Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Healthy Aging and Cancer

 "Courtesy of Life's Abundance"
The Life's Abundance May Newsletter, Dr. Sarah discusses a not so great subject but one that is prevalent among canines and felines, cancer.

Not all bad news though as new research is promising!




"Courtesy of Life's Abundance"

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

CORRECTION for Diamond Recall: Dates

UPDATED: CORRECTED BEST BEFORE DATE

FDA page is below
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm304917.htm?source=govdelivery

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall

Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula Dry Dog Food

Production Code DSL 0801 Due to Small Potential for Salmonella Contamination

Contact:
Consumer:
866-918-8756

Media:
816-255-1974



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 21, 2012 - Diamond Pet Foods is expanding a voluntary recall to include its Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula dry dog food manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 due to potential exposure to Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported. The product was distributed in the following states: Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Further distribution through other pet food channels may have occurred.



Pet owners may call toll-free at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm EST. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any issues this may have caused pet owners and their pets.



The product is Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula. Only samples, 6 pound and 18 pound bag sizes are affected.



Production Code & Best Before Date

DSL0801, 20-Oct.-2012 (Product manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Oct. 20, 2011) DSL0801, 26-Aug-2012


DSL0801, 27-Sept- 2012 (Product manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Sept. 27, 2011)


DSL0801, 18-Oct- 2012 (Product manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Oct. 18, 2011)


DSL0801, (Samples)



Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.



Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.



Expanded Diamond Recall

FDA posts press releases and other notices of recalls and market withdrawals from the firms involved as a service to consumers, the media, and other interested parties. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company.



Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb &Rice Formula Dry Dog Food Production Code DSL 0801 Due to Small Potential for Salmonella Contamination

The FDA web page for this alert is below
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm304917.htm?source=govdelivery



Contact:
Consumer:
866-918-8756


Media:
816-255-1974


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 18, 2012 - Diamond Pet Foods is expanding a voluntary recall to include its Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula dry dog food manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 due to potential exposure to Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported. The product was distributed in the following states: Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Further distribution through other pet food channels may have occurred.

Pet owners may call toll-free at 1-866-918-8756, Monday through Sunday, 8 am – 6 pm EST. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any issues this may have caused pet owners and their pets.

The product is Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Dog Lamb & Rice Formula. Only samples, 6 pound and 18 pound bag sizes are affected.

Production Code & Best Before Date
DSL0801, 26-Aug-2012
DSL0801, 26-Aug-2012
DSL0801, 27-Sept- 2012 (Product manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Sept. 27, 2011)
DSL0801, 18-Oct- 2012 (Product manufactured on Aug. 26, 2011 and packaged on Oct. 18, 2011)
DSL0801, (Samples)

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.


Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Inspection Observation, Diamond Foods

The official FDA pdf document is below. Diamond Pet Food Processors of SC LLC, Gaston, SC, 483 (Inspectional Observations) Issued 4/20/2012 –

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/OfficeofGlobalRegulatoryOperationsandPolicy/ORA/ORAElectronicReadingRoom/UCM304252.pdf


As the blog owner, I suggest you take the time to read the entire document and ALL observations
I have listed only the first OBSERVATION noted in the above document :

OBSERVATION 1


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

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Correction codes Natural Balance recall


FDA we page for this is below:

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303918.htm?source=govdelivery
Correction to Date Code in Natural Balance Pet Foods’ Voluntary Recall Dated May 4, 2012 Due to the Potential for Salmonella Contamination

Contact:
Consumer:
(800) 829-4493

Media:
Daniel Bernstein
(310) 902-2554


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 11, 2012 - On May 4, 2012, Natural Balance Pet Foods announced a voluntary recall of certain dry pet food formulas manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods at their Gaston, South Carolina facility. Link to original press release: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303042.htm

The original press release contained a typographical error in the Best By Date of one of the products listed. It stated a Best By Date of March 12, 2013 when it should have been March 13, 2013.



The incorrect Best By Date listed was:

5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88650-5

Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 12, 2013



The correct Best By Date is:

5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88650-5

Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 13, 2013



Natural Balance Pet Foods apologizes for any potential confusion this may have caused.



Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Natural Balance Pet Foods Customer Service at (800) 829-4493(8am – 5pm, PST). Consumers may also go to http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/  for more information.



Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Pet Food Recall - Solid Gold

Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc. Recalls Dog Food Because of Possible Salmonella Health Risk



Contact:
Consumer:
(800) 364-4863
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 8, 2012 - Solid Gold Health Products for Pets, Inc., El Cajon, California, announced a voluntary recall of one batch of WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food and one batch of Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog, both with a Best Before date of December 30, 2012, and an “X” in the 11th digit of the date code.

Solid Gold is voluntarily recalling the products below, distributed in the United States and Canada. This voluntary recall is being done out of an abundance of caution as these products were produced at the facility that has been linked to recent recalls of Diamond brand pet foods due to potential Salmonella contamination.


Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.


Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.



The products involved in this voluntary recall are:

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



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



Best by dates (lot codes) can be found on the back of the bag in the bottom right-hand corner of 33 lb, 28.5 lb and 15 lb bags and the bottom of the 4 lb bags.



Other Solid Gold recipes, sizes or brands of food are not impacted by this voluntary recall.



Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, would like replacement product or have additional questions, may call us at (800) 364-4863 (Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM Pacific time).

Click Here for Label pictures

Click Here for the FDA web page for this recall

Saturday, May 5, 2012

One Wellness dog food recipe recall

Please visit the web page for more http://www.wellnesspetfood.com/news.aspx

Contacts:
Consumer Inquiries:
(877) 227-9587



Media Inquiries:
Meagan McCutcheon

Hunter PR
(212) 679-6600





WELLPET LLC VOLUNTARILY RECALLS ONE RECIPE

OF DRY DOG FOOD

DUE TO SALMONELLA AT DIAMOND PET FOODS’ FACILITY



Tewksbury, Mass. (May 4, 2012) – WellPet LLC announced a voluntary recall of one recipe of Wellness® dry dog food after being notified by Diamond Pet Foods regarding the presence of Salmonella in Diamond’s Gaston, South Carolina facility.

All Wellness products are tested for Salmonella and all lots tested negative prior to shipping to customers. The company is voluntarily recalling the select products below. This voluntary recall is being done out of an abundance of caution as these products were produced at the facility that has been linked to recent recalls of Diamond brand foods due to the threat of Salmonella.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product. People who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer.

The products involved in this voluntary recall are:

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

Best by dates (lot codes) can be found on the back of the bag in the bottom right-hand corner.

No other WellPet recipes, sizes or brands of food are impacted by this voluntary recall.

"As a pet parent myself, I know how important peace of mind is when it comes to the health of our pets, and that is why we require that all of our products undergo testing for Salmonella, among other things," said Tim Callahan, chief executive officer of WellPet, the maker of Wellness® products. "All of these lots tested negative prior to being released for sale. We are voluntarily taking this additional step to further safeguard our dogs and to put our customers’ minds at ease."

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.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, would like replacement product or have additional questions, may call us 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).

.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Natural Balance Voluntarily Recall

Natural Balance web page for recall is below:
http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/home/NB_recall.html

To Our NB Community:

Natural Balance has just been notified by Diamond Pet Foods, one of our co-manufacturers, that certain Natural Balance dry food formulas produced in their Gaston, SC facility should be voluntarily recalled.

Although there have been no animal illnesses reported and none of our Natural Balance products included in the recall have tested positive for Salmonella, we have voluntarily initiated this recall as a precautionary measure.

The following is a list of products affected, for select sizes:
FormulaBest By Date
5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison DogDecember 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; March 12, 2013
15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison DogDecember 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison DogDecember 12, 2012; December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012; March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013; March 7, 2013; March 8, 2013; March 12, 2013
5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice DogDecember 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012
15 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice DogDecember 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012
28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice DogDecember 10, 2012; December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012
5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison DogDecember 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012
15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison DogDecember 9, 2012; December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012
28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison DogDecember 9, 2012; December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012; December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012
5 LB Natural Balance Vegetarian DogDecember 9, 2012
28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed BitesDecember 12, 2012; December 20, 2012; December 21, 2012
5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed BitesDecember 21, 2012
12.5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed BitesDecember 21, 2012
Recalled products may have been distributed in the following states:

Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, 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 Canada.

States that are NOT affected include:

Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact our Customer Service team at (800) 829-4493 or email info@naturalbalanceinc.com. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

Sincerely,

Your Natural Balance Family

Investigation of a Multi-state Outbreak of Salmonella Infantis Linked to Dry Dog Food

Investigation of a Multi-state Outbreak of Salmonella Infantis Linked to Dry Dog Food
The FDA official web link, click below:
http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/CORENetwork/ucm302904.htm?source=govdelivery




Thursday, May 3, 2012

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

What's in those Pet Treats?

 "Courtesy of Life's Abundance"
Dr. Sarah shares with us why healthy treats are important as well as healthy food!



Please visit our site for more information of Lifes Abundance dog food, cat food treats an more!

Probiotics in Pet Food

Lately there are numerous commercials explaining gut health, good bacteria, special yogurt and more for humans and better health.

Could that be true for pets as well?

For me it has always been something important for my canine and feline family members. With Life's Abundance I feel confident feeding my pets not only because of the ingredients but the probiotics are listed in the guaranteed analysis.

 Please click here below to read a great article from Dr. Jane Bicks, formulator of Life's Abundance pet food about probiotics.


Recall, Expansion of Diamond Puppy Food

Diamond Pet Foods Expands Voluntary Recall to Include Diamond Puppy Formula
due to Possible Salmonella Contamination

Food and Drug Administration page for recall
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm302514.htm?source=govdelivery

Contact:

Media
Diamond Pet Foods
816-255-1974

Consumer
Diamond Pet Foods
800-442-0402

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - April 30, 2012 - Diamond Pet Foods is expanding a voluntary recall to include Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food. The company took this precautionary measure because sampling revealed Salmonella in the product. No dog illnesses have been reported.

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.

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 healthcare 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 these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Only the Diamond Puppy Formula products meeting the following descriptions are recalled:

Description                                                Size                  Production Code       Best By Date
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food        40 lb.                DPP0401B22XJW      6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food        40 lb.                DPP0401A21XAW     6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food        40 lb.                DPP0101C31XME      11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food        40 lb.                DPP0401B21XDJ       7-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food        20 lb.                DPP0401B22XJW      6-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food       20 lb.                DPP0101C31XME      11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food       20 lb.                DPP0101C31XRB       11-Jan-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food      8 lb.                  DPP0401B2XALW      7-Apr-2013
Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food                 6 oz. samples DPP0401



The recalled Diamond Puppy Formula dry dog food was manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in Gaston, S.C., and distributed in the following 12 states:

    Alabama
    Florida
    Georgia
    Kentucky
    Maryland
    Michigan
    North Carolina
    Ohio
    Pennsylvania
    South Carolina
    Tennessee
    Virginia

The product may have been further distributed to additional states through pet food channels. The company is working directly with distributors and retailers that carry these products to remove them as quickly as possible from the supply chain. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may cause pet owners and their dogs.

Pet owners, who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Diamond Pet Foods at 800-442-0402, 8 am – 6 pm EST, Monday through Friday, or visit www.diamondpetrecall.com