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.
How dangerous is 12,200 mcg/kg lead?
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.”
The FDA says the following about lead in food for humans:
The FDA assesses whether the amount of lead in a food product is high enough to raise a person’s blood lead level to a point of concern. To do this, the agency establishes a maximum daily intake for lead, called the Interim Reference Level (IRL). In determining the IRL, the FDA takes into account the amount of a particular food a person would need to consume daily, as well as other factors, that would result in blood lead levels of of 5mcg per deciliter, the level at which the CDC recommends clinical monitoring of lead exposure in children. The FDA has established the current IRL at 3 mcg per day for children and 12.5 mcg per day for adults.
How much lead per day is a dog eating of 12,200 mcg/kg?
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).
But…
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.
Click Here to read the lawsuit against Taste of the Wild.
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.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association 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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Cannoliamo
March 8, 2019 at 3:00 pm
Waiting for the FDA / CVM statement that “We didn’t know anything about this and there’s nothing we can do to ensure the safety of pet food.”
Susan Thixton
March 8, 2019 at 3:05 pm
Completely agree. So very sad.
K pitties
March 9, 2019 at 8:50 am
This is so upsetting! We just recently switched to this brand (bison/venison flavor) and my two dogs love it. How do we know track down the response and feedback for this? Very curious and anxious now to see what they come back with.
Susan Thixton
March 9, 2019 at 8:56 am
I don’t know if the law firm will provide updates on their website or not – but you could contact them for updates.
Susana Rovero
March 9, 2019 at 11:54 pm
Same here, taste of the wild, bison/venison. Is any real safe dog food out there.??
Ashley Harris
March 18, 2019 at 1:40 pm
Balanced raw diet
Deanne
March 12, 2019 at 6:41 am
My dog also loves the bison/venison variety. Anyway of finding out if this variety is included?
david bennett
March 12, 2019 at 10:03 pm
I AM USEING BISON ONE ALS FOR 2 1/2 YEARS I AM TRYING TO GET MY DOG TESTED. SOME ONE IS GOING TO PAY ME…. THE ONLY ONE WILLING TO HELP ME IS MEDVET… TOP OF THE LINE VET HOSPTAILS..
Traci
June 6, 2019 at 7:35 pm
You should know, this might not work. You have to be able to prove this is what caused it. Like have you ever fed any other pet food, human food or treats to your pet besides this one brand and flavor? Just be ready for a battle.
Kenneth Kalligher
March 9, 2019 at 10:45 am
Maybe I missed it somewhere, but is the source of this lead known?
sandy konstantinidis
March 19, 2019 at 2:10 pm
After many days of research and reading comments re: TOTW, I decided to change Liberty’s dog food to Earthborn. After all, I would get sick and tired to eating the same food for over 6 years. Happily (for both of us) she really takes to the new food and seems to be a better eater. I am anxiously following these posts. Found out that the retail pet food industry only gets advised when there is a recall. Sadly nobody I contacted knew about the lawsuit.
Nancy J
October 21, 2024 at 3:06 pm
The only lead might be in BONE neal and there is none in TOTW.
Rebecca
March 8, 2019 at 8:14 pm
My dogs have eaten this for several years! This is terrifying if it is true!
Marce
March 10, 2019 at 12:28 am
Mine too for 5 years.
Maggie Janiszewski
April 8, 2021 at 4:05 pm
10 yrs for my dachshund, if it is bad why isn’t it recalled
Sierra
March 11, 2019 at 1:00 pm
More like we don’t give a rat’s ass about the safety of pets or pet food!!! If the pet food companies pay us enough money, we will make anything put in pet food appear to be safe!!!!!
Larry
March 8, 2019 at 3:29 pm
My Shar-Pei, Ms Coconut had eaten this TOTW Salmon for about 3 years. She turned 5 on 1-12-19 and died of kidney failure on 1-23-19. Her kidney levels were perfect in August.
Jodi Metcalf
March 10, 2019 at 9:28 am
I have a shar pei pug It’s the only food I have ever given her. She’s very healthy has check ups all the time. She’ll be eight in August 2019. If this food is bad I’m sure her vet would have found this. She has blood drawn once a year because she has hip dysplasia which she got from the person who was the breeder.
Maria McGuinness
March 13, 2019 at 9:19 am
Please don’t assume your vet knows. My vets had no clue about the recent issue of excess of Vit D in several top brands. I had read a few articles on it by the time I mentioned it. It was also posted in the Dog Food Advisor website. My (now deceased) Irish Wolfhound was fed TOTW Pacific Stream for about 8 years. The last 2 years of his life, I switched him to 4Health when he would no longer eat TOTW. The person that talked me into 4Health said it’s made by the same mfg as TOTW (can’t confirm this). On his visit to the vet April 2018 his liver enzymes were slightly elevated and he was urinating less. The vet scoffed that it was significant enough to mean anything. His health declined rapidly, and he passed (put to sleep) Oct 30, 2018. I don’t now what he actually died from other than the vet said his heart and lung were full of fluid, which could have been secondary to kidney failure. A necropsy was not suggested. I had him 11.8 wonderful years, but I am angry with my vet for not “caring enough” to suggest additional testing when he was there in April.
Maria McGuinness
March 13, 2019 at 9:30 am
I just Googled and found that 4Health is made by Diamond Pet Foods. I’m spitting nails right now.
Kenneth Kalligher
March 13, 2019 at 9:44 am
Diamond AGAIN!
~Pet Owner~
March 8, 2019 at 4:04 pm
I’m stunned that all these well-named brands are actually as bad as they are. We used to go after “dollar brands” like Beneful, Ol’Roy and the like. With people assuming if they paid triple the amount, then they had to be paying for quality and safety! For me, the disappointment with Hill’s was the last straw. I returned it all. That they would permit a dangerous food to be sold to already compromised pets is just criminal. In the PFI absolutely no_body has a conscience. I had been assuming that my dog’s upset digestive system (loose stools, spitting up) was just one of those things. But now I remember using Hill’s Dry occasionally, and they’re admitting Dry was affected too, which probably just took longer to affect dogs over time. It was never the sole food I used. Now I just feed human edible ingredients, the leanest cut of ground beef with a carb, some pre/probiotics, goat milk, and pet kelp. It may not be the best recipe, but it’s safe, and whatever my dog might react to, is controlled.
I would love to know how many other owners have also given up on all commercial PF, and have either gone to raw or strictly human edible food. Susan should do a Post making this the subject a survey question! I’m sure Industry reps monitor this site.
raw feeding pet owner
March 8, 2019 at 5:40 pm
You should also add a fish oil to your pets raw as dogs need omega in a supplement when eating raw. Dr. Becker also gives some good mixes you can make for a proper balance.
~Pet Owner~
March 8, 2019 at 6:10 pm
Appreciate your response.
Well it’s worse than that, I don’t feed (commercial) raw because of not trusting rendered sourcing. Add it’s all HPP’d now which devalues the point of true raw. My ground sirloin is minimally browned, with Liver added. However the Pet Kelp formula (Missing Link) does have an Omega 6 & 3 Fatty Acid (flaxseed). I tried an EFA Hempseed Oil but that didn’t work. Should I add a sardine occasionally? Or a pinch of Cod Liver oil? He gets no poulty, and as I said I do worry about absolute balance, but after a $700 Vet bill am treading very carefully with additions.
Marie Dalzell
March 8, 2019 at 7:12 pm
You can order ground raw from places like Hare Today and Raw Feeding Miami. No HPP.
~Pet Owner~
March 12, 2019 at 8:11 pm
Actually I went back to Northwest Naturals Raw (had to compromise on something) and making sure he gets an Omega 3 & 6 in a supplement. And have ordered a more well rounded supplement from Mercola (Meal Mix). Thank you for caring enough to respond … I appreciate the suggestions, and from everyone!
Mrs. Elinor McCullough
March 13, 2019 at 9:32 pm
Yes, add sardines occasionally. I feed my two dogs sardines twice a week. They’ve gotten sardines since 1 yr old and are both 3-1/2 yr now. As well onlynaturalpet dot com sells some really good omega oil and excellent dog foods of all types.
LeeAnn
March 8, 2019 at 11:10 pm
What I don’t understand, is why do they only mention the Wild Boar? If it’s in one, isn’t it in all flavors?
F
March 9, 2019 at 1:12 am
I’m curious about that too LeeAnn. Good point so I’ll be interested to find out what the response is that that!
Never feed kibble
March 9, 2019 at 10:53 am
If you read the entire lawsuit they name several other flavors and provide the heavy metal values.
Maria McGuinness
March 13, 2019 at 9:29 am
I just read it, and I’m so angry right now. I fed my Irish Wolfhound, Seamus, TOTW Pacific Stream for years!! Then switched to another Diamond Brand private label (4Health) the last two years of his life.
He had to be euthanized Oct 30, 2018 for fluid on the heart and lungs.
Kelcie
March 11, 2019 at 10:59 am
The Contaminated Dog Foods collectively refer to: Taste of the Wild® Grain Free High Prairie
Canine Formula Roasted Bison and Roasted Venison Dry Dog Food; Taste of the Wild® Grain
Free Pacific Stream Canine Formula Smoked Salmon Dry Dog Food; Taste of the Wild® Prairie
Puppy Formula Grain-Free; Taste of the Wild Southwest Canyon with Beef in Gravy; and Taste
of the Wild Southwest Canyon with Wild Boar.
If you look at the lawsuit, it gives a table that lists the amounts of lead, arsenic, BPA, pesticides, etc. Wild Boar was significantly higher in lead than all others 12,200 v the next highest- Smoked Salmon- at 399 in lead.
Appalled.
T Allen
March 8, 2019 at 8:39 pm
Here’s a good recipe that’s balanced by Dr Becker. Your diet is deficient and will cause it’s own health issues. You can also go to “Planet Paws” on FB or the web for more balanced recipes. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=10155997048227748
Maureen
March 8, 2019 at 9:38 pm
I started making homemade food for my four pups 5 months ago and I would never ever go back. I also joined a page on Facebook homemade healthy dog food page. I recently started Mercola / dr. Becker’s meal mix program. It is terrific and I am guaranteed that my dogs get all of the vitamins and minerals that they need.
Reader
March 8, 2019 at 10:17 pm
Wow, Meal Maker (by Mercola) is an INCREDIBLE resource, thank you so much for sharing! (For visitors, see it here at https://shop.mercola.com/product/2483/1/meal-mix-for-adult-dogs-30-packets-per-box-1-box). This is how BalanceIT started out, but you had to pay for the recipes. With this one we know Mercola is sourcing only from the USA. The “Recipe Creator” lets the owner put in whatever ingredients they wish, and gives them a balanced recipe.
*I do not sell any pet supplies
Kenneth Kalligher
March 9, 2019 at 10:43 am
I switched from commercial pet foods to homemade raw about 10 years ago. I buy all the meats and organs in a local grocery store as well as all the veggies and fruits I add. There is the added benefit of not having to pay sales taxes on the food as well. All of the “extra” ingredients are “human” grade and therefore food not feed. I grind and freeze all the meats monthly. It is more work, but I am at ease knowing what I am getting. All the water my dogs (I have 6) drink is from a home distillery that we humans drink as well. I have long believed that NO manufacturer can be trusted 100%. When they are sourcing products, they still have to rely on the integrity of their suppliers and that leaves too much room for doubt in my mind. My current family of dogs include 3 German Shepherds and 3 Yorkies, all raised on raw. I have no vomiting or diarrhea and all my dogs are issue free.
Linda Holt
March 12, 2019 at 6:18 pm
Pet Owner…I am stunned as well. I have been on aFB site for Taurine Deficient DCM caused by pet food, supposedly. I had just decided my way of feeding was about as good as it gets when today I see this regarding TOTW. I am livid! My method has been 1 cup of kibble in morning, then breakfast of eggs and some meat and a piece of homemade toast, healthy snacks throughout the day and supper of salmon, venison, beef, elk or other meat we are having with veggies, some fruit and a light carb. (Lots of other things for rotation but main source of protein has been fresh caught wild salmon. The only reason I fed kibble was to keep him used to it in case we had a human emergency and someone else had to care for him. Now it will most likely be all homemade and I will keep enough canned ahead for emergencies. I am so angry I want to storm at someone!
Shelly Cole
March 19, 2019 at 5:59 pm
I couldn’t agree more with you but sadly not all of us can afford to feed a raw diet or human food… I personally live on a $1000/mo. By the time I pay basic bills, medications, food for the pup, there’s nothing left. A 30lb bag of TOTW is about $53 and lasts 2 months for my 30lb boy. I wish I could do better by him. And I dare one person to tell me that I shouldn’t own a dog because I don’t get more money. I’m disabled. And I need something to love and have a reason to get up in the morning.
sandy konstantinidis
March 8, 2019 at 5:08 pm
there is no recall….right? this lawsuit was from 2012-2015. i am not understanding exactly what is transpiring! Please advise
Susan Thixton
March 8, 2019 at 5:20 pm
This is a new lawsuit – filed in February of 2019. It’s not a recall, and it is certainly not from 2012-2015.
Kelly
March 13, 2019 at 10:48 am
I think it is for food made in 2012-2015.
bronwyn r ross
June 28, 2019 at 12:52 pm
In the filings it says that the plaintiff from Illinois is complaining about Taste of the wild food she bought from 2017-2018. She filed the complaint in late 2018 and the lawsuit was sent to the company in early 2019. Have not seen anything about a recall yet.
Elizabeth
March 8, 2019 at 5:38 pm
Feed the salmon now I’m scared
Rebecca
March 8, 2019 at 8:17 pm
Me too
Jane Baker
March 8, 2019 at 5:53 pm
WTF?! Ridiculous this is even a product out there… that any of their products are out there on the market… what BS! I see the lawsuit indicates what states have similar fraud rules. That drives me crazy too that not all states can be included in a class-action suit like this. Been using their product a long time and had issues with their stools. I have to wonder how damaging it has been to their growth from puppies on to adulthood…I’ve got to hurry to get them off this food. I mix with Purina performance pro plan since I have hunting dogs that compete in field trials but now I really am unnerved what this has done to all my dogs, and others I know who use the same food… I’m outraged!!!!!!
Gayle
March 9, 2019 at 9:53 pm
How do you find out who can be apart of the lawsuit? My 2 dogs has been on the Boar flavor for years, I am just sick about this. Why should anyone be excluded if they have been purchasing it? Have they changed the formula or are they still selling it with all the chemicals in it?
Linda Holt
March 12, 2019 at 3:36 pm
Feeling the same here! I thought I was doing the best I could for my newf boy and now this. I do feed him only 1 cup of it and the rest of his food has always been home made/raw and gently cooked. I felt that a little kibble would keep him used to it in case of an emergency where someone else had to feed him…we live remote so it would be difficult for someone else. I am so po’d!!! Right now we have totw High Prairie shipped in. No more.
Leslie
March 8, 2019 at 6:46 pm
Does it affect cat food as well?
Susan Thixton
March 8, 2019 at 6:49 pm
I don’t know. You might try reaching out to one of the law firms involved – all of that information is at the bottom of the complaint (linked in the post).
Erika Reico
March 9, 2019 at 2:57 pm
I’ve been trying to find that out too. I feed my 4 cats with grain free trout & smoked salmon stew canned food and roasted venison and smoked salmon dry cat food for almost 2 years now. They love this brand and it’s not cheap at all it’s very expensive and now finding out that it’s contaminated with lead makes me angry. I thought I was feeding my cats with the best food but as it looks like I am actually poisoning my babies. My cats are having lot of stomach issues and they vomit a lot, my Maine coon have almost daily diarrhea and lethargy, one of my cat had lost a lot of weight since I started them on this brand. OMG, this is killing me and I never even thought that my babies are sick from this food I’m feeding them with! I’m switching to a different brand so going to get something that I hope will be true and good for my pets. After all my pets is my family.
Concerned
March 9, 2019 at 4:10 pm
Read the lawsuit (https://truthaboutpetfood.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/TasteoftheWild-2019-lawsuit.pdf). Understand the principles behind it (lead, mercury ..) being examples of the problem with toxicity (among other things) which is going to be in a lot of commercial PF. And its about feeding the same food long term. This suit is about product misrepresentation, implying of the highest possible quality, which is now at issue. To be assured of safer alternatives, consider human edible ingredients, raw, rotation, etc.. Susan Thixton’s 2019 List of preferred brands is a resource (and no, she does not sell it to make money) plus the internet.
Mitchell
March 8, 2019 at 6:57 pm
Reading this my dog should have died years ago at that level of contamination. Yet my dog is tested regularly by a locally vet and aside from ‘normal’ breed problems has had no medical issues while on Taste of the Wild dog food. Shes been eating it for years now. My problem with this article is the lack of information regarding the extent of testing. How many lots did they test? How many lots showed excess contamination? Did the testers attempt a line of communication with the company? I want more information before i go changing my 14 year old dogs food.
Susan Thixton
March 8, 2019 at 7:10 pm
You can reach out to the law firm for more information on testing.
Reader
March 8, 2019 at 7:41 pm
I grew up in a world of lead based paint and countless other sources of carcinogens.. and i’m still standing. But that has nothing to do with correcting and improving situations once they are identified. It’s all about accumulation and cross exposure to a list harmful elements in the environment. Whatever, I wouldn’t want my dog, any dog to end up suffering at end of life if there was anything I could change to avoid that outcome. These companies (who know better, and have the financial resources to do better) should not be allowed to get away with this stuff, just because of the blind loyalty (doubt) displayed by their customers. I would normally say, TOTW has a responsibility to prove the safety of their product, but then, the PFI has such a poor record of honesty/transparency in the first place, who could believe them.
Anthony
March 8, 2019 at 9:48 pm
I agree with your observations. Details about the testing are incredibly lacking. As a scientist myself, I’d consider this a fluke rather than fact based off the evidence. I’d want more thorough testing before making decisions. My dog has been on TOTW for 5 years and he’s fine. However, this does raise my caution quite a bit and I’ll be watching this closely.
Interested
March 8, 2019 at 10:24 pm
The problem is while you’re trying to figure it all out, your dogs could be getting sick. And its much harder to undo something than prevent it. I think it would be fine to monitor the situation while rotating in other brands of food. And (of course) a lawsuit wouldn’t have much merit if it wasn’t sufficiently evidence based. It’s difficult enough to make most PF lawsuits stick …
John meyer
October 23, 2020 at 10:11 am
Don’t believe what the vets tell you …..I don’t believe lead content even show up in most lab tests.
Vesna larue
March 8, 2019 at 7:01 pm
That makes me feel great. I thought I was getting the best food for my baby. Thanks a lot???
S. Munro
March 8, 2019 at 7:21 pm
I too, like “Pet Owner” have switched from commercial feed to home made meals. This was after seeing Pet Fooled on Netflix and reading Buyer Beware. It’s coming on now to almost two years and I’ll never go back. Both meals and treats are all made using human grade ingredients; my four cats absolutely love their meals and treats and I get so much happiness just watching them gobble down their food and beg for treats and knowing I’m not poisoning them. Susan has proven over and over again that that the pet feed industry cannot be trusted. Thank you, Susan, for all your hard work.
Cheri Fellinger
March 8, 2019 at 7:39 pm
OH no! A dog I co-own went wonky last week and the owner called me for advice after going to Banfield and being told the dog “had a stroke”. Dogs don’t generally have strokes but they do get vestibular issues that sort of mimic a stroke. Why do I know this and the vet doesn’t????? Good question huh? The dog is only 5.5 years old. I asked the owner if he vaccinated lately, yes, about one month ago. So I figured that’s what it was and we started the dog on a detox diet but now this! SO FREAKING GLAD we changed his food that same day. I can’t believe this…..
LeeAnn
March 8, 2019 at 11:13 pm
Banfield is one of the worst veterinary services ever!!! You need to check with a better veterinary hospital or clinic
Karen
March 8, 2019 at 8:31 pm
Is this just for the people filing the lawsuit, or will there be compensation for all who have bought it? I have been feeding the TOTW bison one for years. Thought it was the best for my dog as he has allergies to a lot of other dog food. It’s expensive and I am disappointed in their brand. Guess it’s time to go the human food/wet route.
Robin Ross-Oliver
March 8, 2019 at 9:37 pm
Oh my goodness ,been feeding my guys this for six yrs .felt I was doing the best! After yrs is research I’m so so disappointed. I touted this as the best on the market shared it with many .I make my own food for my cats and have for twenty years . I guess I will have to make all my. Own dog food my oh my really disappointed. Has any one described the on set of lead poisoning in dogs . Or must we rely on the guessing of most vet s or are there blood test.? ..and what is a good titer ..?I would go to court just for the expense of relation to treat my three pups .
Meredith Higley
March 8, 2019 at 10:11 pm
I’m afraid you need to check your math. Max dose (according to the article) is 10 mg/kg. A 30 pound dog is 13.6 kg, so max dose would be 136 mg. And that is equivalent to 136,000 mcg. Not the 2009 mcg stated.
Susan Thixton
March 8, 2019 at 10:36 pm
No – the math is correct. 10 mg/kg = 10,000 mcg/kg. A kg of this TOTW food = 10 cups. A 30 pound dog eats 2 cups per day. 10,000 mcg lead/kg = 1,000 mcg lead per cup = 2,000 mcg lead for 2 cups. The maximum daily lead tolerance established by NRC per kg measures out for a 30 pound dog to be 2,000 mcg. The NRC maximum tolerance for lead in dogs is not 10 mg/kg of Body Weight – it is 10 mg/kg of Diet.
Julie Ostoich
March 8, 2019 at 11:58 pm
We feed our big dog – Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free – I don’t see it listed as being tested or mentioned in the lawsuit. I was wondering if this variety has been tested, but can’t find any info. Our dog is sensitive to grains and also potato/starches, so we avoid them. We can’t afford to feed 100% raw, so we give him some raw and some kibble…maybe 50-50. He’s done very well on this food and I’ve tried many other grain free kibbles, but this one seems to be most agreeable with him. If anyone knows how to find out more info. on the Taste of the Wild Sierra Mountain Grain-Free kibble, please let me know.
Concerned
March 9, 2019 at 12:27 am
Cornell University Study
Front. Vet. Sci., 25 October 2018 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00264
Objectives:
To examine the relative levels of heavy metals and arsenic content in commercial dog foods (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) of 51 over-the-counter maintenance or all-life-stage dry dog foods. All products were chosen and segregated based on meat sources (fish, poultry, red-meat—17 products from each category) as animal protein sources being the primary contaminated ingredient due to bioaccumulation.
Lead
In the 17 dog foods that had red meat as the primary ingredient the median concentration of lead was 0.091 mg/Mcal (range: 0.032–1.621 mg/Mcal) (Figure 4), which was significantly higher than poultry-based foods whose medians was 0.037 mg/Mcal (range: 0.019–0.305 mg/Mcal); while fish based median lead was 0.049 mg/Mcal (range: 0.018–0.325 mg/Mcal) and not significantly different than red-meat or poultry based diets (p = 0.03).
The median concentration of lead in the red meat diet was over 15 fold higher than human daily lead intake (0.006 mg/Mcal) [Table 1; (27)].
The maximal lead concentration was also found in the red meat-based diets and was 270 fold greater than the human average daily intake per Mcal.
Medians of poultry-based and fish-based diets were above the human dietary intake by 6 fold and 8 fold respectively.
….When examining all foods the highest amount being at 2 mg/Mcal does raise some concerns about chronic exposure in dogs since there are no canine studies examining lifetime or juvenile dog exposure from similar concentrations (70). In the case of young animals eating these types of diets during their growth, their higher absorption rate of up to 90% of oral lead intake could be problematic and their neural development could be affected based on other juvenile models. Therefore, puppy formulas should be tested for their lead content considering the potential effects in other species at similar concentrations as our highest product and our lack of knowledge in dogs, particularly puppies (71).
However, it is conceivable that chronic exposure could contribute to diseases that occur in aged dogs eating the same product for many years, particularly lead since other species data suggests that lead exposure of 0.1 mg/kg body weight daily can lead to chronic neuropathy…….
you can read the full text at the link at the top of this comment….
would I want to feed my 4 legged companion that had levels between 6 and 270 times higher than for us, I would think NOT
Vanessa
March 9, 2019 at 12:44 am
So then what is a decent safe dog food brand to feed your dogs? I don’t have the money to make my own from scratch. All my dogs have grain allergies as well.
Ricky A Svatos
March 9, 2019 at 7:52 am
From the ‘2019 List’, your best best (and most affordable) would be ‘Open Farm’ dry dog food. The frozen human grade recipes sold by most reputable companies are the healthiest, but siding with you on cost, ‘Open Farm’ is an excellent alternative to the frozen recipes. It will still be around 40% more than commercial high grade dog food, but less expensive than fresh made.
sandy konstantinidis
March 9, 2019 at 1:55 pm
$80.00 for a 24# bag is not affordably!!
Susan Thixton
March 9, 2019 at 7:58 am
Actually, home prepared food is inexpensive compared to commercial human grade (which is why I make half of my pets food). You need a good recipe, and it takes a little time – but it is a lot more affordable than commercial. Compare it to eating out in a restaurant to cooking at home.
Jan
March 9, 2019 at 9:13 am
Recipe please. I need easy
Susan Thixton
March 9, 2019 at 9:16 am
If you search on YouTube for Rodney Habib, you’ll find a video with a recipe. Also you can purchase recipes here: https://www.planetpaws.ca/healthy-pet-recipe-store/ (very nominal price).
Ricky A Svatos
March 9, 2019 at 7:47 am
What irks me is the fact many veterinarians sell Hill’s right out of their office.
Melissa
March 9, 2019 at 11:14 am
I have fed TOTW as well as 4Health and my dog didn’t do well on them. Then found out all the issues. After recently joining a Facebook group about dogs that have died from certain dog foods, now feed Purina Pro Plan as it is approved by the WSAVA. These dog foods are approved and tested. If you want to make sure the dog food is a safer feed, make sure it is WSAVA approved. I believe there are only about 7 brands at this time.
Concerned
March 9, 2019 at 11:30 am
Do you really know who WSAVA is
Purina, Mars, Royal Cannin and Hills…….it’s all a marketing game to make it look like something is better….it’s the same old same old but with different marketing on a more Global Scale.
https://www.wsava.org/About/Industry-Partners
Bama Griz
March 9, 2019 at 12:48 pm
I posted to our local rescue group. I got this?
“This is false. See screenshots in reply to this comment. The only place I could find that listed any test results (and of course, I would want to know who tested and how) were well below 12,200 mcg. I also could not find any mention of Flint, MI in the lawsuit, which the article claims was mentioned in a direct quote from the lawsuit”
Susan Thixton
March 9, 2019 at 12:54 pm
Everything is in the lawsuit. The link to it is provided in the post above. All results and the quote of water in Flint, MI – it’s in there.
~Pet Owner~
March 9, 2019 at 1:21 pm
Has anyone READ the lawsuit, by the way, By the way it’s about more than “just” lead (bad enough) and goes to the real heart of the matter. Which is Deceit in Advertising.
You know … it’s one thing to make a “pet food” and sell it for what it is (which is livestock feed). Way back in the day, owners bought “dog food” and didn’t expect much more of it than what it was supposed to do, like to feed an animal. The PROBLEM today is that they’re doing the same thing, except they’re selling it under false pretenses. “Roasted” venison (really?). Prairie “raised” bison (oh yeah?). WTF.
Not only is this food being misrepresented, people are paying 3 to 4 times the amount that the ingredients are worth. And because of the natural degradation of the agricultural environment anyway, other toxins are being incorporated. So it’s even worse, relatively speaking. Once again, it is about the accumulation of these toxins in the dog’s system because it is eating the same meal/recipe/brand over YEARS. People right here are saying …. “oh I’ve fed this very food for 5 years” and my dog is still standing.” What about at age 15?
Here… this is directly from the lawsuit. More people should actually read it. Do you really think testing by one Lab or another is going to make that much difference. The problem with the PFI will always be about sourcing! So TOTW, just don’t lie to us in the process.
“71.Lead is another carcinogen and toxin known to cause health problems. Exposure to lead in food can build up over time and has been scientifically demonstrated to lead to the development of chronic poisoning, cancer, developmental disorders, and affect normal cell metabolism as well as cause serious injuries to the central nervous and gastrointestinal systems.
72.Here, 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.” Importantly, Jim Taft, executive director of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators has stated if the water tests at the lead levels in Flint, “people need to stop drinking the water.”973.Mercury can cause damage to the kidneys and neurological, cardiovascular, and nervous systems in dogs. Exposure to mercury can also interfere with metabolic activity, …. “
Laura White
March 9, 2019 at 2:09 pm
You might try Texas Tripe. It’s a raw dog food company in north east TX. If you do not live on one of their delivery routes, you can have it fed ex. Still less expensive then other raw manufacturs. I live close and so have watched them grow. While I generally purchase cases of chicken backs and quarters I also get much of their ground. Not sure where they get their chicken, except there is a lot of poultry produced here. Their beef they process old dairy cows. They do not have a separate kill floor, so the cows, pigs and sheep go through their human food side, Detroit Processing. So the same regulations that apply to human food applies to the animals going for dog food. The deer is from their human deer processing. I am not an employee and do not have anything to do w the company. I just know what their operation is like. I feed totw when my raw did not thaw in time. So I’m throwing it away. Royal Canine has a decent reputation.
Concerned
March 9, 2019 at 4:13 pm
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/heavy-metal
and if bad for humans it most likely is worse for our 4 legged kids.
Simultaneous exposure to multiple heavy metals may produce a toxic effect that is additive, antagonistic, or synergistic. Coexposure to metal/metalloid mixtures of arsenic, lead, and cadmium produced more severe effects at both relatively high dose and low dose levels in a biomarker-specific manner [3]. These effects were found to be mediated by dose, duration of exposure, and genetic factors. In many areas of metal pollution, chronic low dose exposure to multiple elements is a major public health concern.
Cannoliamo
March 10, 2019 at 10:43 am
For over 20 years tobacco companies maintained that smoking did not cause or contribute to the risk of getting lung cancer and other chronic diseases. It took a class-action lawsuit for them to change their attitude.
Susan Thixton
March 10, 2019 at 10:50 am
Excellent point.
Karen Mitchell
March 9, 2019 at 11:33 pm
This is why I’m an advocate of raw feeding. The only reason I’m here is so I can keep kibble feeders up to date and try to educate them on why kibble and commercial treats is a bad idea
Jeanne
March 10, 2019 at 4:17 am
I fed my dogs that for years, I lost two of them to speenatic masses. One was a Chow, the other a Chihuahua. I wonder now if this could be why? I always thought it was the gmo corn before I changed them to this.
Vince
March 10, 2019 at 1:09 pm
I have a 12+ yo female husky and as far as I can remember she has always been fed TOTTW with no issues. She has the usual fatty masses most older dogs get but other than that shes fine for her age. We also have a 2yo male mix husky and a 4mo female husky puppy…all on TTOTW – With that being said id like to see the actual lab results other than a “chart” on page 17. I tried my best to locate where the plantiffs had the food tested in the lawsuit document but was unsuccessful.
~Pet Owner~
March 10, 2019 at 3:29 pm
The actual details of testing is a subset of the argument. Not so much quantity, but inclusion. This is the core of the lawsuit, p. 25 ” (caps, not mine) DEFENDANTS’ STATEMENTS AND OMISSIONS VIOLATE ILLINOIS LAWS 92. Illinois law is designed to ensure that a company’s claims about its products are truthful and accurate. 93. Defendants violated Illinois law by incorrectly claiming through their Marketing and omissions that the Contaminated Dog Foods possessed superior qualities when they did not, based on the presence of Heavy Metals, pesticides, acrylamide, BPA, and/or unnatural or other ingredients that do not conform to the labels.”
Superior vs. Unnatural is key language.
Technically the suit is referencing the “presence of” contaminants (as in a positive vs. a negative) with the risk being attributed to accumulation and aggravation of other conditions. The suit further states that the implication of TOTW’s marketing campaign is to distract (deceive) consumers from making a balanced evaluation of the product for what it actually is.
In other words, as I’ve said in another comment, if it’s “dog food” (animal feed) then sell it that way and dispense with the gimmicky images and adjectives, like “roasted” venison and “prairie raised” bison … which gives the impression to the consumer that the food is worth more than it is.
Grace
March 10, 2019 at 2:43 pm
Does cat food have the same issue? My cat has been having issues with anemia. He eats TOTW both dry and canned food.
Diane
March 11, 2019 at 12:13 am
Is this all Taste of the Wild dog food i feed my girl salmond n sweet potato ?
Cheryl Wilson
March 11, 2019 at 1:07 am
Why wouldn’t the lawsuit show who actually tested and verified the levels? I would think you can’t just pull up a chart from some website and paste it into a lawsuit. I guess call the attorney and ask as I looked through the lawsuit multiple times and could not find who,which lab did the actual testing. I’m not doubting the levels are false and I’ve been feeding totw for over 10 years now. I will say that I feed 50/50 and I do switch brands between TOTW and Fromm’s. But in the gigantic pet food industry,profit only,to hell with where they source their ingredients from, I haven’t found one yet that you could trust. I bought a large bag of Boar back in February and all three dogs threw up. I only mixed about 1/4 cup with their other TOTW High Prairie Venison. I called Amazon and told them – they refunded my money. I then called TOTW and asked if they had changed the ingredients or where they source from. They said no ingredients have been changed and when asked where they source their vitamins and minerals from- that was a secret and they refused to tell me.So,now I am really worried about continuing to feed this TOTW.
JME Guptill
March 19, 2019 at 1:05 pm
This is a very valid point. The lawsuit also references The Clean Label Project which is a dubious organization at best.
Sunny
March 11, 2019 at 9:27 am
Just curious while I am translating to forward to my local friends, what’s the weight of 1 cup of TOW? (as NRC standard is kg diet)
DanboT81
May 3, 2019 at 8:51 pm
I seen another person break down the math and if they are correct there are 10 cups per kg.
Paula Rae
March 11, 2019 at 1:59 pm
As of 3/10/19 We changed Charlies food. I am so upset, for almost 5 years we have fed him taste of the wild foods ( various flavors). Now, we changed to Rachel Ray’s nurtrish ( for kibble) and will make homemade for his main meals. It is sickening at the corporate greed and profits that I have no doubts are behind the pushing of contaminated foods. It may not matter to the company, but I will write them a letter expressing my anger. Although I am sure some under paid office worker will shrug their shoulders, and continue the day.
Kim
March 12, 2019 at 1:48 am
Hi Paula Rae, There are better options than Rachel Ray’s Nutrish. I copied this off her site, not sure which formula you’re using. This formula with it’s pretty it looks “natural” packaging has many ingredients that are very detrimental to a dog (or cat’s) health. I too, thought when her brand came out it would be good, until I looked at the ingredients.
From the package: Chicken, Chicken Meal, Dried Peas, Soybean Meal, Whole Ground Corn, Dried Plain Beet Pulp, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols), Pea Starch, Corn Gluten Meal, Brown Rice, Dicalcium Phosphate, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Alfalfa Nutrient Concentrate, Dried Carrots, Zinc Sulfate, Vitamin E Supplement, Choline Chloride, Beet Powder (Color), Iron Sulfate, L-Ascorbyl-2-Polyphosphate (source of Vitamin C), Biotin, Niacin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Selenium Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (Source of Vitamin K), Thiamine Mononitrate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Potassium Iodide, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Main Problem Ingredients:
1) Chicken Meal–meal is allowed to include non-human grade meat. The parts that are labeled 4Ds and cannot be sold as human food–the animal was diseased, down, dying or dead.
2) Soybean Meal–GMO grown and cheap ingredient that can cause digestive distress and skin allergies.
3) Whole Ground Corn and corn gluten meal–same problems as soybean meal.
4) Died plain beet pulp–no dietary need, cheap filler, most beets are GMO grown
5) Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex (one of several names for Vitamin K). This form of Vit K has been shown in lab studies to cause kidney cancer. If I remember correctly, Vit K is not necessary and not required to be added to pet food. Most brands have removed it because of the cancer causing properties. You have to make sure to read the labels all the way to the end.
Gigi Patteson
March 15, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Who can you trust, ingrediants touted as helpful to human health included to in dog food to brain wash us.
Just receivef our Metro Water test results…lead, arsenic, human Drugs, fecal matter, stuff I didnt recognize.
So add that to your dog food, no wonder so much death. Fortunately our water is filtered, must change regular.
Have fed Taste of wild high prairie for years, our Corgi nearly died, finally diagnosed with Addisons disease, adrenal gland failure…vet had no explanation to what caused it
Getting percorten shots every month and prednisone daily….seems to be healthy and happy 4 year old..for now…what can we feed…the Purina Pro Plan, against grain free had me searching to see if it was scam…now i read this law suite against my choice of dog food..yikes, what the hell. I was only following food recalls.
Also have a Llewellyn with sever hot spots.
Oh, the feed chart on bag of Taste of Wild is bizarre too my 30 lb. Gets 1 cup a day, the 55 lb. Get 2 cups, both have gained weight.. only carrots and green bean for snacks.wtf???
Well Petted
March 15, 2019 at 7:01 pm
A good point has been made. Dog food is a product of the environment. So are extra steps being taken to manufacture with filtered water (for example)? What does the livestock (protein sources) eat and drink? When you add up all the ingredients that are exposed to (or are a product of) unclean/contaminated sources then it almost seems inevitable dog food will be contaminated. Through “Compliance Policies” given that manufactures are permitted to use “garbage” quality ingredients, and act as a diversion from meat going into landfill … (is is not Rocket Science) as to what it all adds up to. In a way, a diligent manufacturer would have to go so far out of the way to insure every risk/toxin is avoided, that the price would be ridiculous, and there wouldn’t be enough customers to sustain the process. When you’re paying that much, then why not just feed human edible beef anyway, and call it a day. Beef and a carb, and proper supplements, rotate the menu, include raw … any you’re way ahead of the game!
Pamela Kline
July 20, 2019 at 3:12 pm
Not sure about Rachel Ray Nutrish…I’ve also read that it is rated as one of the worse out there. ??
Susana
March 11, 2019 at 11:39 pm
In 2016, in June of 2016 I decided to adopt this sweet puppy American beagle, at 8 weeks old… I wanted to feed her quality food… and now to find out that I been feeding her something that make her sick? I am truly disgusted at this. We out our trust in quality food for our pets to just be betrayed? Why?
Concerned
March 12, 2019 at 11:06 am
Rachel Ray’s is owned by Smuckers
April 2018
J.M. Smucker Co. agreed to buy Ainsworth Pet Nutrition in a deal valued at $1.9 billion, betting that pet food can help reinvigorate sales in a sluggish consumer-product industry.
The transaction, which gives Smucker a brand of premium dog and cat food backed by celebrity chef Rachael Ray, will amount to about $1.7 billion when excluding a $200 million tax benefit.
https://truthaboutpetfood.com/smuckers-believes-recall-and-refund-is-sufficient-penalty/
Jean Cunningham
March 12, 2019 at 8:23 pm
Should I would assume that other brands manufactured by Diamond may have the same lead contamination? I’ve been feeding my 2-year old, 90 pound rescue Nature’s Domain, sold at Costco but manufactured by Diamond. I’ve always stuck with the Salmon and Sweet Potato, but about a month ago, I tried the Beef- Baxter threw up for 3 days. Lead poisoning?!
~Pet Owner~
March 13, 2019 at 1:59 am
If the Costco brand (Nature’s Domain made by Diamond) PF was tested as positive for the same contaminants, would certainly confirm the case against TOTW. And I think those consumers (who buy it in droves) have a right to know what they’re buying as well. However, the point of the suit isn’t “just” that the PF is contaminated, but that it was sold as a “superior” and as an “all natural” product supplying nutrition as “nature intended.” Therefore the company (TOTW) being guilty of deceiving the true risks of the product because of an absence of a disclaimer.
From the suit:
“Defendants know that certain consumers seek out and wish to purchase premium pet foods that possess high quality ingredients and do not contain chemicals, toxins contaminants chemicals and other unnatural ingredients, and that these consumers will pay more for pet foods that they believe possess these qualities than for pet foods that they do not believe possess these qualities.”
Of course Costco’s PF is sold at discount.
Judith Rhodes
March 13, 2019 at 8:16 pm
What about Taste of the Wild Cat Food?
Cindy Carrier
March 14, 2019 at 9:03 am
I contacted the Rep for Taste of the wild, I was told they cannot contact the people with the claim. I think once again this claim has not been verified properly before releasing this information. The larger poor quality pet food companies will stop at nothing to discredit a contender. The last lawsuit definitely had a conflict of interest, the company that ran the lead test on Champion were discredited and the law suit was dropped. One should do their due diligence before making statements that have not been verified.
“The lawsuit makes claims based on tests but does not include information on the laboratory or methodology of testing. Therefore, the numbers being quoted are completely unverifiable.
It is important for pet owners to know that Taste of the Wild pet food is safe, and our ingredients meet FDA standards. We work with an accredited, third-party laboratory that utilizes an EPA methodology evaluation process to test for heavy metals. According to our testing, the levels of these heavy metals in our pet food are “non-detect,” meaning that the amounts fall below what can be measured.
There is also misleading information being circulated that compares the level of lead in contaminated water to the level claimed to have been found in one of our recipes. This raises unnecessary concern for pet parents. It is inaccurate to make that kind of direct comparison. An element like lead is absorbed by the body differently from food compared to how it is absorbed by the body from water.
We are a family-owned business with a passion to provide quality, safe food that pet owners can feel confident feeding to their pets. We encourage pet parents to contact us directly with specific concerns or to learn more about our extensive food safety protocols.”
You should post both sides of the story, it is unethical not to.
Susan Thixton
March 14, 2019 at 10:10 am
The lawsuit has been filed. Of course Taste of the Wild can contact the law firms. They are legally bound to respond to the lawsuit.
And what else would you expect Taste of the Wild to say? They are being sued – of course they are going to deny charges against them. Notice that the TOTW statement you provided states “our ingredients meet FDA standards.” Those are carefully chosen words. FDA doesn’t have a maximum tolerance level for lead in pet food. The FDA also openly allows pet food to violate law (https://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074717.htm). TOTW didn’t say ‘our ingredient meet the requirements of federal law’. Instead they say FDA…which openly allows pet food to violate law. Carefully chosen words.
Concerned
March 14, 2019 at 12:09 pm
The Champion Lawsuit was not dropped. Do better research. That dropped lawsuit was filed by a copy cat law firm.
Champion Petfoods Can’t Escape Toxic Dog Food Class Action
By Brigette Honaker February 11, 2019
A California federal judge recently ruled that Champion Petfoods USA must face class action claims that their Acana and Orijen dog food contains dangerous toxins.
U.S. District Judge David O. Carter denied Champion’s bid for dismissal – finding that plaintiffs Jennifer Reitman and Carol Shoaff sufficiently alleged their claims that Acana and Orijen dog food contains arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium, and BPA despite claims that the food doesn’t contain anything “nature did not intend for your dog to eat.”
Although Judge Carter recognizes that the validity of the plaintiffs’ claims still remains undetermined, he ruled that the proposed Champion Petfoods class action lawsuit can continue.
“The court agrees that plaintiffs have adequately pled facts that, taken as true, from a plausible claim that Champion made actionable false, misleading, or otherwise deceptive statements regarding the nature and quality of their pet food,” Judge Carter wrote in his ruling.
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/pet/878833-champion-petfoods-cant-escape-toxic-dog-food-class-action/
Taken ith a Grain of Salt
March 14, 2019 at 2:12 pm
If you believe that one study or one lawsuit contains the whole story and take it at face value then you do not understand the world we live in. You also shouldn’t be trusted to pick out food for your dog as you lack the critical thinking skills to make an informed decision. You need more evidence than this before you abandon Taste of the Wild. This article and lawsuit provides very little to no information about the nature of the study that determined this dog food was dangerously high levels of heavy metals.
I don’t know why people are jumping to the conclusion that Taste of the Wild is a terrible, mislabeled dog food after one lawsuit with zero information on how the dog food was tested. I read the lawsuit and most of it is fluff repeating the same thing over and over. They are more concerned with misrepresentation and getting 5,000,000 dollars than the effects on a dogs health. My question is where, when, why and who tested this dog food and found out that it was high is heavy metals? I didn’t not read that anywhere in this article or in the lawsuit and that should be the most transparent and available information because this whole lawsuit rests on it. If I missed this and someone could point it out where in the lawsuit they found it that would be much appreciated.
The other side to this lawsuit is that no other dog food brand lists the heavy metals, pesticides, acrylamide, BPA and/or unnatural ingredients in their ingredient list and they are probably in there in small amounts. There are some things you cannot avoid when making dog food from so many different food sources. No doubt there are minute traces of each of these things in the foods we eat and no one puts them on their ingredient lists. There are probably trace amounts of the listed ingredients in all dog foods. Taste of the Wild dog food is being specifically targeted because other dog food companies are tired of customers buying Taste of the Wild over their corn and wheat filled dog foods. This lawsuit could be filed against any successful dog food brand out there. Why Jackson and Gwen Kaszynski chose to file this against Diamond Pet Foods should be considered.
Cannoliamo
March 14, 2019 at 4:41 pm
…. some recent Q & A’s from Diamond on the TOTW lawsuit FYI
https://www.tasteofthewild.com.au/company-statement-faqs-totw-class-action-lawsuit-03-10-19/
Kenneth Kalligher
March 14, 2019 at 8:29 pm
I see we have entered the insult phase of a debate. This is not, however, a debate and needs to be resolved by sharing information on actual test results. Since TOTW is calling the test results unverifiable I would ask what their own test on heavy metals shows and ask, further, that they share the results with us so the information can be verified. Using FDA as an agency of approval means nothing, they are a regulatory agency and as such, are not in the habit of testing products for anything that doesn’t first prove to be a health hazard and that’s only in the human food chain. I’m guessing that dog and cat food is far down the list of concerns. FDA is inundated with the human food chain problems and our furry families do not raise the same level of concern. Many of us will remember the Diamond Pet Foods recall and subsequent fallout of dead pets during March 2007,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_pet_food_recalls
So, where was the FDA ahead of that fiasco? For the most part regulatory agencies are reactionary not preventable. Somebody always has to be killed at an intersection before we put up a stop sign. If TOTW has data to suggest their food is safe, let’s see it! Facts matter and so far only the accusers have that information. Of course we should be able to verify the facts so they can be replicated, but, let us not be too trustworthy. Most companies are concerned most about their bottom line. Product review, product development are always driven by profitability. There is a constant review of ways to make a product cheaper and a constant quest to find substitutes for more expensive ingredients. This is just a fact of life…it happens and will continue to happen and the result will be contaminated ingredients and the discovery of toxins and heavy metals and pathogens will, and have, continued without abatement since the beginning of regulation and before. Companies are never ahead of the curve when it comes to these issues. That is not to say they don’t know, it is to say they only care if they get caught. One has only to remember the tobacco company hearings where one by one the major companies CEO’s were asked if tobacco was causing health problems and one by one that said NO! AND, they already had the evidence.
Interested
March 14, 2019 at 10:00 pm
Smoking is the best analogy for those of us who’ve been watching the issue for a decade, I agree.
IN REPLY TO:
“I see we have entered the insult phase of a debate. This is not, however, a debate and needs to be resolved by sharing information on actual test results. Since TOTW is calling the test results unverifiable I would ask what their own test on heavy metals shows and ask, further, that they share the results with us so the information can be verified.”
Exactly or I can’t continue to comment on future revelations because it’s diifficult enough to get folks on board with issues if they see see them only as being alarmist! Unfortunately the average PF consumer won’t react to bad publicity unless the word “Recall” is in the headline. I’ve just read comments where people support the manufacturer, as long as only dry is affected, not wet. Yikes! In the future I think we should be driven by comparable testing results. Anecdotal reports (sad, but true) might be warning signals, but consumers require objectivity to make decisions. Personal opinion is to just exclude the FDA from any expectations; they are absolutely useless, worthless and untrustworthy! Their ineffectiveness/silence only gives the impression that an issue is unimportant.
However, be warned (and hopefully not disillusioned) that TOTW/Diamond won’t defend a “negative” because the accuser must prove what it claims. The less Diamond puts into print, the less there is to be disputed, or reviewed through future online searches. They want little conversation to linger in their research history.
Margaret Arnold
March 15, 2019 at 9:15 pm
The next highest is not the salmon. It’s the puppy formula at 476, which is what I’ve been feeding my pup for the last 5.5 months.
Vic
March 25, 2019 at 4:54 am
You will find heavy metals and arsenic in (any) meat, especially seafood. So if you put meat in pet food you put in these things as well.
I feed my cats Taste of the Wild or Orijen or another product with meat as the main ingredient (up to 80%). Yes, the intake of the heavy metals is higher. But I would choose this any day over other premium brands like Royal Canin that will put 4% of meat in their feed plus lots of relatively useless fillers.
By the way, I hear some people arguing that feeding your pet (raw or cooked) meat only is the way to go. I probably would do this if it was not very expensive and inconvenient. Just realise that levels of heavy metals and arsenic will probably be at least as high as in a dry feed containing lots of meat.
At the end of the line I think that the nutritional value of meat for dogs and especially cats far outweighs the downsides and/or potential risks. Please note: this is just my 2 cents. Some common sense and maybe even partly my gut feeling. I am not an expert on this subject by any means!
BTW
– I’m in Europe, I don’t know if the percentages of meat I mentioned are identical in feed that is sold elsewhere.
Starla
April 22, 2019 at 2:57 pm
My German Shepherd just unexpectedly died. 5 years old and I’ve raised her on taste of the wild venison. I will never be able to prove this to Taste of the Wild but I did have an autopsy done and she had the classic symptoms of the heart problem caused by this food. I’m beyond devastated. Please stop using this food. My dog was perfectly healthy and happy. Went outside to go potty and fell over dead from her heart.
Vic
April 22, 2019 at 6:44 pm
Hi Starla. So sorry to hear about your dog, that’s really sad!
However, I am a bit confused as well. What exactly were the results of the autopsy? You mentioned that your dog was perfectly healthy?
Traci
June 6, 2019 at 7:47 pm
Was TOTW, the only thing you ever fed your dog? Or did you ever do treats or human food?
John
September 8, 2019 at 2:06 am
You’re looking for someone to blame and have thrown any and all critical thinking out in the process. I presume you’re referring to dilated cardiomyopathy, DCM, for which no cause is currently known. It’s suspected to have a genetic component as well as potentially being related to taurine deficiency, neither of which are related to any specific brand of dog food.
Jennifer
April 25, 2019 at 12:41 pm
I just switched over to their wild boar flavor from the venison puppy flavor since my dog turned 1 yr. I have noticed she has been itching a lot more and has had two occurances of pain while pooping. It has been almost a month now that she has been eating this flavor. She has been eating taste of the wild since she was 8 weeks old. Switched to wild boar and bam issues…. Not happy at all. She loved the food but its not agreeing with her at all…
sandy konstantinidis
April 25, 2019 at 3:57 pm
For your peace of mind, please change her food. I had Liberty on it for all her almost 6 and 1/2 years. Switched!
Samuel
April 25, 2019 at 7:03 pm
I don’t know if this contributes in any way. But I was running low on cat food I normally order, so went to my local Tractor Supply and got a small bag of the new (at least for me) Prey line of their kibble. I got the Limited Ingredient Turkey. I figured all of those would be the least offensive. But it’s been like the movie, The Poltergeist around here. Cats vomiting everywhere. I switched over to the “cheaper” outdoor cat food and it has stopped. Keep in mind, I have for over a decade, rotated my cats foods among what seem to be the better brands. At least if something is wrong with a food, or it is found deficient, my animal won’t be eating it for very long, before I move on to another. I tell you this also, so that you will understand that my cats/dogs have NEVER needed an introductory time before switching to another foods. Especially one as unoffensive to the stomach as turkey is. Given this article is about dog food, I don’t know if this is of any help or not to anyone. But when I found this article in my email, I thought I would share. I have contacted the company, but it’s been 3 days and I have not heard back from them. Years ago, I contacted them about an issue, and they responded almost immediately. Maybe they’ve just gotten a lot bigger since then? Any recommendations on if I should “do” anything with the bag, other than get my money back? lol
Susan Thixton
April 25, 2019 at 8:02 pm
Hi Samuel. You can try reporting this to your State Department of Agriculture and/or FDA before you return the bag with the hopes they would test the food. You can find your state representatives here: https://www.aafco.org/Regulatory. And you can report to FDA here: https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/SafetyHealth/ReportaProblem/ucm182403.htm
Cindy
April 26, 2019 at 4:12 pm
This is the dog food that I’ve been using for a year and half. Does anyone know what symptoms of illness a dog would show, or what to watch for?
Jennifer
April 27, 2019 at 8:09 am
I have been wanting to know the same thing. My blue heeler just switched over to the wild boar from the venison puppy formula since she turned 1 yr old the beginning of this month. Since the switch she has been really itchy/sratchy all the time and has some constipation and pain/discomfort in her colon when going potty. I dont know what to feed her now.. Trying to find a good quality dog food is hard to do without all the crap they put in them now. From what I researched those symptoms are on the list but there are more severe ones like vomitting, diarrhea, neurological complications like jerking. I wonder if we can add our situations to the lawsuit with our dogs or just have to wait till it drags out for forever n see how many dogs die from it….. Hope your baby/babies are all ok. Mine doesnt have any life threatening symptoms currently but am looking feverishly for a new brand of dog food to feed her.
Cannoliamo
April 27, 2019 at 10:50 am
Here are a couple of websites that may help to understand lead exposure and elevated chronic lead level symptoms for pets …..
http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/lead-poisoning-still-a-concern-for-pets
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/06/16/lead-poisoning-dogs.aspx
https://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_lead_poisoning
https://www.petwave.com/Dogs/Health/Lead-Poisoning.aspx
https://www.aspcapro.org/resource/shelter-health-poison-control/understanding-and-treating-lead-toxicosis
~Pet Owner~
April 27, 2019 at 1:58 pm
Even if TOTW wasn’t at issue, your young dog shouldn’t be having any of those symptoms (constipation, pain) much less the severe ones related to the lawsuit.
LOOK! Here’s a PF with no pea ingredient! — Sojos Pre-Mix grain free. Add your own (human grade quality) protein. Get off of Kibble!!
I could only find this particular mix at this link: https://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Sojos-Grain-Free-Dog-Food-Mix/199003.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI74zvmOPw4QIVlsVkCh3aRg14EAQYBSABEgIR7fD_BwE Ingredients – sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, celery, apples, whole egg, tricalcium phosphate, flax meal, parsley leaf, carob powder, dried kelp, alfalfa, ginger root, garlic, vitamin D3
Sojourners Farm (1985) helped pioneer a dehydrated base mix for raw feeders. In 1999 my breeder mixed it with raw ground up chicken. Rotated with the original beef EVO brand. As Sojos, now under Wellpet, there’s a diversified, convenient product line. (Yes, I know Wellpet isn’t perfect either, none of them are).
Unfortunately THK Base Mix does include pea, is pricey for volume feeders (using a human grade facility). https://www.chewy.com/honest-kitchen-grain-free-fruit/dp/34266?utm_source=google-product&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=f&utm_content=The%20Honest%20Kitchen&utm_term=&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI162W4Obw4QIVhbxkCh2onw9gEAQYAyABEgLyw_D_BwE However when adding your own protein, Sojos is an equally convenient, affordable alternative.
My dog has a “glass” stomach, and if he can digest this, then any dog can! In my dog’s case grinding up the dry mix first is the secret. Then re-hydrate overnight, including a little mashed up steamed sweet potato/water. Then very well mix in the protein.
David
April 30, 2019 at 4:34 pm
I dont know if anyone will read this far down the comments but I just got off the phone with TOW. I have an 8 year old Rottie who is thriving eating TOW. The lawsuit is baseless. There is no mention of the test facility and upon numerous TOW requests for the report they received nothing. The rep told me the amount of lead stated would set off a metal detector which they actually run their food through. Yes, a metal detector. You can get any information from them on their tests, facilities and so on. What people have to know is that every single bit of natural food has heavy metals in it. That includes organic and raw. You cannot avoid it. Apples have arsenic, meat has iron and so on. The complaint also does not include a single situation where a dog died of lead poisoning or got sick from lead poisoning. How is that possible when you consider how much lead the lawsuit states. Its not POSSIBLE. Its just not. I say to anyone concerned to call TOW and ask them whatever you want. I beat them up for 15 minutes and was more than satisfied with their answer. They have multiple testing labs that are 3rd party and NOT TOW run or owned. Its all 3rd party labs. People, pick up the phone and call or email. I did. I also have a dog that is super healthy and if he was ingesting that much lead for 8 years he would be dead. Not sick. DEAD. Look at the numbers. 12,200mcg/kg would kill any living thing with even minimal exposure. 8 years and not a single health issue. The lawsuit doesnt add up and give TOW the chance. Speak to them! The food is GREAT and my pup is as healthy as hew was when he was a puppy. Rotties only live 8-10 years and Im sure my boy will exceed that based on his health feeding TOW. Good luck to everyone but definitely reach out to them if you are really concerned. I do not work or have ever worked for TOW. I have no connection to them except for the fact I feed my dog their food and have done so for 8 years. I hope everyones dog or cat or pet live long healthy lives. TOW is great food!
~Pet Owner~
June 6, 2019 at 8:40 pm
I read all the way down … I always do. Everyone has something to say! Admirable that your dogs are doing well. And continue to be.
In other cases it’s about accumulation and co-factors. Like what else is going on in the environment. What about the water. What about chemicals in landscaping. Exposure to other sources of heavy metals. In some cases, for certain dogs, it’s about over exposure. And incorporating a PF which is contributing to that situation is just unproductive, as opposed to feeding fresh whole (human edible) foods to mitigate some risks. It’s about a dog eating the very same meal (yikes!) 7 days, 52 weeks, sometimes for years. So what couldn’t be accumulating in a dog’s system?? At minimum, products should be rotated, with non-compromised whole food rotated in and out. And given clean water. (Not out of the garden hose with lead fixtures!)
This isn’t about any one single comment trying to “prove” their viewpoint over another. But is about all of us contributing in a way that helps to create an overall picture. ?
John Matthews Jr
May 27, 2019 at 10:13 pm
My Labs ate Roasted Venison and Bison for 4 years and became really sick. Taste of the wild paid the bills after I talked to their vet on staff after one of the occasions. A year or so later they developed tumors that had to be removed and had stomach and health problems since. We lost them both within 30 days recently. My boy was only 9. I think they knew what was going on back in 2015 and they covered it up instead having a recall. I dealt with the Taste of the Wild in Missouri. Here’s to those who have it coming…
Kevin Weimer
June 28, 2019 at 5:55 pm
We just lost one of our Shelties earlier this year due to severe kidney failure. Been on TOTW all her life. And it was recommended by the vet.
Delvin Daugherty
July 5, 2019 at 6:55 pm
We fed our Papillon Phoebe TOTW Wetlands dry for about 7 of her almost eleven years. She developed an enlarged heart and fluid around the heart symptoms December 3, 2016 and passed December 23, 2016 just about a week shy of her 11th birthday.
Kristian Kimble
July 21, 2019 at 9:53 am
How does one join the class action suit. I’ve been feeding my police K9s Taste of the Wild for more then 8 years.
Bobbi
July 22, 2019 at 2:34 pm
I have fed this to my German Shepherd her whole life. She is now 6 and she was just diagnosed with lymphoma. They gave her 4-6 weeks to live untreated so we started chemo this morning. I have never put a single chemical on my dog and our family eats healthy and organic. Just looking for some sort answer how she may have gotten this cancer. She even eats raw vegetables as treats!! Heartbroken.
jerry r huffman
February 21, 2020 at 9:17 pm
i have a 8 year old shepherd he as eating this food all 8 years no peple food at all he is now going blind going to take him in and him tested for lead he is my service dog changing food tomorrow most likely to late
Madison Finley
November 17, 2020 at 4:36 pm
We’ve been feeding our dogs this brand for years. What symptoms should I lookout for? This news is very sad and alarming.
Netty Daniel
November 19, 2020 at 4:19 pm
We have had two dogs on Taste of The Wild Pacific Stream. Both have died within the last few months, one just yesterday. They both had the same symptoms and declined rapidly like being slowly poisoned. When I found out about these law suits yesterday, I made the decision to have our Lily that dies yesterday autopsied. We are awaiting the results. We also found out through researching yesterday that the FDA has Taste of the Wild on a list pertaining to heart issues resulting from pea, legume etc. proteins. https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
YAFEI Zhang
January 14, 2021 at 10:31 pm
My dog Leslie died today. She ate this food on Dec.12,2020. She has the same symptoms and declined rapidly likely be poisoned too. I just noted the food was made on Oct.2010, and is expired on 1/05/2021, but PECTO still is sell on 12/12/2020 , the food was recommended by the store. It is so sad.