Blue Buffalo has earned quite a good reputation among pet owners since its beginnings in 2002. The company had a modest start working to find true holistic pet solutions with the inspiration of their family dog, Blue. The Airedale terrier suffered from cancer, making his dietary needs much different from other pets.
That gave way to the search for only the best, most nutritious, holistic ingredients for pets. They worked diligently alongside animal health professionals to design food that would serve animals to their highest good. Has Blue Buffalo retained its initial commitment, still producing products for the optimal benefit of the pets we love? Let’s find out.
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Brewer, Reuben Gregg. “General Mills Is Still Paying for All That Dog Food.” Motley Fool. May 1, 2020. https://www.fool.com/investing/2020/05/01/general-mills-still-paying-for-all-that-dog-food.aspx.
Venugopal, Aishwarya. “General Mills Moves Into Pet Food With $8 Billion Blue Buffalo Deal.” Reuters. Feb. 23, 2018. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-blue-buffalo-pet-m-a-general-mills/general-mills-moves-into-pet-food-with-8-billion-blue-buffalo-deal-idUSKCN1G7185.
“About Us: The Blue Story — It’s All About Family.” Blue Buffalo. https://bluebuffalo.com/why-choose-blue/blue-story/.
Bishop, Bill. “Blue’s Bouts With Cancer.” Pet Cancer Awareness. https://petcancerawareness.org/who-we-are/our-story/.
DeGioia, Phyllis. “Blue Buffalo Advertising Draws Long History of Complaints.” VIN News. May 9, 2014. https://news.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=210&Id=6285937&useobjecttypeid=10&fromVINNEWSASPX=1.
Wall, Tim. “Purina and Blue Buffalo Settle Lawsuits After Two Years.” Pet Food Industry. Nov. 3, 2016. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/6113-purina-and-blue-buffalo-settle-lawsuits-after-two-years.
Egan, Matt. “Blue Buffalo: The Whole Foods for Pets? CNN. July 22, 2015. https://money.cnn.com/2015/07/22/investing/blue-buffalo-ipo-whole-foods/index.html.
Wall, Tim. “General Mills Pet Food Sales Hit US$368 Million in Q1 FY20.” Pet Food Industry. Sept. 18, 2019. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8511-general-mills-pet-food-sales-hit-us368-million-in-q1-fy20.
“Top Pet Food Companies Current Data.” Pet Food Industry. 2020. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/directories/211-top-pet-food-companies.
“Blue Buffalo Opens Heartland Pet Food Manufacturing Facility.” Pet Food Industry. Sept. 2, 2014. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/4467-blue-buffalo-opens-heartland-pet-food-manufacturing-facility.
“Questions & Answers: FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine’s Investigation Into a Possible Connection Between Diet and Canine Heart Disease.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). June 27, 2019. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/questions-answers-fda-center-veterinary-medicines-investigation-possible-connection-between-diet-and.
“Zakinov v. Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc.: Class Action Complaint.” ClassAction.org. June 26, 2017. https://www.classaction.org/media/zakinov-v-blue-buffalo-pet-products.pdf.
“Zakinov v. Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc.: Order Granting Defendant’s Motion to Dismiss.” Casetext. March 22, 2018. https://casetext.com/case/zakinov-v-blue-buffalo-pet-prods-inc.
Carmella, Victoria, DVM, and Godfrey Lee. “Blue Buffalo Sets the Record Straight on Product Safety.” Blue Buffalo Facebook Page. March 21, 2018. https://www.facebook.com/notes/blue-buffalo/blue-buffalo-sets-the-record-straight-on-product-safety/10155385963568359/.
Wall, Tim. “Lawsuit Over Blue Buffalo Dog Food Carbs Versus Wolf Diet.” Pet Food Industry. Jan. 24, 2020. https://www.petfoodindustry.com/articles/8829-lawsuit-over-blue-buffalo-dog-food-carbs-versus-wolf-diet.
“Melamine Pet Food Recall of 2007.” FDA. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/recalls-withdrawals/melamine-pet-food-recall-2007.
“Blue Buffalo Recalls Can and Biscuit Products Due to Tampering by American Nutrition Inc.” FDA. April 26, 2007. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/firmrecalls-bluebuffalo204_07.pdf.
Newman, Jared. “Wilton Pet Food Company Survives Recall.” Wilton (Connecticut) Villager. May 2, 2007. https://www.thehour.com/wilton/article/Wilton-pet-food-company-survives-recall-8293383.php.
“Blue Buffalo Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs Due to Potential Health Risk.” GlobeNewswire. March 17, 2017. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/03/17/940958/0/en/Blue-Buffalo-Voluntarily-Recalls-One-Lot-of-BLUE-Wilderness-Rocky-Mountain-RecipeTM-Red-Meat-Dinner-Wet-Food-for-Adult-Dogs-Due-to-Potential-Health-Risk.html.
“Voluntary Market Withdrawal of Assorted Blue Buffalo Divine Delights and Wilderness Trail Trays 3.5 oz. Cups in U.S. and P.R.” PetSmart Corporate. Feb. 28, 2017. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/blue-buffalo-feb-2017-recall.pdf.
“BB Homestyle Recipe Letter.” Blue Buffalo. Feb. 13, 2017. https://bluebuffalo.com/about/news/bb-homestyle-recipe-letter/.
“Blue Buffalo Recalls Batch of Dog Food.” Seattle Times. May 31, 2016. https://www.seattletimes.com/life/pets/blue-buffalo-recalls-batch-of-dog-food/.
“Blue Buffalo Voluntarily Recalls One Lot of Cub Size Wilderness Wild Chews Bones Due to Potential Salmonella Health Risk.” FDA. Nov. 25, 2015. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ucm474573.pdf.
“Blue Buffalo Company Ltd. Voluntarily Recalls Limited Production of Kitty Yums Chicken Recipe Cat Treats Due to the Presence of Propylene Glycol.” FDA. Nov. 6, 2015. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ucm471748.pdf.
“Blue Buffalo Company Ltd. Recalls Limited Production Code Dates of Dry Dog Food Because of Possible Excess Vitamin D.” FDA. Oct. 8, 2010. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ucm228986.pdf.
DeNoon, Daniel J. “Blue Buffalo Dog Food Recalled: Excess Vitamin D in Some Lots of ‘Blue’ Brand Dog Food.” WebMD. Oct. 12, 2010. https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/news/20101012/blue-buffalo-dog-food-recalled.
“Blue Buffalo Company Ltd. Issues Nationwide Recall of Blue Canned Dog Foods, Blue Spa Select Canned Cat Foods and Blue Dog Treats Manufactured at American Nutrition Inc.” FDA. April 27, 2007. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ucm112182.pdf.
“Blue Buffalo Company Announces Voluntary Recall of One Production Run of Spa Select Kitten Dry Food.” FDA. April 19, 2007. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/ucm112171.pdf.
Has Blue Buffalo Pet Food Ever Been Recalled?
Yes, Blue Buffalo has been recalled many times throughout its history. Here is a comprehensive list of Blue Buffalo recalls.
Blue Buffalo recalled one production lot of Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food For Adult Dogs. The affected products were suspected to contain elevated levels of naturally-occurring beef thyroid hormones.
The potential side-effects of consuming these products include the following:
Increased Heart Rate
Restlessness
Weight Loss
Excessive Thirst
Excessive Urination
Here are the identifying details of the products included in this recall:
Name: Blue Wilderness Rocky Mountain Recipe Red Meat Dinner Wet Food for Adult Dogs
Size: 12.5 Ounce Cans
UPC Code: 840243101153
Best-By Date: June 7, 2019
Blue Buffalo issued a voluntary recall for its Blue Wilderness Trail Trays 3.5 Ounce Cups. The withdrawal was executed due to a quality issue with the foil seal on the top of the cups.
Here is the list of products included in this recall:
Blue Buffalo issued another recall for one of its canned dog foods. The recalled items were suspected to contain aluminum metal.
Here are the identifying details of the products included in this recall:
Name: Blue Buffalo Homestyle Recipe Healthy Weight, Chicken Dinner with Garden Vegetables.
Size: 12.5 ounce can
UPC: 8-40243-10017-0
Best By Date: August 3, 2019
Blue Buffalo recalled the following dog food: Life Protection Formula Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe For Dogs. The company issued this recall because some of the affected products contained mold.
Here are the identifying details of the products included in this recall:
Name: Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Fish and Sweet Potato Recipe For Dogs
Size: 30lb Bag
UPC: 8596100032
Best By Date: April 11, 2017
Lot Code: AH 2A 1208 – 1400
Blue Buffalo recalled one production lot of Cub Size Wilderness Wild Chew Bones. The reason for this recall was a potential salmonella contamination.
Routine testing at the manufacturing site revealed the presence of Salmonella in this product.
Here are the identifying details of the recalled product:
Name: Cub Size Wilderness Wild Chews Bone
UPC Number: 840243110087
Expiration Date: November 4, 2017
Blue Buffalo recalled a limited number of Blue Kitty Yums Chicken Recipe Cat Treats. The products included in the recall may have contained low levels of propylene glycol.
According to the FDA, propylene glycol cannot be added into any cat food product. The following are possible symptoms for cats that have consumed high doses of propylene glycol.
Signs of Depression
Loss of Coordination
Muscle Twitching
Excessive Urination
Excessive Thirst
Here is the list of products included in this recall:
Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 – Best If Used By: April 24, 2016.
Blue Kitty Yums Tasty Chicken Recipe, UPC: 859610007820 – Best If Used By: July 24, 2016.
The FDA tested these products in response to a single consumer complaint. The test results showed that the treats in question contained propylene glycol. In response to this complaint, Blue Buffalo voluntarily issued this recall.
Blue Buffalo announced a dog food recall which includes three different varieties of dog food. The products were suspected to contain potentially toxic levels of vitamin D.
Here is the list of products included in this recall:
Blue Wilderness Chicken (4.5 lbs, 11 lbs, and 24 lbs). Best By Dates: JUL 12 11B, JUL 13 11B, JUL 26 11Z, JUL 27 11Z, JUL 28 11Z.
Blue Basics Salmon (11 lbs, 24lbs). Best By Dates: AUG 21 11B, AUG 22 11B
Blue Life Protection Large Breed Chicken Recipe For Adults (30 lbs). Best By Dates: SEP 22 11 P, SEP 23 11 P, OCT 26 11 P
Blue Buffalo recalled numerous dog foods, cat foods, and treats. The reason for this recall was melamine, which was responsible for hundreds of recalls in 2007.
At the time of this recall, American Nutrition, Inc. was producing Blue Buffalo foods. The company is no longer associated with Blue Buffalo.
April 2017
Product recalled for: Melamine
Products recalled: All cans of Blue Buffalo BLUE dog food and treats, Blue Buffalo BLUE Spa Select cat food and treats.
FAQ
How many recalls has Blue Buffalo had?
Has Blue Buffalo Ever had A Recall? Yes! Blue Buffalo has had its fair share of the need to take off some of its products on the market. However, they’ve not had any recall for over four years.
Why does Blue Buffalo have so many recalls?
Here is a quick overview, and then we will go into much more detail below. Most recently, in March 2017, Blue Buffalo recalled a single run of Blue Wilderness canned dog food because of potentially excessive levels of beef thyroid hormone (certain Wellness canned dog food was also recalled for the same reason).
What was the controversy about Blue Buffalo dog food?
In 2016, Blue Buffalo settled a class action lawsuit for $32 million whereby customers complained that the company misled the public when they claimed their pet food ingredients were free of poultry byproducts, corn, wheat, soy and artificial preservatives.