Nutro Products issues voluntary recall

By MARGIE TRAX PAGE - Staff Writer - mtrax@starbeacon.com
Star Beacon

June 01, 2009 08:05 pm

— Nutro Products, the maker of Nutro Natural Choice Complete Care and Nutro Max dry cat foods, issued a voluntary recall of its products in May because of incorrect zinc and potassium levels in its dry cat food, the company reports.
“(The recall) has us concerned,” veterinary assistant Christine Warner said. “Zinc and potassium are harsh metals that can be toxic.”
Warner works for the Country Doctor Veterinary Clinic in Jefferson.
The Nutro company reports food with “best if used dates” between May 12, 2010, and Aug. 22, 2010, are affected by the recall for possible mineral contamination and notes that the error resulted from a U.S.-based premix supplier.
The food was distributed to retail stores and veterinarians in all 50 states. The recall doesn’t affect the company’s dog food or wet cat food, or dog or cat treats, Nutro reports.
“One premix contained excessive levels of zinc and under-supplemented potassium,” a statement from Nutro reveals. “The second premix under-supplemented potassium. Both zinc and potassium are essential nutrients for cats and are added as nutritional supplements.”
Warner said overfeeding zinc, or potassium, can cause kidney problems in animals.
“Cat owners who feed the Nutro dry cat food should change cat food immediately, “ Warner said.
In a written statement, the Nutro company said cat owners should monitor their cats for symptoms or potential health concerns.
“While we have received no consumer complaints related to this issue, cat owners should monitor their cat for symptoms, including a reduction in appetite or refusal of food, weight loss, and vomiting or diarrhea,” the statement reads.
Warner called Nutro’s line of dry cat food “a premium product” and said the food is popular with breeders.
Nutro will give refunds or exchanges for the recalled cat food. Customers can return the cat food to the store where it was purchased. For more information on the recall or to see if a bag of cat food is included in the recall, call 1-800-833-5330 or visit www.nutroproducts.com and click on “recall.”
Warner said the employees at the Country Doctor Veterinary Clinic encourage the users of Nutro dry cat-food products to double-check their bags of food.
“Better safe than sorry,” she said.