FDA Investigates Nutro Pet Food
There is no recall on this food, but it’s important that you as a consumer have all the information on a product so you can make an informed decision before you purchase it.
On April 20, 2009 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confirmed that it is investigating Nutro® pet food products following consumer allegations that Nutro® food products have caused pets to become sick or die. The consumer complaints began over 2 years ago. Some of the symptoms reported include gastrointestinal problems, difficulty in urination, and lethargy.
Nutro®, which is owned by Mars Inc., has denied that its food is to blame for these pets’ illnesses. For concerned customers, the company can be reached at 1-800-833-5330.
Consumeraffairs.com, an independent online consumer news and resource center, also asked Dr. Steven Hansen, a veterinary toxicologist with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), to review some of the Nutro complaints. Dr. Hansen stated that the cases of alleged Nutro illnesses and deaths are “not consistent and appear to be anecdotal with no real definitive diagnostic findings.” Dr. Hansen then added, “This does appear to us to be a situation where bad things happen, but they are not likely food-related.”
While no conclusions can be drawn at this point, if you are feeding your dog Nutro products, please use caution and stay informed about the latest updates as the FDA’s investigation continues.
For more in-depth information read the full article on the Consumer Affairs site. Thank you to Abby for barking this to me.
*Tribble waiting for kibble
This isn’t the first time Nutro or Mars has been implicated in bad food is it?
Oh no, I hope that it isn’t something bad again. I don’t give Binx that brand at all anymore after he ate tainted food that last time and got really sick, but I would sure hate to hear that someone else’s pet that they adore so got sick.
I have now bought the 3rd bag of Nutro cat food and my cats avoid it. ONly eat when they are very hungry. I now wonder if there is something wrong with it?!
Very interesting and thanks http://www.doggedhealth.com for letting us know
I bought Nutro for my cat sometime ago but he wasn’t fond of it and he didnt feel well after he ate some so I stopped giving it to him. I wished I could feed him raw food but he’s not used to other food than commercial. Does anyone try “holistic select”?
Nutro was in the middle of the whole Menu Foods scandal back in March 2007, two years ago…
thanks for this info. I feed my dog Nutro for puppies and haven’t had any problems. Thank you for informing us and please keep us posted if there are dog foods we need to watch out for.
Actually, this blog started a link to recall information back when all of this started in 2007. It’s on the right hand side of the screen, titled:
Pet Food Recall Info Center
I stoped feeding the canned in 2007, and made my own, but I was never told that the dry was effected, and I was buying Nutro Lamb, and Rice, and I’m still buying it now, but as of today, when I heard on the news about Nutro, I will be changing to Blue Buffalo. I think that it is a shame that we can’t be notified other than the TV. If anything happenes to my little dogs I would be so heartbroken.
Wow. I checked into this a few months ago and thought maybe there was nothing to it. Just to be safe I started making my own dog food and then switched brands.
I’ve always fed my 2 chihuahua’s(over a year now) Lamb Meal & Rice Dry food as they never had a problem with it and there was not recalls on any DRY food, so I will continue to feed That.. And our cats our on healthy weight indoor dry food and I will not change either..
Unless there happens to be a recall for dry, will forever continue to feed it as they are all healthy, and excellent stool & skin..
Can not afford more of that expensive brands like that blue buffalo, or wellness or whatever dog food people claim to be excellent…not for the price no…
All together we have 9 dogs, but the other 7 are on Kirkland.
According to the Nutro web site, the FDA is NOT investigating Nutro and I have been unable to find anywhere on the web that the FDA actually is.
I have 6 Bernese Mountain Dogs who eat Nutro Natural Choice, and have since 2000. No problems. So naturally, I’m concerned.
I have been feeding my dog Nutro for over two years and have never had any problems. I don’t find that an independent online consumer survery is a very reliable source for information. I’m confident that the FDA will not find anything wrong with Nutro Pet Food.
Nutro has been in business for years, it doesnt appear to me that they are trying to make a fast buck and disappear. Doesn’t it make sense that they would make every effort to produce a quality product so that we would continue to buy their product for the long term? Not to mention that Nutro is owned by the Mars company, you know M&M’s, Snickers, Pedigree? This is not some fly by night company. This just doesn’t add up to me. Until I see something official from the FDA my babies will continue to eat the food they love, Nutro.
I had 2 cats die while feeding them Nutro – Now I have a new cat and I will never buy Nutro again. I don’t know if it is related but it was enough of a coincidence to change my buying habits.
The terms “investigating” and “probe” may be part of the problem. Semantics are important to a govt agency. They may be “looking into” a problem but will deny investigating. We must read between the lines. Better safe than sorry.
Time will tell.
Cliches ring true!
We just brought our dog home from the hospital today with acute end stage kidney failure. He ate ONLY Nutro Natural Choice– no treats, no chews because we don’t trust the source. He started throwing up and exhibiting the symptoms in the article last week. The ultrasound showed no tumors but toxicity is suspected. He stays at home and goes out only in the backyard, supervised all the time. Nutro was great, and our dog’s health and coat were great, right until our last 30# bag….
I stopped feeding Nutro all together after I found recalled canned food in my cupboard a year ago. I am now feeding Wellness and hoping that it is a good food for my girls.
Why would anyone insist on buying a pet food that their pet won’t eat? Your pet has a great nose — if the food doesn’t smell right the pet isn’t going to want it and shouldn’t be Made to eat it. Take the food back to the retailer and try something else! In regard to feeding more expensive brands… if the food has been tested,and has claims that are verifiable, it’s going to be more expensive. But in the long run it may prove to be cheaper than lots of trips to the vet to find out what’s wrong with your pet. Cases in point: urinary tract problems in cats when the food is not properly balanced for P.H. Levels. Renal problems in dogs aggravated by high levels of phosphorous in some dog foods (do not feed a senior dog lamb for this reason).
If you love your pet feed your pet food the best food you can ….
Maybe the food is rancid. Keep a few samples, send them in for analysis… ask your vet for advice about this. Never make your pet eat what he/she refuses. your pet has a far more sensitive nose than you do! Leaving food out to Make your pet eat it — when he/she is starving — is not a good solution. Food left out can turn rancid.
Just don’t be feed your pets highly flavorful pet treats (like sausage or bacon smelling) and expect your pet to like healthy food. If you are going to eat pepperoni treats–do you think you’re going to want something less flavorful?
Nutro has not been owned by Mars for very long. Keep that in mind.
Have not had any troubles at all with Nutro.
My cat cant get enough of it…seems to be very palatable.
Have always purchased Natural Choice Complete Care. On May 19 went to Petsmart for another bag. Unfortunately this bag is being recalled. Last night I got home to find vomit and dihrea throughout the house. However I didn’t know until after a visit to the doctor. He seems to being doing better this morning. They put him on antibiotics and ran some tests. He was one sick kitty. Will I purchase Natural Choice again? I dont know yet.
I was feeding my dog sadie Nutro Natural choice Chiken, rice& oatmeal for sensitive stomachs and she took ill vomiting, I took her to the vet and they said she ate something bad.
My niece also feeds her dog same food and her dog took ill and her vet said her dog ate something bad.
I have taken my dog off of this brand food and put her on something else.
I would like to hear from anyone if they had the same problem please email me…..
Please email me if anyone had the same problem with this dog food at colleenrosen@hotmail.com
I am a 5 year old dog that is allergic to everything. I put her on the Nutro Lamb & Rice years ago & she was fine until last month. In horror I ran her to the vet when she started with severe diarrhea and vomitting. Her energy level was always fine. They did blood work and thought it to be some type of bacteria. She was only tons of medicine for days. She eventually stopped vomitting, but her stool remained soft. She also began to not really eat the food. I thought she was just being picky after having a week of boiled chicken and rice. I finally called the vet today because I just had a feeling. He asked if I had heard anything about her food being recalled, etc. On his advice I did a quick google search and am shocked to realize how many animals are going through the same thing!!! This is horrible. I WILL NEVER FEED HER NUTRO AGAIN. Even if I have to buy a more expensive brand, the savings in emergency vets visits and medication, as well as a happy healthy dog, will make up for it.
All of that being said, anyone have a dog with similar dietary needs have another food to recommend?
I have two small shih tzus and one began vomiting yellow bile (she is 7 yrs old and on Nutro for about 5 months) and has no appetite but is drinking water. I have been feeding Nutro for sensitive stomachs. I am very worried for her and will switch to natural balance venison and sweet potato. Hopefully this will help her. I read consumer report on Nutro and am confused so will not be taking any more chances with Nutro. I will post again after results with Natural Balance. So far my other shih tzu is not affected by Nutro but I have noticed she has began chewing her feet and isn’t eating as much of her food. Will see if Natural balance is any better. Watch for my post in a few weeks with results.