Are you still going to feed Natural Balance?

    • Gold Top Dog

    Are you still going to feed Natural Balance?

    Just wondering for those that feed Natural Balance, wet or dry food other than the venison ones that were recalled, are you still going to feed it?
     
    I feed Jake the duck & potato wet, but I just don't trust the company.  I don't know what to switch to, I guess I have to trust someone. 
     
    If you are currently feeding NB, are you going to continue feeding it or are you switching to another brand?
    • Gold Top Dog
    I used to feed their canned duck n potato and their food rolls as treats occasionally, but nope, not anymore. Any company that is a) manufacturing foods intended for allergy dogs and b) doesn't bother to list a new ingredient on the label, thus risking the death of said allergy dogs (you can't really blame them for this melamine thing), is not a company I trust.
    • Silver
    I discarded the duck and potato treats that I had.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I just called NB and asked about cross contamination.  They told me there is no way the other food could have been contaminated because they use a totally different machine just for their venison formulas.  All the other foods are made with a different machine from the venison one.  They also told me that the food on the duck & potato ingredient list on the cans are accurate.  Should I believe them?  Do you believe them?  One separate machine just for venison products?  Hmmmm.....
    • Gold Top Dog
    One separate machine just for venison products?  Hmmmm.....


    Actually makes sense since they make allergy products and don't want cross contamination. While I agree that the bags should always list the current ingredients, Im not convinced that there was anything sinsiter from NB. It seems the problem is from the supplier who was trying to "engineer" better products. I'm not sure if you can expect any company to grow and raise all their ingredients, process them, can them. The equiptment and space for this would bankrupt you. Clearly something needs to be done to better regulate this industry, especially since the american pet position in the home has elevated over the years to "child" status :) There are too many cracks that things can slip through. Although I don't feed NB, I am not naive enough to think that the products I buy are safe from everything as clearly this list is growing everyday.
    • Gold Top Dog
    Although I like their products I do not feed it.  I do use their dog food rolls as treats but will no longer do so.  I just threw out 3/4 of a roll I had just bought before their recall.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I don't think the label thing is a big deal, but I can see how a person with an allergic dog would find it very problematic.  As far as who's at fault the melamine outbreak, ultimately I think it falls on the testing of the imported product.  It's a given that China's standards are outside of anyone's control, so  I think a better testing of imported food is needed.  I know it's hard to test for every toxin known and unknown, but how is just testing for nitrogen an acceptable way of determining protein content.  This is assuming that no one outside of the Chinese knew about the melamine.  You could block all imports, but from a business point of view that's not very practicle and would ultimately lead to more expensive food acroos the board.
    • Bronze
    ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

    Any company that is a) manufacturing foods intended for allergy dogs and b) doesn't bother to list a new ingredient on the label, thus risking the death of said allergy dogs (you can't really blame them for this melamine thing), is not a company I trust.

     
    Ditto.  I don't care if it's "legal" or not, it's WRONG.  I sent an e-mail letting them know why they won't be getting any more of my money. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    ORIGINAL: Myra

    ORIGINAL: mudpuppy

    Any company that is a) manufacturing foods intended for allergy dogs and b) doesn't bother to list a new ingredient on the label, thus risking the death of said allergy dogs (you can't really blame them for this melamine thing), is not a company I trust.


    Ditto. I don't care if it's "legal" or not, it's WRONG. I sent an e-mail letting them know why they won't be getting any more of my money.


    Good for you! I think more people should email them and let them know.


    I haven't decided if I'm going to use up the bag of duck and potato that I have. I doubt it. I'll probably get Eagle Pack or continue with Timberwolf.
    • Gold Top Dog
    [Deleted by Admins]
    • Gold Top Dog
    The answer, for me, is a RESOUNDING NO ! 
    They lied on their label for the Fish & Sweet Potato and they never disclosed the inclusion of the Rice Protein Concentrate on their packaging OR on their website until they got caught with the contaminant.  Then BOOM, suddenly the concentrate shows up on their ingredient list.
    I do not trust them and will NEVER trust them again.
    I had 1/2 a bag of the Fish & Sweet Potato kibble - GONE - TRASH
    I had 4 cans of the Duck & Potato - GONE - TRASH
     
    I am SO furious at them for lying .... I researched foods like crazy ... I trusted them.  And as they say 'he11 hath no fury like that of a woman scorned !"
     
    • Gold Top Dog
    You know, if there were something comparable, I'd probably switch but I just can't take a chance.  When Sassy has allergy issues, it can result in some serious skin infections.  I'm not sure the food helps, but when things are going smoothly, as they are right now, there's no way I'm going to tip the scale.  Still, it bugs me that I have to worry about this and if she were a smaller dog that I could afford to feed one of the really novel proteins like duck or ostrich or whatever, I'd switch to home prepared a heartbeat.
    • Gold Top Dog
    I am still using the Nat. Balance Kibble. I homecook for over half of her food each meal. I feel safer with this grain free food than if I swich brands. All foods are in peril and I would feel no better if I changed. I will cook more and more. I only give kibble to make sure she gets all she needs. 
    • Gold Top Dog
    Well, I'm in a predicament.  I have tried so many foods, and the NB duck and potato has given me amazing results.  He has been doing OUTSTANDING on it, so I really don't want to change.  As much as I don't agree with the labeling issue, I am not going to switch him from a food he is doing this well on.   
    • Gold Top Dog
    Royal Canin had the labeling problems too. Nat. Balance is certainly not alone. We sure are finding out about many good foods.