To: From: Date: 7.24.15 Nature s Variety Retail Partners Reed Howlett, CEO and Stephanie Arnold, Senior Vice President of Sales Re: Voluntary Recall of Instinct Raw Chicken 4lb. and 7lb. Bites and Patties with a Best By date of 4/27/16 At Nature s Variety, we make every effort to ensure that all of our products meet the highest quality standards. We were recently notified by the FDA that a sample of Instinct Raw Frozen Chicken Bites 7lb. with a Best By date of 4/27/16 was sampled and tested positive for Salmonella. Out of an abundance of caution, we are choosing to voluntarily recall this product. There have been no reports of illness or harm to any pets or people. In addition, Instinct Raw Frozen Chicken Bites 4lb. and Patties 6lb. with a Best By date of 4/27/16 are being recalled as they were produced on the same line that day. These products have NOT tested positive for any pathogens. The products impacted are listed below: PRODUCT SKU CODE DESCRIPTION BEST BY DATE 7 69949 71143 8 4 lb. x 6 Instinct Raw Chicken Bites (Case) 4/27/16 7 69949 61143 1 4 lb. Instinct Raw Chicken Bites (Each) 4/27/16 7 69949 71144 5 7 lb. x 4 Instinct Raw Chicken Bites (Case) 4/27/16 7 69949 61144 8 7 lb. Instinct Raw Chicken Bites (Each) 4/27/16 7 69949 71148 3 6 lb. x 6 Instinct Raw Chicken Patties (Case) 4/27/16 7 69949 61148 6 6 lb. Instinct Raw Chicken Patties (Each) 4/27/16 No other Nature s Variety products are affected. YOUR ROLE IN THE RECALL Nature s Variety highly values the relationships we ve built with you as our retailer partners. We ask that you assist us by taking the following steps: 1. Conduct a physical inventory immediately in order to identify whether any of these products are in your possession. If you are in possession of any of the affected products listed above, please isolate and destroy them according to the additional instructions provided. 2. Anticipate consumer returns. We are instructing consumers who have purchased a bag of this product to return the product to their local retailer in its original packaging or bring back a proof of purchase for a full refund or replacement. 3. Document all consumer returns using the form provided. 4. Submit completed forms to your local Nature s Variety Distributor for your reimbursement and for quality tracking purposes.
NATURE S VARIETY CONSUMER RESPONSE PLAN We encourage consumers to reach out to Nature s Variety directly by calling our Consumer Relations team at 1-888-519-7387 to answer any questions they have. They can also email us at cservice@naturesvariety.com. Naturesvariety.com and Instinctpetfood.com will also provide information for consumers on the recall. Finally, we are actively reaching out to our consumers through social media. Our team will consistently monitor online questions and provide answers in a timely manner. NATURE S VARIETY QUALITY PROTOCOLS Pet health and safety is our top priority. Nature s Variety takes every step necessary to ensure the quality and safety of our products. Our quality control and quality assurance programs include, but are not limited to: Sanitation Standard Operating Procedures (SSOPs), Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), a Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) program, High Pressure Processing (HPP), regular lot segregation, and other industry best practices. Our manufacturing facility also adheres to these specific quality measures: Our ingredients are sourced from USDA inspected facilities, and/or facilities regulated by the FDA. We adhere to state and federal regulations regarding product safety. Our manufacturing facility is regularly monitored by third party auditors. Please be assured Nature s Variety has and will continue to enforce only the strictest quality standards in the pet food industry. Thank you for your support in executing this process. We appreciate your partnership and encourage you to reach out to our team with any questions.
Joe Bonwich, The Vandiver Group 314-469-1777 jbonwich@vandivergroup.com NATURE S VARIETY ISSUES NATIONWIDE VOLUNTARY RECALL OF INSTINCT RAW CHICKEN FORMULA BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE SALMONELLA HEALTH RISK ST. LOUIS, MO JULY 24, 2015 Nature s Variety has announced a voluntary recall of their Instinct Raw Chicken Formula for dogs with a Best By date of 04/27/16 because these products may be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers. Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has the symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. The affected products are limited to the Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Frozen Diets packaged in the following forms: UPC# 769949611431 Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Bites for Dogs 4 lb.; Best By 04/27/16 UPC# 769949611448 Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Bites for Dogs 7 lb.; Best By 04/27/16 UPC# 769949611486 Instinct Raw Chicken Formula Patties for Dogs 6 lb.; Best By 04/27/16 The Best By date is located on the back of the package below the seal. The affected product was distributed through retail stores in the United States and limited distribution in Canada. No other Nature s Variety products are affected. No illnesses have been reported to date. Even though no illnesses have been reported, consumers should follow the Simple Handling Tips published on the Nature s Variety package when disposing of the affected product.
Nature s Variety became aware of a potential issue after receiving notification from the FDA that a routine surveillance sample of seven pound Instinct Raw Chicken Bites for dogs tested positive for Salmonella. Consumers feeding the affected product should discontinue use and monitor their pet s health, and contact their veterinarian if they have concerns. Consumers who have purchased one of the above products can obtain a full refund or exchange by either returning the product in its original packaging or bringing a proof of purchase back to their retailer. Consumers with additional questions can call our Consumer Relations team at 888-519-7387 from 8 am to 7 pm Central time, 7 days a week during the recall. Or, consumers can email Nature s Variety directly via cservice@naturesvariety.com. Reed Howlett, Chief Executive Officer of Nature s Variety, stated, At Nature s Variety we take quality and safety very seriously. We believe that under all circumstances, health and safety comes first, and we are committed to providing the best possible nutrition for pets. # # #
FAQs Regarding the Voluntary Recall of Instinct Raw Chicken Bites and Patties with a Best By date of 4/27/16 1. What products are involved in the voluntary recall? PRODUCT SKU CODE DESCRIPTION BEST BY DATE 7 69949 71143 8 4 lb. x 6 Case Instinct Raw Chicken Bites 4/27/16 7 69949 61143 1 4 lb. Instinct Raw Chicken Bites 4/27/16 7 69949 71144 5 7 lb. x 4 Case Instinct Raw Chicken Bites 4/27/16 7 69949 61144 8 7 lb. Instinct Raw Chicken Bites 4/27/16 7 69949 71148 3 6 lb. x 6 Case Instinct Raw Chicken Patties 4/27/16 7 69949 61148 6 6 lb. Instinct Raw Chicken Patties 4/27/16 7.24.15 2. How do I know if I have purchased one of the recalled products? Look for the Best By date printed on the back of the package. If your products match 4/27/16, it is included in the recall. 3. Why is Nature s Variety voluntarily recalling this product? This product was sampled by the FDA and tested positive for Salmonella. As a result, out of an abundance of caution, we are choosing to voluntarily recall these products. No illness or harm to pets or people has been reported. 4. Doesn t High Pressure Processing (HPP) eliminate pathogens, including Salmonella? High Pressure Processing is effective in the destruction of numerous pathogens, including Salmonella. Independent studies have shown that meat, including raw pet foods, when subjected to HPP conditions used by Nature s Variety is an effective intervention. Nature s Variety uses multiple hurdles and industry best practices around food safety. 5. Can Salmonella harm my pet? Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. 6. What date codes are included in the voluntary recall? Only Instinct Raw Chicken Bites and Patties with a Best By date code of 4/27/16 are included. 7. Where do I find the Best By date on the bag? The Best By date is printed on the back of the bag. 8. Were other Nature s Variety products affected by this voluntary recall? No other Nature s Variety products are affected. 9. Where were the affected products sold? The affected products were sold through retail stores and online retailers in the United States and Canada. 10. What should I do if I m in possession of one of these products? Consumers who have purchased one of the above products should discontinue feeding and discard any remaining food and return either the empty package or a proof of purchase to the retail store where it was purchased to receive a full refund or replacement.
11. What should I do if I ve fed this product to my pet? If you ve fed this product to your pet, please discontinue the use of the remaining product immediately and discard it. Monitor your pet s health and, if you notice anything unusual, contact your veterinarian. 12. Is it safe to feed my pet Instinct Raw Diets that are NOT on the recall list? Yes, it is safe to feed your pet other Instinct Raw Diets that are not included in the recall. 13. Who can consumers contact if they need more information? Please direct consumers to contact our Consumer Relations team at 1-888-519-7387 or email us at cservice@naturesvariety.com.