questions may contact WellPet LLC at +1.877.227.9587, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. ET, and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET.


Additionally, Natural Balance is recalling several of its dry dog food formulas also produced in the Gaston plant. The following is a list of recalled products, including bag size, formula and "best by" dates: 


 5-pound Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog
December 12, 2012


December 13, 2012


March 12, 2013


15-pound Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog
December 12, 2012


December 13, 2012


December 14, 2012


March 5, 2013


March 6, 2013 


28-pound Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog 
December 12, 2012


December 13, 2012


December 14, 2012


March 5, 2013


March 6, 2013


March 7, 2013


March 8, 2013


March 12, 2013 


5-pound Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog
December 10, 2012


December 21, 2012


December 22, 2012 


15-pound Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog
December 10, 2012


December 21, 2012


December 22, 2012


15-pound Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog
December 10, 2012


December 21, 2012


December 22, 2012


28-pound Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog
December 10, 2012 


December 21, 2012


December 22, 2012 


5-pound Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog
December 17, 2012


December 18, 2012


December 28, 2012


December 29, 2012


15-pound Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog
December 9, 2012


December 17, 2012


December 18, 2012


December 28, 2012


December 29, 2012


28-pound Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog
December 9, 2012


December 17, 2012


December 18, 2012


December 28, 2012


December 29, 2012


5-pound Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog
December 9, 2012


28-pound Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites
December 12, 2012


December 20, 2012


December 21, 2012


5-pound Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites
December 21, 2012


12.5-pound Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites
December 21, 2012


Recalled products may have been distributed in Canada and in the following USA states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Washington, D.C. Consumers with questions may contact the company at +1.800.829.4493 or email info@naturalbalanceinc.com. 

RECALL: CDC confirms 14 human Salmonella cases linked to dry dog food

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 14 people in the US have been sickened with Salmonella infantis infections, including at least five that are hospitalized, in a nine-state outbreak linked to dry dog food.


The CDC reported that multiple brands of Diamond Pet Foods dry dog food, including several that have been recently recalled, are likely to blame for the human illnesses, which could be transmitted either through contact with the contaminated petfood or through handling an animal that has eaten the contaminated dog food. 


According to the CDC, routine tests by the Michigan, USA, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development first detected Salmonella in an unopened bag of Diamond Pet Foods Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice dry dog food on April 2, though the company has since expanded the recall to include other formulas produced at the same South Carolina manufacturing plant.


PulseNet, the national surveillance system for foodborne illnesses, then identified several cases of human Salmonella infantis infections with a genetic fingerprint identical to that found in the dog food, the CDC reported. The number of confirmed human cases of Salmonella in each USA state are: three cases in Missouri, three cases in North Carolina, two cases in Ohio, and one case each in Alabama, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Of outbeak victims interviewed, 7 of 10 said they had contact with a dog during the week before they became ill and four out of five people who could remember the type of dog food they had handled said it was a Diamond Pet Foods brand, CDC says.


Consumers should discard any recalled product immediately. Consumers with questions should contact Diamond Pet Foods at +1.800.442.0402.

RECALL: Diamond Pet Foods expands dry dog food recall to include Puppy formula

Diamond Pet Foods recalled select bag sizes of its Puppy Formula dry dog food.

Diamond Pet Foods is expanding a voluntary recall to include Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food because a sampling of the product was contaminated with Salmonella. 


The expanded recall includes Diamond dry dog food Puppy Formula in the following bag sizes, marked with the following production codes and "Best-by" dates, respectively:


40-pound bags, DPP0401B22XJW, 6-Apr-2013
40-pound bags, DPP0401A21XAW, 6-Apr-2013
40-pound bags, DPP0101C31XME, 11-Jan-2013
40-pound bags, DPP0401B21XDJ, 7-Apr-2013
20-pound bags, DPP0401B22XJW, 6-Apr-2013
20-pound bags, DPP0101C31XME, 11-Jan-2013
20-pound bags, DPP0101C31XRB, 11-Jan-2013
8-pound bags, DPP0401B2XALW, 7-Apr-2013
6-ounce samples, DPP0401


The recalled product was distributed in the following 12 USA states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia. The product may have been further distributed to additional states through other petfood channels, but the company says it is workign with distributors and retailers to remove the recalled product from the supply chain. 


The company says no pet illnesses have been reported. Pets suffering from Salmonella may be lethargic, have a decreased appetite, have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain and vomiting. Pet owners who are concerned or have questions may contact Diamond Pet Foods by calling +1.800.442.0402, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday, or visit www.diamondpetrecall.com. 

Wagg Foods gives away dog treats in pet food packages

Wagg Foods, a UK manufacturer of dry dog food, is giving away 250,000 packs of Wagg treats as part of a promotion to honor loyal customers.
Inside a range of Wagg Adult Complete dog food and Wagg Worker packages is a free sample of Wagg Meaty Treats. The promotion, worth £250,000 (US$368,938.82) is taking place instead of the company cutting prices, a report says.

RECALL: Arrow Brand dry dog food, Petrus dry dog food recalled for aflatoxin

The US Food and Drug Administration posted an "updated" recall notice on its website with two additional pet food recalls and corrected pet food product lot numbers, all related to dog food with elevated aflatoxin levels.
These most recent recalls, for O'Neal's Feeders Supply's Arrow Brand dog food and dog food from Petrus Feed and Seed Stores Inc., come in addition to December recalls by Cargill, Proctor and Gamble's Iams, and Advanced Animal Nutrition dog food also for high aflatoxin levels.  O'Neal's Feeders Supply of DeRidder, Louisiana, USA, recalled dry Arrow Brand dog food manufactured between December 1, 2010, and December 1, 2011, because it contains corn detected to have unacceptably high levels of aflatoxin. According to the company, the recall applies to dog food distributed in Louisiana and Texas, US, with lot numbers 4K0341 through 4K0365 and 04K1001 through 4K1325. Affected Arrow Brand products include: 21% Dog Chunks SKU #807 40 lb. bag; Super Proeaux dog food SKU #812 40 lb. bag; and Professional Formula dog food SKU #814 50 lb. bag. Consumers may return the recalled dog food, in opened or unopened packages, to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact +1.800.256.2769. Petrus Feed and Seed Stores of Alexandria, Louisiana, USA, recalled its dry dog food, manufactured by Cargill in LeCompte, Louisiana, USA, from December 1, 2010 through December 1, 2011, also for unacceptably high levels of aflatoxin. The product, 21% Protein Dog Food in 40 lb. Petrus Feed bags, has lot numbers 4K1011 through 4K1307 and updated lot numbers 4K1011 through 4K1335. Consumers may return the recalled dog food, in opened or unopened packages, to the place of purchase for a full refund. For more information contact +1.318.443.2259. Both companies advised that pets that have consumed any of the recalled products and exhibit symptoms of illness including sluggishness or lethargy combined with a reluctance to eat, vomiting, yellowish tint to the eyes or gums, or diarrhea should be seen by a veterinarian.

Canadian pet food company launches dry dog food line with all fresh ingredients

CARNA4 Inc., a Canada-based petfood start-up, says it has created the first dry dog food to use real food ingredients that are all grown in the US and Canada, without vitamin and mineral pre-mixes or other additives.
The company says its dog food is made with fresh, table-grade chicken, wild salmon, eggs, whole produce and sprouted seeds, all baked to preserve authentic flavors and nutrients. The dog food, CARNA4 All Life Stages Chicken, will be available in select specialty petfood stores in California, USA, and the Midwest, USA, by the end of May. The petfood is distributed by Zeus & Co. of Chicago, Illinois, USA, and Newco Distributors of Rancho Cucamonga, California, USA.
CARNA4 Inc. was founded in 2010 by David Stauble, who previously managed a pet specialty chain's holistic pet food line, and Maria Ringo, a homeopathic medicine practitioner.
"We offer pet parents the opportunity to invest in their dog's health with a safe alternative to commercial foods that's more convenient and less expensive than raw or home cooking," said Stauble.

Sunshine Mills renews 'Lassie' petfood deal with Classic Media

Sunshine Mills Inc. renewed its partnership with Classic Media to expand the current line of Lassie-branded pet products.
Since 2007, Classic Media and Sunshine Mills have worked together on the Lassie Natural Way product line, which includes dry dog food formulated for puppies, adult dogs or senior dogs, as well as biscuits and treats. Lassie Natural Way products are made from all natural ingredients, with no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, wheat, corn, or soy products, according to the company. The product line is available at select retailers nationwide.

Loyall premium petfood now available at select Tractor Supply Co. stores

Cargill's Loyall premium petfood  line for dogs is now available at select Tractor Supply Co. stores in the midwestern and southwestern United States.
The stores carry four Loyall formulas: Puppy, Active Adult, Lamb Meal and Rice, and Adult Maintenance.
"Loyall pet foods are specially formulated for dogs' individual needs, including their age and other important factors like activity level and sensitivities," said Andy Rash, marketing manager for the Loyall brand. "Our primary goal is to help pet owners achieve the optimum nutrition and exceptional health their companion animals deserve. As a destination for many devoted dog owners, TSC is a natural fit."

Nulo petfood part of Golden Globes gift baskets

Austin, Texas-based Nulo added samples of its dog food to the gift baskets provided to attendees of the 2011 Golden Globes.
The petfood was included based on its all-natural hook. "There are the typical staples like Godiva and Ralph Lauren," said Nulo CEO Michael Landa. "But this year they wanted to include some up-and-coming brands that were aligned with what celebrities look for, like nutrition and fitness, and they ran right into Nulo and we're very happy to be there."

Eagle Pack sponsors sweepstakes to Alaska for 2011 Iditarod

WellPet LLC's Eagle Pack, named "official dog food" of the 2011 Iditarod, is sponsoring a sweepstakes to send one winner and their guest to Alaska, USA, to watch the dog sled race.
The "Win a Trip for 2 to Alaska for the 2011 Iditarod" contest can be entered online and will accept entries until Jan. 21, 2011. The Iditarod  is scheduled to begin March 5, 2011 in Big Lake, Alaska, USA.

Eagle Pack named official sponsor of 2011 Iditarod dog race

Eagle Pack Natural Pet Food became the official dog food sponsor of the 2011 Iditarod Trail sled dog race.
As official sponsor, Eagle Pack will supply dog food along the trail and will dedicate funds to the health and care of the Iditarod dogs. The Iditarod Trail race runs more than 1,049 miles from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, USA.
To celebrate its partnership with the Iditarod, Eagle Pack will also sponsor a sweepstakes to send one winner and a guest to Alaska, USA in March 2011 to attend the race. Entries for this contest will be accepted online until January 21, 2011.

Nestle Purina launches new Pro Plan petfood in Canada

Nestle Purina PetCare launched its Pro Plan Shredded Blend petfood in Canada.
The company describes its Pro Plan Shredded Blend as a multi-textured combination of crunchy kibble and tender shredded pieces with real chicken or lamb. Nestle invites Canadian pet owners to register online for a free sample and coupon.
"By simply visiting our website, and entering their information, a free sample of the Pro Plan Shredded Blend product will be delivered to their home. They will also receive a coupon, because once they've tried it, we're sure they and their dog will want to go out and buy a bag, and we further back this up with a complete satisfaction or money back guarantee," said Shelly Tandon, senior marketing manager for the company.

Article outlines dog food manufacturing process

A recent WAFB of Louisiana news story outlined dog food manufacturing for consumers, mentioning that multiple parties are involved, including highly trained scientists, nutritionists, veterinarians and taste tasters, and the process can take years to complete from concept to consumer.

It all starts with a concept, and then research, including formula development, product and process development, analysis, palatability testing and digestibility testing. Nutritional testing also must be conducted to meet Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) regulations for petfood in the US.

Possible link between dog food, hypercalcemia reported

Reports of a possible connection between hypercalcemia and a premium petfood have been reported on the Veterinary Information Network (VIN), an online community for veterinarians.
According to an article on the community's associated site, the VIN News Service, veterinarians have mentioned in message board discussions that they have observed hypercalcemia secondary to vitamin D toxicosis in dogs eating Blue Buffalo Wilderness Diet, chicken flavor petfood. Improvements were reported once food brands were changed.
No causal relationship between the food and illnesses has yet been determined, and there is currently no Food and Drug Administration recall in effect for this brand of petfood.
Blue Buffalo representatives report that “tens of thousands of dollars” and hundreds of hours have been spent analyzing dog food, including samples from bags potentially connected to cases of dogs with hypercalcemia and vitamin D toxicity.
Richard MacLean, vice president of business affairs for Blue Buffalo, said test results thus far have shown nothing unusual about the food's formulation.
“We really do take very seriously our commitment to providing health nutrition to pets,” MacLean said. “From the moment this issue came up, we are looking to find out if this is something we can do something about.”
MacLean also said the company’s tests of its dog food have returned low to mid-level vitamin D content.
“Everything that we have suggests that it’s not our food,” he said. “We have 30,000 bags of this stuff out there and literally a dozen animals that have a common symptom. On an incident rate, that doesn’t invite the conclusion that there’s something defective about the product.”

Purina publishes Facebook game for pet lovers

Pet lovers can now play the Purina Pet Resort game on the brand's Facebook page.
Players can become the manager of their own virtual pet-themed resort, allowing them to build and operate a place to pamper, care for and entertain virtual pets.
“Purina Pet Resort caters to pet lovers who enjoy online games and would like to create a virtual haven for their four-legged friends,” said Guy Fish, assistant brand manager, Purina brand.
“Resort” owners can purchase a variety of pet-themed stations where virtual pets can be groomed or fed with Purina brand pet foods and treats such as Purina Dog Chow brand dog food, Fancy Feast and Beggin’ Strips.
Purina also recently introduced an enhanced version of its petcentric mobile application now available for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch and BlackBerry users. The application offers a location-based utility, videos, photos and pet information.

Petco agrees to US$1.75 million settlement

Petco Animal Supplies Inc. agreed to pay US$1.75 million to settle a case involving the overcharging of customers and mistreatment of pets, according to Jan Goldsmith, San Diego city attorney.
Petco did not admit liability in the case, which was prosecuted by Goldsmith’s office and other district attorneys representing five California counties, including San Diego where the company is based.
The case originated from state and county inspections of Petco stores from 2005 to 2008, showing that Petco’s animal cages were not adequately cleaned and maintained. In some stores, sick animals were not identified and removed from habitats on the sales floor, according to a report from Goldsmith’s office. Petco failed to remove expired price tags from store shelves, resulting in customers potentially being overcharged. The report also says that the company failed to properly train its employees on the weighing and charging of bulk sales items such as dog food.

Hill's reduces bag size of Science Plan Canine brand

In May, Hill’s reduced the bag size of its Science Plan Canine petfood from 15 kg to 12 kg.
The price reduction announced in April was applied proportionately to the smaller bag size, so customers will still see a reduction in price, according to the company.
In May of last year, the company reduced the bag size of its Science Plan Canine Adult Light from 15 Kg to 12 Kg, which resulted in volume growth of 11% for the brand and 38% more units sold. As a result of the smaller 12 kg packages, the company's 7.5 kg large breed canine products will be delisted.
Science Plan is the brand of petfood sold by Hill's outside of the US, where it is called Science Diet.