Natural Balance Pet Foods Initiates Voluntary Recall of Certain Dry Pet Food Due to the Potential for Salmonella Contamination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 4, 2012 – Natural Balance Pet Foods announced today that it is issuing a voluntary recall of certain dry pet food formulas manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods at their Gaston, South Carolina facility.

Although there have been no animal illnesses reported and none of the products included in the recall has tested positive for Salmonella, the company has voluntarily initiated this recall as a precautionary measure.

Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. We do not have any confirmed reports of pet illnesses.

Individuals handling dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to a contaminated product. Healthy people who believe they may have been exposed to Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. According to the Centers for Disease Control, people who are more likely to be affected by Salmonella include infants, children younger than 5 years old, organ transplant patients, people with HIV/AIDS and people receiving treatment for cancer. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have received a limited number of reports of salmonellosis, the illness caused by Salmonella.

The following is a list of products affected, for select sizes:

• 5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88650-5
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 12, 2013

• 15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88615-4
Lot Code NBH0101 Best By Date: March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH1203 Best By Date: December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison Dog UPC# 7-23633-88628-4
Lot Code NBH0101 Best By Date: March 5, 2013; March 6, 2013
Lot Code NBH0102 Best By Date: March 7, 2013; March 8, 2013
Lot Code NBH0103 Best By Date: March 12, 2013
Lot Code NBH1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012; December 13, 2012
Lot Code NBH1203 Best By Date: December 13, 2012; December 14, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78755-0
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

• 15 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78715-4
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012;
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog UPC# 7-23633-78728-4
Lot Code NBR1202 Best By Date: December 10, 2012
Lot Code NBR1203 Best By Date: December 21, 2012; December 22, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-65553-8
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

• 15 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-61718-5
Lot Code NBT1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Bison Dog UPC# 7-23633-63031-3
Lot Code NBT1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012
Lot Code NBT1202 Best By Date: December 17, 2012; December 18, 2012
Lot Code NBT1203 Best By Date: December 28, 2012; December 29, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog UPC# 7-23633-80855-2
Lot Code NBV1201 Best By Date: December 9, 2012

• 28 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Large Breed Bites UPC# 7-23633-44443-9
Lot Code NLB1202 Best By Date: December 12, 2012
Lot Code NLB1203 Best By Date: December 20, 2012; December 21, 2012

• 5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites UPC# 7-23633-42300-7
Lot Code NSL1201 Best By Date: December 21, 2012

• 12.5 LB Natural Balance Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Dog Small Breed Bites UPC# 7-23633-42301-4
Lot Code NSL1201 Best By Date: December 21, 2012

Recalled products may have been distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, DC, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming and Canada.

Natural Balance Pet Foods apologizes for any potential issues this may have caused.

Pet owners who are unsure if the product they purchased is included in the recall, or who would like replacement product or a refund, may contact Natural Balance Pet Foods Customer Service at (800) 829-4493 (8am – 5pm, PST). Consumers may also go to www.naturalbalanceinc.com for more information. The company is working with distributors and retailers to ensure all involved date codes are removed from shelves.

###