Here’s a pretty useful resource if you want to see if the brand you feed has ever issued recalls: the FDA’s list of pet food recalls. Note, however, that it only documents recalls starting January 1, 2006. Although it claims to be current through October 20, 2009, it still doesn’t list the Premium Edge recall.
Premium Edge Cat Food Recall
Premium Edge is voluntarily recalling two different formulas of its dry food for cats: Finicky Adult and Hairball. More details in the press release on their website.
The reason for this recall? Apparently, the cats affected suffered from thiamine deficiency. Pet food recalls are typically driven by contamination with toxins, not nutrient deficiencies, though earlier this year, Nutro had to recall several batches of cat food for sky-high levels of zinc.
Premium Edge’s parent company, Diamond Food, has had problems in the past with aflatoxin contamination in their dog foods; Diamond was also involved in the massive 2007 pet food recall. This review of Premium Edge food has a heart-breaking comment by a person whose cat died eating one of the recalled foods.
This is yet another demonstration that commercial pet food isn’t necessarily safe, much less complete and balanced nutrition for your cat.
For those of you feeling wary about Diamond Pet Food, you can view a fairly comprehensive list of brands they manufacture on their Wikipedia page. Some of them are big-name “natural” brands, like Natural Balance and Canidae.