June 15, 2009Nature's Variety has withdrawn from the market two production batches of its freeze-dried raw dog food that did not meet quality specifications. The company claims that the withdrawn products do not represent any health risk to their customers' pets.
According to the news release dated June 12th and appearing on the company's web site, the only two affected batches are:
- Freeze Dried Raw Chicken Formula (UPC # 69949 60151) with a “best if used by” date of 05/25/10; and
- Freeze Dried Raw Beef Formula (UPC # 69949 60251) with a “best if used by” date of 05/25/10
Nature's Variety claims that most of the withdrawn product is in the hands of its distributors and retailers, and that it is "very unlikely" that any of the product was purchased. Nevertheless, the company is offering its customers a full refund or replacement. That sounds like a recall to us!
The company's announcement provides no details about the reason for this product withdrawal, leaving some people to speculate whether there is more here than meets the eye. At least one retailer – Pet Food Express – has unilaterally extended the product withdrawal to include other Nature's Variety products, until the pet food manufacturer furnishes more information as to the reasons for its actions.
FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine has not commented on the action taken by Nature's Variety, nor has FDA posted the company's advisory on its list of recalls and alerts.
If you have purchased one of the "withdrawn" batches of Nature's Variety freeze-dried raw dog food, treat the problem as a safety recall and return the package to your retailer for a refund.
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Does this "withdrawal" affect the dry food at all? I do not use it but most companies spray their dry foods with stuff to make it stinky. I would assume that the freeze-dried stuff is what they would spray the dry food with... Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in your thoughts on the kibble as well. My dogs have been fed this for years and I have a 30 lb bag of lamb and a 30 lb bag of chicken sitting here.
ReplyDeleteI haven't enough information to offer an opinion on the kibble. Pet Food Express has removed Nature's Valley kibble from their store shelves until the company provides more detailed information on the nature of the quality problem that prompted the withdrawal. If I learn anything further, I shall post an update.
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