Melamine in Rice Protein Concentrate Prompts Natural Balance Recall

PACOIMA, Calif. -- Natural Balance here issued a recall of all of its venison dog products and its dry venison cat food after lab results showed the products contain melamine. Natural Balance does not use wheat gluten, which was associated with the previous melamine contamination. Rice protein concentrate is believed to be the source of the melamine in the Natural Balance products. The recall was prompted by consumer complaints received by Natural Balance involving cats and dogs that developed kidney failure after eating the affected product. “Although the problems seem to be focused on a particular production period of the venison products, over the last four days we have notified our distributors and retailers by phone and e-mail to immediately stop selling and return all recalled Venison dog foods and treats and the Venison dry cat food,” said a statement issued by Natural Balance. Natural Balance‘s announcement comes a day after the Food and Drug Administration, Washington, released a statement advising pet owners who are wondering what to feed their pets that although many different types of pet food are affected by the recall, the recalled products represent only about 1% of the total pet food available for purchase. The FDA cited the Pet Food Institute, the trade association for pet food manufacturers, as its source.