Natural Balance Pet Foods Inc. of Pacoima, Calif., on June 18 issued a voluntary recall of Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food because of the potential risk of Salmonella contamination. The recall involves: 5-POUND BAG Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food Bag UPC Code: 7-23633-99000-4 Bale UPC Code: 7-23633-99003-5 Best By Date: June 17, 2011 28-POUND BAG Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food Bag UPC Code: 7-23633-99002-8 Best By Date: June 17, 2011 The recalled product was distributed only in pet specialty stores in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. No illnesses have been reported, according to Natural Balance Pet Foods. The recall is a response to a product sample testing positive for Salmonella in a random test conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Joey Herrick, president of Natural Balance Pet Foods, wrote in a letter posted on the company website: “Upon hearing from the FDA, I immediately went to our director of Customer Service, a licensed registered veterinary technician, to check call logs for any complaints with this product. Our Customer Service department closely tracks and monitors complaints for any potential issues, and I heard no reports in our weekly meetings, so I was not surprised when I found we did not have a single complaint about this product.” Herrick said retention samples were sent to a third-party laboratory. Those results, also posted on the company website, came back negative, he said. Herrick said he reported the test results and call logs to the FDA, but a recall was still recommended because of the agency’s positive result. Consumers who bought the recalled are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only a decreased appetite, a fever and abdominal pain, according to the company. Natural Balance Pet Foods is asking pet owners to contact their veterinarian if their pet consumed the recalled product and has any symptoms. People handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they don't thoroughly washed their hands after touching surfaces exposed to a contaminated product, according to the company. Questions can be directed to Natural Balance Pet Foods Customer Service at 800-829-4493 or by visiting NaturalBalanceInc.com.
