The Dog Food Project
We have to be, if we claim to be our dog's best friends, the kind of friend we would like for ourselves. - Suzanne Clothier
A better food makes a big difference!

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How does your Dog Food Brand compare?

Are you concerned about the dry food your dog is eating? Looking for detailed information about certain food ingredients? Confused about inconsistent information about dogfood from pet food manufacturers? Need help comparing dog food brands and finding a better one?

Then you are exactly where I was when I first heard about the disgusting materials some pet food manufacturers put into their products. I picked up a bag of Science Diet and consciously looked at the ingredient list for the first time. Even without any previous knowledge I could see that it did not include any real meat and was preserved with the same chemicals I avoid in human food products. I never bought another bag of Science Diet and started researching and comparing products. One of the things I learned was that any commercial sources are best avoided if you want hard facts, not biased "infomercial" style sales pitches trying to sell you one product or another. Hopefully you will find this site helpful, make up your own mind about different food brands and their quality, choose a better food and who knows - maybe even save some money.

Questions? Feel free to send me an email!

Blast from the Past: old Diamond inspection report
May 09th, 2012 at 12:59:25 pm

Today I was reading through the old posts in the Dog Food Project's news archive for a while and came across this inspection report of Diamond's Gaston plant in 2005/2006.
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/AboutFDA/C ... 061775.pdf

Aflatoxin in 2005, melamine in 2007, salmonella in 2012.

Yet people continue to spend their hard earned cash on products to support this company that obviously has major issues. If a food seems less expensive by comparison to similar products, there's usually a reason. be aware.

Visit our forum and the news archive.

Solid Gold Product added to the Diamond recall
May 08th, 2012 at 1:27:26 pm

http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303371.htm

Solid Gold WolfCub Large Breed Puppy Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 33 lb, with a best before date of December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGB1201


4 lb identifying UPC 093766750005

15 lb identifying UPC 093766750012

33 lb identifying UPC 093766750029

Solid Gold WolfKing Large Breed Adult Dog Food, 4 lb, 15 lb, and 28.5 lb, with a best before date of December 30, 2012 and batch code starting with SGL1201


4 lb identifying UPC 093766750050

15 lb identifying UPC 093766750067

28.5 lb identifying UPC 093766750081

Visit our forum and the news archive.

Additional Diamond-manufactured products recalled
May 07th, 2012 at 12:48:28 pm

Sorry I'm posting this so late, dear readers - unfortunately I was absent and offline all weekend!

The salmonella-related recall of foods made by Diamond has been expanded:
http://diamondpetrecall.com/

Diamond's own brands:
Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul
Country Value
Diamond
Diamond Naturals
Premium Edge
Professional
Taste of the Wild

4Health - Private Label for Tractor Supply Co:
http://www.tractorsupply.com/content/st ... ts/4health
To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production codes on the back of bags that have a number “2” or a “3” in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 10th or 11th position. The best-before dates for the recalled brands listed above are December 9, 2012 through April 7, 2013.

Kirkland Signature - private label for Costco:
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Lamb, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Adult Dog Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Mature Dog Chicken, Rice & Egg Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Dog Formulated with Chicken & Vegetables (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Maintenance Cat Chicken & Rice Formula (Best Before December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
Kirkland Signature Super Premium Healthy Weight Cat Formula (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain Salmon Meal & Sweet Potato Formula for Dogs (December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013)
To determine if their pet food is recalled, consumers should check the production codes on the back of bags must have both a number “3” in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 11th position. The best-before dates for the recalled brands listed are December 9, 2012 through January 31, 2013.

Wellpet LLC - Wellness
Wellness Complete Health® Super5Mix® Large Breed Puppy, 15 lb. and 30 lb. bags and 5 oz. sample bags with best by dates of JAN 9 2013 through JAN 11 2013.
Best by dates (lot codes) can be found on the back of the bag in the bottom right-hand corner.
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303039.htm

Canidae
The below list of product with production codes that must have both a number “3” in the 9th position AND an “X” in the 10th or 11th position with best before dates of December 9, 2012, through January 31, 2013 which are being recalled.
Canidae Dog, All Life Stages
Canidae Dog, Chicken Meal & Rice
Canidae Dog, Lamb Meal & Rice
Canidae Dog, Platinum
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303063.htm

Natural Balance Pet Foods
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303042.htm

5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88650-5
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 12, 2013

• 15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88615-4
Lot Code NBH0101 Best By Date: March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH1203 Best By Date: December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88628-4
Lot Code NBH0101 Best By Date: March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
Lot Code NBH0102 Best By Date: March 7, 2013; March 8, 2013
Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 12, 2013
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH1203 Best By Date: December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78755-0
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

• 15 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78715-4
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012;
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78728-4
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-65553-8
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

• 15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-61718-5
Lot Code NBT1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-63031-3
Lot Code NBT1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog UPC# 7-23633-80855-2
Lot Code NBV1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites
UPC# 7-23633-44443-9
Lot Code NLB1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012
Lot Code NLB1203 Best By Date: December 20, 2012; December 21, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites
UPC# 7-23633-42300-7
Lot Code NSL1201 Best By Date: December 21, 2012

• 12.5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites UPC# 7-23633-42301-4
Lot Code NSL1201 Best By Date: December 21, 2012

Apex Pet Foods
Description Size Production Code Best By Date
Apex Chicken and Rice Dog 40 lb. ACD0101B32 24-Jan-2013
Apex Chicken and Rice Dog 20 lb. ACD0101B32 24-Jan-2013
http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ucm303061.htm

Visit our forum and the news archive.

Diamond Recall Expanded
April 30th, 2012 at 7:38:26 pm

http://www.diamondpet.com/information/

Diamond Naturals Lamb Meal & Rice – dry dog food:

6lb - DLR0101D3XALW, "Best Before" Date 04 Jan 2013 


20lb - DLR0101C31XAG, "Best Before" Date 03 Jan 2013 


40lb - DLR0101C31XMF, "Best Before" Date 03 Jan 2013 


40lb - DLR0101C31XAG, "Best Before" Date 03 Jan 2013 


40lb - DLR0101D32XMS, "Best Before" Date 04 Jan 2013

Distributed in:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
Maryland
Michigan
New York
North Carolina
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Virginia

Diamond Puppy Formula – dry dog food:

6oz Samples – DPP0401


8 lb – DPP0401B2XALW, "Best Before" Date 07 Apr 2013 


20 lb – DPP0101C31XRB, "Best Before" Date 11 Jan 2013


20 lb – DPP0101C31XME, "Best Before" Date 11 Jan 2013


20 lb – DPP0401B22XJW, "Best Before" Date 06 Apr 2013


40 lb – DPP0101C31XME, "Best Before" Date 11 Jan 2013


40 lb – DPP0401B22XJW, "Best Before" Date 06 Apr 2013


40 lb – DPP0401A21XAW, "Best Before" Date 06 Apr 2013


40 lb – DPP0401B21XDJ, "Best Before" Date 07 Apr 2013

Distributed in:

Alabama
Florida
North Carolina
Ohio
Georgia
Kentucky
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Maryland
Michigan
Tennessee
Virginia

Visit our forum and the news archive.

The next Diamond recall: Chicken Soup
April 26th, 2012 at 11:47:49 pm

http://chickensoupforthepetloverssoul.com/information

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Issues Voluntary Recall

Recall is limited to one formula of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul distributed to 10 states

Diamond Pet Foods is recalling one production run of Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food. One bag of the product has tested positive for Salmonella, and the recall of the four production codes is being conducted as a precautionary measure.

We encourage consumers who have purchased Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food with the specific production codes and best before dates to discard the product. Diamond Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may have caused our customers and their dogs. No dog illnesses have been reported.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula – dry dog food:

35 lb - CLF0102B31XCW, Best by Date 27/JAN/2013

35 lb - CLF0102B31XCW, Best by Date 28/JAN/2013

35 lb - CLF0102B32XWR, Best by Date 28/JAN/2013

6 lb - CLF0102B3XALW, Best by Date 28/JAN/2013

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul Adult Light Formula dry dog food is manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods and was distributed in Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, who may have further distributed the product to other states, through pet food channels. The company is working directly with distributors and retailers who carry these products to remove them from the supply chain.

Visit our forum and the news archive.

Merrick Pet Care, Inc. Acquires Castor & Pollux
April 18th, 2012 at 3:22:13 pm

Another sad twist on the pet food market - Merrick bought Castor & Pollux.

I'm not happy about this development, as Merrick isn't exactly a company that has earned my respect and trust over the years while investigating the commercial pet food industry.

Add one more small, independent brand to the list of corporate giants.

Visit our forum and the news archive.






Canine Nutrition Consulting

Due to concerns about food recalls, discount on basic consultations (canned and dry food)!

Available options include recipes for home prepared diets, cooked and raw, individually designed and balanced for your dog, according to the newest nutritional guidelines of the National Research Council (2006).

Check out BetterDogCare.com and contact me today for a consultation.

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Report on the Dog Nutrition Seminar

Calgary, AB, Canada September 23rd, 2007

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