Here are the emails I've sent to NB regarding the recalled NB Venison & Green Pea cat food. I would recommend that anyone who has been feeding any of their Venison products call or email them just in case.

To:info@naturalbalanceinc.com

Please urgently advise the date when Rice Protein Concentrate was added as an ingredient to the NB Venison and Green Pea dry cat food. I had been using this food for the sole reason that it was grain-free.

Please note that two ferrets have died of kidney failure on this food, and one cat developed a bleeding urinary tract infection.

Thank you in advance for your prompt reply.

* * * *
----- Original Message ----
From: Betsy Martin <info@naturalbalanceinc.com>
Sent: Friday, April 20, 2007 3:14:02 AM
Subject: Natural Balance Cat Food

Thank you for your inquiry. The rice protein concentrate was added March 28 2008 to compensate for a reduced protein level in the venison. I understand your frustration in having this ingredient added to an allergy diet. As a positive side note to the recall, the rice protein will not be in further batches of the food. If you know the guardians of the pets you mentioned, please make sure they contact us about their pets. Thanks you.

Todd Wigert
toddwigert@gmail.com

* * * *

To:Betsy Martin <info@naturalbalanceinc.com>
Thank you for your prompt reply.

Are you aware that as of April 18, 2007 the "old" formula (with no rice product) was still being advertised for sale on Amazon.com, Only Natural Pet Foods, and quite possibly several other online venues.?

I would also like to inquire why you continued to claim this food contained a "single source of protein - venison" and a "single source of carbohydrates - rice" even after adding an additional source of vegetable protein to the formula?

Looking forward to your response.

Lisa Urquhart

The rice protein concentrate was added March 28 2008

Wow- this person can predict the future! 2008?

That leaves alot of room to wonder... did they mean March 2007, 2006, 2005.....?

Wow, I didn't catch that! Nice one!

I saw that , too -- added in the future!
There is simply no excuse for adding the rice to a food advertised as grain-free -- that really ticks me off.

Wow- this person can predict the future! 2008?

That leaves alot of room to wonder... did they mean March 2007, 2006, 2005.....?

That was the first thing that I noticed too.

How quickly do you think the addition would affect the animals? :confused:

Acording to the response from Todd Wirget, if he had meant to say March 28, 2007, that is 2 weeks before the recall. I would think it highly unlikely that a product would make it from the factory to the cupboards of homes and into pets so quickly.

That would leave me to believe that it had to have been added at least in 2006. Is this how most of you would understand this also?

I noticed that too. Hmm, it just gets fishier and fishier.

Wow- this person can predict the future! 2008?

That leaves alot of room to wonder... did they mean March 2007, 2006, 2005.....?

It definetely makes one wonder...

I will email back right now and ask for clarification.

I am thinking it was 2006 or that it was 2007 and the food just got to the stores fast. I know my feed store gets shippments weekly for my Diamond food, dunno if it's from the plant or his supplier, but still, it's fast.

Ok, just sent them this:

To:Betsy Martin <info@naturalbalanceinc.com>
Friday, April 20, 2007 8:45:46 AM

Further to my earlier reply to your email, I have just noticed that you state the rice protein concentrate was added March 28, 2008.

Please advise the correct date.

That was also the first thing I noted. As Amber said, it just keeps getting fishier and fishier. Ugh.

Just got their reply. At least they are responding quickly.

Re: Natural Balance Cat Food
Betsy Martin <info@naturalbalanceinc.com>V
Friday, April 20, 2007 10:11:47

2007, thanks for the heads up

Just got their reply. At least they are responding quickly.This is good to know. I bet their fingers are flying with all the email traffic this week.

That would leave me to believe that it had to have been added at least in 2006. Is this how most of you would understand this also?

Good point, it probably was 2006 or earlier because the time for shipping and manufacturing, might not allow for a on-the-shelf date of March 2007 if they were getting it from China or wherever.

I love how she adds as a positive side note, that they will no longer be putting the "poison" in their products anymore :/
As a positive side note to the recall, the rice protein will not be in further batches of the food.

Wow! It was brought to your attention poison was in your food, you recalled it and will no longer be putting poison in future batches.

This thread about adding Rice to a grain-free food reminded me of another post..... (hope it wasn't lost during the crash) Anyone remember that thread about how long companies have before they have to change the ingredients list on the packaging of their food when they have added/taken away/altered it?

This thread about adding Rice to a grain-free food reminded me of another post..... (hope it wasn't lost during the crash) Anyone remember that thread about how long companies have before they have to change the ingredients list on the packaging of their food when they have added/taken away/altered it?

That sounds familiar...and I'm COMPLETELY guessing, but I thought it was something ridiculous like 6 months before it had to show up on labels, etc.

Yes, I was also thinking it was around 6 months. Not sure, but I definitely remember being surprised that the time limit was pretty lengthy....

I'm gonna go look for it now. (I'm thinking it got lost in the crash of 2006, but I'll try)