In case you don’t know, our mobile app will scan the barcode found on the back of pet food products and alert you if the product has been recalled by the FDA (get it on the Apple store or Google Play).  While gathering the data needed to build our app database, we noticed a few brands that were consistently on the recall list so this sparked our interest. Our thoughts shifted towards the brands that have NEVER been on the FDA recall list and with a little bit of research we quickly found a few brands but one stood out consistently above the rest. Orijen.

Information on Orijen

Orijen is a brand made by the Canadian company, Champion Petfoods®. They believe in feeding your pet biologically appropriate foods that match what your dog or cat would eat in their natural environment. This includes foods that are high in protein and low in carbohydrates.  Far more meat because this is what your dog or cat would primarily eat in their natural environment.

Why we picked Orijen

Orijen uses only meats that are farmed or fished by local farmers in western Canada.  Fresh meats arrive daily, never frozen and in the most natural form possible and according to the company “fit for human consumption”.  The idea of using local farmers to supply their meats with no preservatives and never being on the FDA recall list are the main reasons we switched to Orijen and our girls LOVE it!

Review

Packaging – The product comes in a vacuum sealed bag.  It’s a re-sealable bag that will help keep the food fresh by keeping air and bugs out. We found that the bag was a little difficult to reseal but after a few seconds we got it completely sealed and the seal held.

Color – We’ve tried multiple Orijen products and all of them have been the same brown color.  This is a good thing because it means that they don’t add dyes to their food.  Dyes are chemicals other pet food company’s use to make the food look appealing to humans.

Texture – Our three girls are Chihuahuas and they have no problems chewing this food.  Our heaviest is 5.5 lbs and the lightest is 3 lbs. The kibble is big enough to make them chew and it breaks off easily. This is important for us because of past experiences with other brands of dog food.  If the kibble is too small or too hard, our girls will just swallow it whole.

Smell – The food does have a strong odor but that’s due to the freshness. After all, this food is not meant to be appealing to humans.

The Cons

There are a couple of cons when it comes to Orijen and that is the price and availability. It’s true what they say, you get what you pay for. You are paying a premium for a premium grade quality food and at the end of the day, do you really want to put your pet’s health at risk in order to save a few dollars? The average price of a 15lb bag of Orijen food is around $60.  You could find it cheaper online but beware; there are some companies in China that are counterfeiting the product.  Find out more here.
Orijen is only sold at select locations here in Houston. Our local Petsmart or Petco does not carry the Orijen brand so we have to drive a few miles further to a fantastic pet shop called Woof Gang Bakery.


The Safe Pet Treats team highly recommends this product for all Dog and Cat owners. Champion Pet Foods (the makers of Orijen) has been in business for over 25 years and their values mirror that of pet owners who only wish to provide their pets with the highest quality ingredients available without the use of preservatives and other chemicals. Give Orijen a try, your pets will love it!

We also created a video of this review.  Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel if you find it helpful.

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The Safe Pet Treats app will identify this product by scanning the barcode should you happen to come across it at the pet store.  The app is available for Apple and Android devices.

The Lot Codes are located on the bottom of the bag under the Best By date as shown below:

Consumers are asked to please stop feeding this product to your pet and bring any remaining Nutro 4 oz. Apple Chewy Treats affected by this recall to your nearest PetSmart for a full refund. PetSmart sells a wide variety of treats from many brands, and our associates can help you find the right item for you and your pet.

If you have questions about this voluntary recall, please contact Nutro Customer Service at 1-800-833-5330.

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The Safe Pet Treats app will identify these products by scanning the barcode should you happen to come across it at the pet store. The app is available for Apple and Android devices.

The following product is being voluntarily recalled because of the possible presence of Salmonella.

201 cases of this product were sold to distributors, retail stores, internet retailers and directly to consumers in the U.S.

The following products did not test positive for Salmonella.

However, they are also being voluntarily recalled out of an abundance of caution. This is because they were produced in the same manufacturing facility on the same day as the product that tested positive.

These products were sold to distributors, retail stores, internet retailers and directly to consumers in the U.S. All products tested negative by a third party independent laboratory prior to release for distribution to consumers. No additional products are affected by this recall.

The company has received no reports to date of illness in either people or animals associated with these products.

The post Bravo Pet Food Recall appeared first on Safe Pet Treats | Pet Food Safety and Recalls.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – October 2, 2015 – Baltimore, MD – K-9 Kraving Dog Food has announced a voluntary recall of their Chicken Patties Dog Food shipped between July 13th – July 17th, 2015 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella andListeria monocytogenes can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The affected product was distributed to retail stores only in Maryland. No other K-9 Kraving Dog Food products are affected.

No illnesses have been reported to date. Even though no illnesses have been reported, consumers should follow the Safe Handling Instructions printed on the K-9 Kraving Dog Food package when disposing of the affected product.

K-9 Kraving Dog Food became aware of a potential issue after receiving notification from the FDA that a routine surveillance sample of Chicken Patties tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

Consumers feeding the affected product should discontinue use and monitor their pet’s health, and contact their veterinarian if they have concerns. Consumers who purchased the product can obtain a full refund or exchange by either returning the product in its original packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer.

Consumers with additional questions can call our Consumer Relations team at 1-800-675-1471 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, EST.

Robert Barrett, Chief Executive Officer of K-9 Kraving Dog Food, stated, “At K-9 Kraving Dog Food we take quality and safety very seriously. We believe that under all circumstances, health and safety comes first, and we are committed to providing the best possible nutrition for pets.”

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 30, 2015 – Deerfield, FL – Salix Animal Health, LLC today announced it has initiated a voluntary recall of one lot of “Good ‘n’ Fun – Beefhide Chicken Sticks” because it may have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The recalled “Good ‘n’ Fun – Beefhide Chicken Sticks” was distributed nationwide by Salix Animal Health to Dollar General and Dollar Tree retail stores.

The recalled product is packaged in a 2.8 ounce bag stamped on the back side with lot # AO15010 and with an expiration date of 03/2018. The UPC code is 0 91093 82247 1.

No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date. However, because of our commitment to safety and quality, Salix Animal Health is conducting a voluntary recall of this product.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Georgia Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Salmonella in one 2.8 ounce package of “Good ‘n’ Fun – Beefhide Chicken Sticks” labeled with the recalled code.

No other product is affected at this time. Customers should look at the lot code and expiration date on the product package to determine if it is subject to the voluntary recall. Customers who have purchased the product subject to this recall are urged to dispose of the product or return it for full refund.

We take our responsibility to pets and their owners seriously and as a result we are investigating the cause of this problem so that we can prevent it from occurring in the future. Salix Animal Health, is also working with retailers to ensure that the affected product is no longer sold and removed from inventory.

If you have these products, please contact Salix Animal Health’s consumer affairs team at 1-800-338-4896, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time for a refund. Customers with questions may call the consumer affairs team at the number listed above.

For press inquiries, please contact Connie Caldwell at 314-683-2460, Monday through Friday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.

The post Good ‘n’ Fun – Beefhide Chicken Sticks Recall appeared first on Safe Pet Treats | Pet Food Safety and Recalls.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – September 25, 2015 – OC Raw Dog of Rancho Santa Margarita, CA is voluntarily recalling 640 lbs. of Chicken, Fish & Produce Raw Frozen Canine Formulation. This is being done in an abundance of caution, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. No illnesses have been reported and no other OC Raw Dog manufactured products are affected.

Individuals handling raw pet food can become infected with salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or to surfaces exposed to the product. Healthy people infected with Salmonellashould monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. If a consumer exhibits these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

This voluntary recall is limited to Chicken, Fish & Produce Raw Frozen Canine Formulations that were packaged into 6.5 lb. Doggie Dozen Patties, 4 lb. Doggie Sliders, and 3 lb. Meaty Rox with the lot number 1819, and use by date of 05/05/16. These codes can be checked on the bottom left corner of the back of the package.  Distribution is limited to customers in Colorado, Vermont, and Pennsylvania and sold to consumers through independent pet specialty retailers.

The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Colorado Department of Food and Agriculture of a sample that they collected at retailer revealed the presence of Salmonella in a 3 lb. bag of “Chicken, Fish & Produce Raw Frozen Canine Formulations” Meaty Rox.  Another sample from the same lot was previously tested by the California Department of Agriculture and it had a negative Salmonella result.

If you are in possession of this recalled product please submit a picture of the package with the lot number toOlivia@ocrawdog.com for verification. Either dispose of the product immediately or return the product to the retailer where you purchased it for a replacement product.

Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-844-215-DOGS (3647) Monday thru Friday 9am – 4pm PST. If you get our automated answering system please leave a message and we will call you right back.

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FDA Recall Pet Food Products are out there

Since 2011, 956 pet food recalls have been announced by the FDA.  It is up to the manufacturer of the pet food product to contact every single retailer to have the product removed. Unfortunately, some of these products remain on the shelves of retail stores for days after the recall is announced.  Click here to check out our blog entry on a recalled product we purchased.  Arm yourself with this app to identify recalled pet food products and report them anonymously when found.

App Features

SCAN BARCODES
Every product includes a UPC/Barcode on the packaging. The next time you’re at the pet store, scan the UPC/Barcode with this app to determine if the pet food product is safe.

MANUAL SEARCH
Have you ever wondered if a certain brand of pet food has been recalled? The manual search feature is a great way to find out if your favorite pet food brand has been recalled within the last couple of years.

REPORT PRODUCT
It is very easy to just put the recalled product back on the shelf and go about your day, but why risk the health of other pets when you can report the pet food company for not having the product removed from the retail store? With the Safe Pet Treats app you will not only have the power to look after the well-being of your pet, but others also.

INSTANT ALERTS
As soon as the database is updated with a new recalled product an alert will be sent out in the form of a push notification to your smartphone.

SIMILAR PRODUCTS
A safe scan result will also give you similar product alternatives which you can purchase instantly through Amazon. These alternatives may be less expensive resulting in savings for you.

SOCIAL MEDIA SHARE
Do you know other pet lovers? Easily share the app with a few clicks through Facebook, twitter, Google+ or email.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this article with other pet owners.

The post The Safe Pet Treats App is now LIVE! appeared first on Safe Pet Treats | Pet Food Safety and Recalls.

Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products.

Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date. However, because of their commitment to safety and quality, Northwest Farm Food Cooperative is conducting a voluntary recall of this product.

The potentially affected lots of frozen raw Cat Food were sold from their facility located at 1370 S. Anacortes Street Burlington, WA 98233.

The affected products are sold in 50 pound blocks and cases of six 10 pound chubs; packaged in a white plastic bag labeled Cat Food. The products affected by this recall have the production code Jul12015B and have no UPC code. The production code can be found on the outside of the case (box).

The recall was the result of a sampling done by the Food and Drug Administration which revealed that the finished product contained the bacteria. The company has ceased the production and distribution of the product as FDA and the company continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.

This cat food recall is being made with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Consumers who have purchased the above lots of frozen raw Cat Food are urged to stop feeding them and return product to place of purchase for a full refund or dispose of them immediately. For further information about the recall please call (360) 757-4225 Monday through Friday from 9:00 am – 4:00 pm PST.

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