Natura Pet Foods has issued a recall on some of its dry food products which may have been contaminated with salmonella. At least 20 products for dogs, cats and ferrets are involved. Affected brands include California Natural, EVO, HealthWise, and Innova.

The recall has now been confirmed by the FDA in a news release dated March 18, 2013 which contains a complete list of the products affected with UPC code, lot numbers and what to do if you have one.

I have not recommended ANY of Natura’s foods to my clients since they were purchased in 2010 by Proctor and Gamble (see Blindsided: Farewell Natura Pet Foods, Hello Corporate Bottom Line? for my reasons why).

With so many recalls affecting major manufacturers how do you choose a quality food?

Generally speaking you want to avoid giant conglomerates such as P&G and stick with companies whose entire focus is on pet food. Quality of ingredients is usually much higher and so is quality control for possible contaminants.

One way to bypass the corporate giants is to avoid purchasing commercial foods from supermarkets, large pet store chains, or “box” stores. Instead, seek out so-called small “pet boutiques.” These usually focus on human grade quality foods that do not contain grains such as corn or wheat (which do not belong in the diet of any carnivore) and whose protein sources are of a higher quality.

The best way to locate such a store is to visit the website of a high-quality food such as Taste of the Wild and use their zip code search to find the store closest to you that carries their brand. Chances are very good that the store will also be carrying other quality foods as well.

However, due diligence is required. Some stores do the homework for you, staying on top of the latest news and only carrying foods that offer your companion the very best nutritional support for a happy, healthy life, while the standards of others are more relaxed.

Here are links to two articles written by West Seattle veterinary acupuncturist Lena McCullough that can help you make the healthiest choices for your animal companion and that offer guidance for how to make the switch.

How do I pick the best food for my cat’s health?

How do I pick the best food for my dog’s health?

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©2013 Rose De Dan. All Rights Reserved. www.reikishamanic.com

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Think Outside the Cage
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About Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing:

In private practice since 1996, Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing, is a mesa carrier in the Peruvian shamanic tradition, animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, author and artist. As an animal shaman she views her mission as one of building bridges between people and animals through healing sessions, classes, ceremonies and events such as A Walk on the Wild Side: Answering the Call of the Wild.

Rose’s book Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism features heartwarming stories about animals and their role in her evolution as an energy worker and shamanic healer.

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