Shocking test results provided in a new consumer lawsuit against Taste of the Wild pet food.
A lawsuit against Diamond Pet Food’s Taste of the Wild brand was filed in Illinois on 2/28/2019 claiming the pet food was “negligent, reckless, and/or intentional practice of misrepresenting, failing to test for, and failing to fully disclose the risk and/or presence of heavy metals, toxins, Bisphenol A (“BPA”).”
This lawsuit is similar to many other recent pet food lawsuits with the exception of one significant thing. Test results of Taste of the Wild Grain Free Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe with Wild Boar Dry Dog Food found “12,200 mcg/kg” of lead in the dog food.
Quoting the lawsuit, “one of the Contaminated Dog Foods tested higher than most homes in Flint Michigan: “In Flint, the amount of lead found in in residents’ water since the crisis erupted has varied from house to house with many showing no detectable levels of lead. At a few homes, lead levels reached 4,000 ppb to nearly 12,000 ppb.”
Per the Taste of the Wild website, recommended feeding for a 30 pound dog is two cups a day. Two cups of the tested dog food would mean a 30 pound dog is consuming 2,440 mcg of lead per day. Comparing side by side the FDA daily maximum level of lead in food for an adult human to the daily amount a 30 pound dog would consume of the tested Taste of the Wild dog food:
Side by side – the human food maximum established by FDA is barely measurable compared to the lead found in the Taste of the Wild dog food (per the lawsuit).
The level of lead considered risk in pet food is completely different than in human food. Remember, pet food is regulated as ‘feed’, not as ‘food’. Everything ‘feed’ is different.
The FDA or AAFCO has not established a legal maximum of lead in pet food. Instead, regulatory authorities refer to a 14 year old publication from the National Research Council (NRC); 2005 Mineral Tolerance for Animals. The NRC has not established a specific maximum ‘tolerance’ level for cats – but makes this statement regarding dogs: “Rats and dogs tolerate 10 mg lead/kg diet without changes in functional indices in hematopoiesis or kidney function.”
Based on the 14 year old information from NRC (and converting mg/kg to mcg/kg), a ‘safe’ (maximum tolerance) level of lead for a 30 pound dog would be 2,000 mcg per day. Remember – a human adult maximum tolerance level of lead is 12.5 mcg per day – a 30 pound dog maximum is 2,000 mcg lead per day. Comparing all three stats side by side – the FDA daily maximum level of lead in food for an adult, the daily amount a 30 pound dog would consume of the tested Taste of the Wild dog food, and the maximum level of lead per day the NRC believes is safe for a 30 pound dog to consume:
Even though the NRC safe level of lead is significantly higher than the FDA maximum lead level of food for humans, the The Taste of the Wild dog food tested in this lawsuit is STILL above the National Research Council level.
If you have concerns that your dog (or cat) was exposed to high levels of lead, please contact your veterinarian.
If you have concerns that there are no legal maximum level of lead established for pet food, please contact your State Department of Agriculture and the FDA.
Susan Thixton Pet Food Safety Advocate Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsibleTruthaboutPetFood.comAssociation for Truth in Pet Food
Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.
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Has Taste of the Wild Ever Been Recalled?
Yes, there has been a single Taste of the Wild recall, several years ago — and it was a big one.
In May 2012, thousands of units of Taste of the Wild were recalled because of positive tests for salmonella. Dozens of people and untold numbers of pets were sickened during a multi-state salmonella outbreak caused by various brands of contaminated pet food, all of which was manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods in one of its facilities.
We also want to alert readers to the fact that, in late June 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified Taste of the Wild as one of 16 pet food brands that may be linked to heart disease in dogs and cats. None of those 16 brands have been recalled as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation, though. Most, but not all, of the pet foods are “grain-free” and/or dry (kibble) dog food formulations.
The FDA says this is a “complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors,” and that it cannot even be certain that diet is a cause of the heart problems.
Dog Food Recall 2022 — Full List
All 2022 dog food recalls are listed in the table below.
Click the links in the table below to see the specific, important details about each recall.
What Do Others Say About Taste of the Wild?
Chewy customers rate Taste of the Wild 4.7 out of 5 stars… and 95% say they would recommend it to others.
Here’s an actual user review…
FAQ
Why was Taste of the Wild recall?
The Dog Food Advisor finds Taste of the Wild to be an above-average grain-free dry dog food. The recipe includes a notable amount of named meat meals as its primary source of animal protein… thus earning the brand 4.5 stars.
Is there a lawsuit against Taste of the Wild?
Potential salmonella contamination caused the recall, though there were no reports of dogs dying because of the contamination. All sizes of Taste of the Wild foods were potentially contaminated and had to be recalled.