natural Balance Duck and potato... strange color

Hmm, where did you buy it?  If you bought it at Petco, I would just return/exchange it for another bag.   I do remember the color of the normal-sized kibbles to be dark brown.  I can't imagine it would be any different in the small bites.   

 I noticed that the most recent bag (regular bites) was a lighter brown, but mine wasn't yellow.

Iv been using small bites since it came out and it was dark brown... the last 2 bags I got aren't... I wrote the company but haven't heard anything back yet.... Its almost look as though they used sweet potato in it......

And Yes I got it at Petco......

 My bag of Small Bites is dark brown.

I'd be really concerned about any sudden change in color/appearance. This could be due to any number of changes in ingredients: different protein (chicken instead of duck for example), less flaxseed or none at all, different carb instead of potato ...

Since this product is aimed squarely at dogs with food intolerances, you'd think they would want to be extra careful. Any undeclared change in ingredients is unacceptable IMHO.

Maybe those who have Potato & Duck kibble with unusual lighter color could post their bag expiry dates, to identify those batches that appear to be different from normal?
It might be helpful for others who buy this product and want to avoid potential problems.

 My normal color bag is expiry dated 01 FEB 2009.

FussyPoodles

I'd be really concerned about any sudden change in color/appearance. This could be due to any number of changes in ingredients: different protein (chicken instead of duck for example), less flaxseed or none at all, different carb instead of potato ...

Since this product is aimed squarely at dogs with food intolerances, you'd think they would want to be extra careful.

Im taking all 3 bag back tomorrow. I had my husband pick up the regular size kibble in NB Duck and Poato and the dogs ate it... they didn't want the other... And especially my Scottie boy who LOVES the food wasn't thrilled to eat.... The bag he got today is the normal color. My dogs hate the kibble size so I put it in a big baggie and hammered away....LOL The things we do for our dogs :) Max has to be on this food for his IBD .... since eating this different colored stuff its been runny.....Makes you wonder what it really is???? It just seems like sweetpotato color to me.... Its that orange light yellow light tone.... NOT the DARK brown.... Weird huh?

Im stilling waiting for a response back from the company. I suppose I will call them tomorow If I don't get an email back soon.

terrierlover

Im taking all 3 bag back tomorrow. I had my husband pick up the regular size kibble in NB Duck and Poato and the dogs ate it... they didn't want the other... And especially my Scottie boy who LOVES the food wasn't thrilled to eat.... The bag he got today is the normal color.

Good to hear you're taking them back. I always think that if a dog suddenly refuses a food, that's a sign there's something wrong with the food.

My dogs hate the kibble size so I put it in a big baggie and hammered away....LOL The things we do for our dogs :)

I used to have to chop up the Wellness Core because the pieces are so big! LOL 

Max has to be on this food for his IBD .... since eating this different colored stuff its been runny.....Makes you wonder what it really is???? It just seems like sweetpotato color to me.... Its that orange light yellow light tone.... NOT the DARK brown.... Weird huh?

Very strange ... not to say worrying! 

It'll be very interesting to hear what they have to say. I can only think of some accidental mix-up on the production line.

But I can't afford to deal with mix-ups like that ... I can't take a bag back! I get them air-freighted over here (which is a nightmare in itself). 

BTW - my dogs are not technically IBD, but do have a variety of GI issues, and sweet potato is one food that will make their stools very loose. It would only take a mix-up of too much s.p. and not enough flaxseed going into the batch ... and you could end up with a result like this. 

Here is the reply I got. I explained yet again to them that my dogs wouldn't touch it.... Max my Scottie who is a piglet will gobble anything and he wasn't happy with the food and all but refused it.... I asked they look into this again and get back with me... Im just not buying this reply...

I've fed Rupert NB Potato & Duck (regular size kibble) for quite a while now, and the kibble color varies with each bag. However, Rupert has never turned up his nose at a new bag.

It says on NB's website (and I think on the bag as well):

"Natural Balance is an all natural product. We do not use any artificial colors or dyes, and we do not bleach our ingredients. Color variations are a normal occurrence." 

http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/dogformulas/home.html

janobonano

It says on NB's website (and I think on the bag as well):

Iv seen variation of colors with the food but nothing like this and it smells different. Thanks for the site I already have it bookmarked and I do understand changes in the food... But this is to much of a difference and I have to agree with the one that posted if you dogs aren't eating it something isn't right.

Anyway my husband took it back to Petco this morning and got the larger size kibble which is normal in color and they took the other back.... I just don't need a major food strike going on around here with my dogs. Then I ended up with upset stomachs and the list goes on... and I don't need runny stools from my IBD dog.... It wasn't good..... And when you have a dog with IBS or IBD you can't afford any weird changes to occur..... believe me its enough work to always keep things balanced with suppliments and such.....

 I too know all about IBS, food and GI sensitivities, digestive and stool problems ... and the last thing you need is a commercial food you can't rely on. *sigh*

 Minor color variations in kibble wouldn't concern me.
But a shift from a dark brown to a light orangy-brown color? That's a major shift.

The one statement from the company I am not at all happy about is the one about dark and light meats. Surely they should be using the same type of meat and meat meal consistently? The dark and light parts of any poultry have very different nutritional value - I know because I do the nutritional analysis for my dogs' home-cooked diet!

I feel uneasy about re-ordering NB Potaty & Duck now. But I don't have much choice. It's one of the very few kibbles my grain-intolerant boy can eat, and he actually likes it.

I really had hoped companies like NB would have learned a bit more from the disastrous events of the pet food recall last year. They should be sitting up and taking notice the moment a customer reports an unusual reaction to one of their products.
 

janobonano

I've fed Rupert NB Potato & Duck (regular size kibble) for quite a while now, and the kibble color varies with each bag. However, Rupert has never turned up his nose at a new bag.

Could you tell me how large the regular size kibble pieces are?

I'm wondering whether they would also be suitable for my dogs. My boy doesn't mind larger kibble; he even copes with the Wellness Core and they are whoppers. 

FussyPoodles

But a shift from a dark brown to a light orangy-brown color? That's a major shift.

The one statement from the company I am not at all happy about is the one about dark and light meats. Surely they should be using the same type of meat and meat meal consistently? The dark and light parts of any poultry have very different nutritional value - I know because I do the nutritional analysis for my dogs' home-cooked diet!

Awe someone who sees this reply as I do..... Its a MAJOR shift trust me when Im telling this..... To much of a shift and it smells different too. Also when she is talking about meat such as Turkey in the reply I clearly stated I use only Duck and Potato. They seem to pass the email on to another person and Im not going to keep repeating myself. I told them were the food was purchased and that they could do the tracking cause I took it all back.

terrierlover

(i.e. stored in high temps, exposed to moisture, or even a pin size whole on the bag)

 They seem to keep missing that I bought 3 bags..... and all were the same.... it wasn't just one bag....

FussyPoodles

feel uneasy about re-ordering NB Potaty & Duck now. But I don't have much choice. It's one of the very few kibbles my grain-intolerant boy can eat, and he actually likes it.

 That is why I don't switch cause Max does great on it... the kibble in flat round shape about the size of your thumb nail is about the best way I can discribe it.

Iv asked NB 3 times in each email to call the location in which I bought it from since I returned the bags. I still have piece of kibble here in the container I keep the bag in.... HUGE difference and I even offered to mail it to them :) LOL