Petsumer Report provides a review of Natural Balance Cat Food this month.
Natural Balance pet foods are a product of DelMonte Foods. Dry foods are manufactured at Diamond Pet Foods, canned foods are made at American Nutrition. Dog Rolls and frozen products are manufactured at Natural Balance. Meat meats (example chicken meal) contains muscle meat only. Per Natural Balance, all fish meal, ocean fish meal, and salmon meal ingredients are preserved with Naturox. For more information on Natural Balance Pet Foods visit http://www.naturalbalanceinc.com/
Recall Information
2007 numerous products recall – no active FDA link
2010
2012
Natural Balance L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets Green Pea & Chicken Cat Food Dry
Petsumer Report Rating:
Pledge to Quality and Origin:
Ingredients: Peas, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Pea Protein, Chicken Fat (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols), Flaxseed, Natural Flavor, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Chloride, Dl-Methionine, Choline Chloride, Taurine, Natural Mixed Tocopherols, Zinc Proteinate, Vitamin E Supplement, Niacin, Manganese Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Zinc Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B-1), Vitamin A Supplement, Biotin, Potassium Iodide, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin (Vitamin B-2), Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B-6), Vitamin B-12 Supplement, Manganous Oxide, Sodium Selenite, Vitamin D-3 Supplement, Folic Acid.
Crude Protein: 30% minimum Crude Fat: 12% minimum
Crude Fiber: 4% Moisture: 10%
Calories: 355 kcal/per cup
Ingredient Quality: The Natural Balance Customer Service representative stated ingredients are human grade, no information provided if ingredients are USDA inspected and approved.
Country of Origin: Company stated ingredients are sourced from the US excluding lamb from New Zealand. No information provided to country of origin of supplements.
Risk Ingredients: None.
Manufactured by: Dry foods are manufactured at Diamond Pet Foods, canned foods are made at American Nutrition.
Shelf Life: Manufacturer states shelf life is 18 months; this would mean the ‘Best by’ date on the packaging is 18 months past the date the food was made (method for the consumer to determine how fresh or old the food is).
Plus:
- Ingredients are human grade/quality.
- The mineral listings read to be chelated or proteinated (for better mineral absorption).
Minus:
- Contains multiple pea ingredients that could cause gastrointestinal issues in some pets.
- This food does not contain probiotics – friendly bacteria (benefits the intestinal system and in turn the immune system of the pet).
Learn More:
This pet food contains peas and pea protein/fiber. Click Here to learn about risks associated with high levels of pea ingredients in pet food.
The sodium selenite ingredient in this cat food is not noted under minus as it would be in a dog food. The reason: the safer form of delivering selenium to the pet food, selenium yeast, is not yet approved for use in cat foods by the FDA. This manufacturer is using sodium selenite because it is the only option for this supplement. Click Here to read more about selenium.
This pet food contains a synthetic amino acid DL-Methionine. Click Here to read more about this supplement.
To explain the rating – only the first five ingredients – the majority of the food – are rated and listed in bold type. Grey Font ingredients imply ingredients providing pets little to no nutrition, and Red Font ingredients are Red Flag ingredients that are potentially dangerous to pets. Quality ingredients are listed in bold black font. Five quality ingredients gives the pet food a five Paw Print rating. Four quality ingredients gives the pet food a four Paw Print rating, and so forth. Four Paw Prints is the highest rating possible for a canned pet food. Do not rely on the paw print rating alone; read the Plus/Minus information and manufacturer information at the top of each page.
Petsumer Report is a division of TruthaboutPetFood.com and and proceeds help to support the advocacy work we do. Petsumer Report is not downloaded to your computer. All subscribers access Petsumer Report™ through a User Name and Password system. If you have not subscribed to Petsumer Report™ and would like to – click here
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
TruthaboutPetFood.com
Association for Truth in Pet Food
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
What’s in Your Pet’s Food?
Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com
2013 List
Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here
Have you read Buyer Beware? Click Here
Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
Leave a Reply