Laboratory tests on the Natural Balance products indicated that they contained melamine. Natural Balance doesn't use wheat gluten, but recently began using rice protein concentrate, which the testing indicated had melamine.
The rice protein was distributed in the United States by Wilbur-Ellis Company. On Sunday, the San Francisco company found a bag with the word "melamine" stenciled on the side in a shipment of rice protein concentrate it had received from China.
The bag tested positive for melamine, and the company has sealed the rest of the shipment in a warehouse until it completes safety tests, Wilbur-Ellis said on its Web site.
Yes a new additive has been contaminated!
Thanks for your post. We just switched our Pug from Iams Mini-chunks to Natural Balance Ultra Premium Dry Dog Food. She loves it, and seems to doing just fine on it.
From the Only Natural Pet Store site - http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/recall.aspx
Pet Food Recall Information
Natural Balance Venison Formula Food & Treat Recall
Natural Balance is issuing a voluntary recall of the following foods and treats:
Venison & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food
Venison & Brown Rice Canned Dog Food
Venison & Brown Rice Dog Treats
Venison & Green Pea Dry Cat Food
Venison & Green Pea Canned Cat Food is not affected as it does not contain the contaminated ingredient.
Natural Balance has indicated that Friday, April 13th, they began receiving reports of vomiting and kidney problems in cats and dogs eating the dry venison formulas. Natural Balance has confirmed that some production runs of the Venison & Brown Rice dry dog food products contain melamine. The source of the melamine appears to be a rice protein concentrate which was recently added to the dry venison formulas. Natural Balance does not use wheat gluten, which was associated with the previous melamine contamination (see below).
None of Natural Balance’s other dry formulas, none of their other canned or roll products and none of their other treats are involved with this voluntary recall. None of the other formulas contain rice protein concentrate. Natural Balance will continue to work closely with the FDA and we will continue to update this page as we have additional information.