Pet Food Recalls

PetSmart is voluntarily recalling the following products:

The recalled products include only the following types of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits sold between Aug. 21, 2008 and Jan. 19, 2009:

• Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900
• Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb., UPC 73725700601
• Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700605
• Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb., UPC 73725702755
• Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700638
• Extra Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700779
• Peanut Butter 4 lb., UPC 73725700766

Customers who purchased the recalled dog biscuit products should discontinue use immediately and can return the product to any PetSmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com for more information or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.

Pet Food Product Recalls
Carolina Prime
Carolina Prime Pet
Grreat Choice
Happy Tails
Healthy Hide
Healthy-hide Deli-wrap
Salix
Shoppers Valu

---

Nutro recall not related to FDA investigation rumors


Paul Basilio

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Nutro Products, manufacturers of Nutro pet food, voluntarily recalled select varieties of Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care dry cat foods and Nutro Max Cat dry foods with “Best If Used By Dates” between May 12, 2010, and August 22, 2010. Nutro has not received any consumer complaints related to the formulation error.

This recall does not affect any Nutro dog food products, canned dog or cat food or dog and cat treats, according to the company.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Nutro officials said the dry cat food recall was the result of a third-party production error that resulted in incorrect levels of zinc and potassium in the product. “A third-party supplier produces the premixes,” said Monica Barrett, pet specialty communications manager at Nutro Products. “We have a formula for them to follow, but the premixes were misformulated at the supplier’s [facility].”

A premix is a combination of ingredients in the diet that are preblended to ensure that they are evenly distributed in the product, Barrett said. The ingredients are typically included at low levels. Vitamins and minerals are often premixed.

Barrett said the misformulation was discovered on May 18 after an audit of documentation from the supplier. “We conducted an extensive review of all of our products that use premix from this supplier and confirmed that only two of the premixes were affected,” she said. “That led us to conduct a recall, which we announced on May 21.”

The delay, Barrett said, was to confirm the problems with the premixes. “When we became aware of the issue, we held all of the product we still had in our inventory, but we felt it was prudent to go through the checks to make sure we knew which products were impacted to get accurate information to consumers, retail partners and veterinarians.”

A press release announcing the recalled products was emailed to more than 40,000 veterinarians on May 21.

“[Nutro] has been very cooperative in enacting the voluntary recall,” said Laura Alvey, spokesperson for the FDA.

Last month, Nutro was the subject of an incorrect media report that claimed the company was being investigated by the FDA. The Internet article claimed that Nutro was being targeted for potential criminal or civil investigation into the complaints.

The FDA does not usually comment on potential or current investigations, but Alvey reiterated that Nutro is not the subject of an investigation.

For a list of recalled products, visit http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm154317.htm.