Important Dog Food Recall-May 7,2012

[Cathy w/Shiloh~Cody]

 

Here is info that I received today from my dogs breeder. Please keep up to date on this recall.  
Unfortunately, another widespread pet food recall has been announced.  At this time, it is a voluntary recall including 14 different pet food brands sold in more than 40 states due to possible salmonella contamination.  The pet food brands involved in this recall are listed below:
- 4Health
- Apex
- Canidae
- Chicken Soup For the Pet Lover's Soul
- Country Value
- Diamond
- Diamond Naturals
- Kaytee Fort-Diets
- Kirkland
- Natural Balance
- Premium Edge
- Professional
- Taste Of The Wild
- Wellness
In addition, according to The Center for Disease Control, 14 people in nine states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis. The CDC reported that multiple brands of dry pet food produced by Diamond Pet Foods at a single manufacturing facility have been linked to some of these infections.
We want to reassure you that this recall does not affect any of our Life’s Abundance products that we endorse. Life's Abundance employ numerous safety and quality controls to ensure the highest quality of there products.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Cathy, thank you for posting this.

We do have several discussions in the forums with this information, as well as full information on all recalls in The Food Group current recall section.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is the most recent information, with all lot numbers and recalls :

http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/dog-food-recall/diamond-dog-food-reca...

 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

After rereading your breeder's email, it kind of looks like maybe someone is taking advantage of the recalls to do a little advertising for Life's Abundance. Breeders make a commission on it when you order, so their opinion on it is not exactly impartial. It is sold through a multilevel marketing scheme, otherwise known as a pyramid scheme.

Please be aware that the company that manufactures Life's Abundance does not own its own facility, and the manufacturing  is contracted out to other facilities.

 

[Shannon and Finn]

Karen, couldn't agree with you more! I have definitely noticed some selective sharing of information from people that sell Life's Abundance, for example neglecting to tell people that many of these recalled foods didn't make it to our area in Denver, rather using it as an opportunity to sell their food.  I saw a breeder message to clients today that said this:  "I just received an email from Life's Abundance about this expanded recall. It is including Taste Of the Wild that I remember someone on this page say they feed it. LA is made in their own factory and most dog food is made in a hand full of large factories. This is one of many reasons why I trust it over other food. This is the text I received;Unfortunately, another widespread pet food recall has been announced. At this time, it is a voluntary recall including 14 different pet food brands sold in more than 40 states due to possible salmonella contamination. The pet food brands involved in this recall are listed below:

- 4Health
- Apex
- Canidae
- Chicken Soup For the Pet Lover's Soul
- Country Value
- Diamond
- Diamond Naturals
- Kaytee Fort-Diets
- Kirkland
- Natural Balance
- Premium Edge
- Professional
- Taste Of The Wild
- Wellness

In addition, according to The Center for Disease Control, 14 people in nine states have been infected with the outbreak strain of Salmonella Infantis. The CDC reported that multiple brands of dry pet food produced by Diamond Pet Foods at a single manufacturing facility have been linked to some of these infections."

I never trust anyone who leaves out the whole story, people should be given all the information to make their own choice rather than be scared or intimidated into thinking Life's Abundance is the only food a "good, responsible" owner would feed their dog.  Ridiculously deceptive and shameful marketing, particularly since it costs so much money and is likely a big sacrifice for many owners.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is the same message that was "broadcast" to all members of another doodle website owned by a breeder who sells the food. It really seems in bad taste to me. If they just wanted to advise people of the recalls, leave off the advertising.

Life's Abundance is a mediocre food which shrouds the source of the ingredients in secrecy. It costs so much because of the multi-tiered commission program. Take a look at this detailed explanation of the whole "compansation plan"  pyramid scheme, from their own website, under the "Opportunity" section. It is a real eye-opener, and explains why the price is so high; there are an axful lot of people making commission on every bag:

http://www.lifesabundance.com/ftpdocs/compensation-plan.pdf

If the person who is recommending a food benefits from your buying it, how much faith can you put in their opinion?

 

 

 

[Shannon and Finn]

It is so hard for people to realize that the breeder gets the kickback since the "click here to order" on the breeder site sends you to a what appears to be the LA page.  If you haven't ever been asked to sell a product, you don't realize that this is the "breeders" or "reps" product site so they get the commission.  20% commission ain't too shabby!

This is exactly why have have never been able to sell commissioned products to my clients.  I get asked all the time and but feel I would have a hard time maintaining ethical standards if I tailored my advice to a product instead of the individual.  Putting a price on integrity is a hard business.  I can still recommend certain products that I believe in and know about the company, ingredients, etc. but one size never fits all.  Apparently some can make it fit at 20% kickback!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I had the same problems when I was working; lunch dates to discuss my selling their nutritional supplements to my clients. You can tell a lot about how educated someone is on the subject of health and nutrition by what they order for lunch, lol.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Also, the same company that makes Life's Abundance makes Nu-Vet vitamins. I have seen breeder contracts that stipulate that the health warranty is only valid if the owner gives the dog Nu-Vet vitamins. It's kind of ironic (if the food is so great, why does the dog need extra vitamins?), but mostly bad business practices, since th breeder makes a commission by forcing the dog owenr to buy the product.

 

[Shannon and Finn]

Making a warranty dependent on a product you earn commission on seems so shady.  It is one reason I didn't buy or Guardian for a breeder that otherwise seemed spectacular.  Vitamins, odor removers, breath mints (seriously?), antioxidant health bars (really?), treats, shampoos, hats...never knew a healthy dog on a quality food that needed all these products.  Not to say that it's the worst food available (except cost mark ups) but typically quality companies would make food and probably treats, period.  Where do they produce their food, out of curiosity? Obviously it's not easy to find on their website.

Aggressive, shady, scare tactic focused marketing is one of my buttons, can you tell?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This is one company that cites "proprietary information" when you ask about the source of their ingredients, the plant where the food is made on contract for them, etc., but from what I have been able to gather, many of their products (Trilogy is the company) are made by a company that specializes in "private label" lines , much like the lines of creams and make-up (eye shadows, etc in individual round containers) that you see in small private boutiques and salons with the store's name on them; the same company makes all of them and just puts "Shannon's Shadows", "Karen's Cosmetics", etc. on the packaging for you.

It's not a bad food, judging by the label; it just isn't a great food, and for that price, it should be.

[Shannon and Finn]

I figured that was the case based on their marketing.  I remember a company wanting me to do private label protein bar sales and it felt icky.  I saw LA was a Florida company and imagine they aren't as immune from recalls as they position themselves to be.  Although they probably have a lot of money in their legal department (vs smaller dog food based companies) and so they may not communicate or voluntarily recall foods, just an assumption.  They certainly have a lot of money in the company based on their "owners" and sponsored vets who "formulate" their products. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good for you for exposing this again!