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 are involved for dogs, cats, and ferrets. Affected brands include California Natural, EVO, HealthWise, and Innova.

The FDA has now confirmed the recall 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 Procter & 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. The quality of ingredients is usually much higher, and so is the 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 typically focus on human-grade quality foods that do not contain grains, such as corn or wheat (which are not suitable for a carnivore’s diet), and whose protein sources are of higher quality.

The best way to locate such a store is to visit the website of a high-quality food manufacturer and use their zip code search to find the store closest to you that carries their brand. Likely, the store will also carry other high-quality foods.

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 others have more relaxed standards.

Below 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?

Note: the lists are not completely up-to-date, for example, Merrick is one I no longer feed my companions since the buyout. I am keeping the links to the articles because they contain other good information. I do have a list of my own at the end of my article Why Feeding Natural Foods to Your Dog or Cat is Best.

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Want to learn how to walk in harmony with the natural world, connect more deeply with animals, restore balance to your life, increase intuitive skills, and help heal the Earth? Take a look at my live Reiki and shamanic virtual classes and digital workshops.

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A WILD WAY TO HEAL
Rose De Dan, Wild Reiki and Shamanic Healing LLC is an animal communicator, Reiki Master Teacher, shamanic energy healer, and author of Tails of a Healer: Animals, Reiki and Shamanism and Out of the Darkness and Other Animal Tails. Her classes, sessions, and ceremonial work are inspired by wild and domestic animals who have issued a call to action for personal and global healing.