Bugs in our Natural Balance food - Page 2 - Maltese Dogs Forum : Spoiled Maltese Forums

**mom2bijou** · 06-12-2009, 12:38 AM

Yikes! I use that same food but always buy online. I would be so upset too! I always inspect the kibble too bc you just never know. Definitely return the bag.

Speaking of bugs, I found an ant floating in my tea yesterday. I almost threw up!

**dwerten** · 06-12-2009, 01:00 AM

i would blame petco more than natural balance

poor baby

**dwerten** · 06-12-2009, 01:02 AM

yep 100% agree - whole foods sells natural balance

QUOTE (TotallyTotoNTuffy @ Jun 11 2009, 06:27 PM)

Quote:

There were articles all over the internet last year about the FDA being involved in a raid at one of PETCO's distribution centers. Here is one article:

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/0...seize_unsa.php

You might be better off getting your food at a different store. If I were you, I would return the bag for a refund but I would also report it to the FDA.[/B]

**3Maltmom** · 06-12-2009, 01:50 AM

I feed NB, and purchase from my local feed store. I love it, they are always packed with customers, and the food is
flying off the shelves. There's no doubt, in my mind, the food is nice, and fresh. The cost is also a huge difference (much less than Petco).

I will stop at Petco, in an emergency, but buy very little, and never any dry food.

I had a client buy cat food at the grocery store, he gets home, opens it, and said it was swarming with some type of bug.
He said they were almost flying out at him. It scared him ~

**08chrissy08** · 06-12-2009, 02:21 AM

I'm not a big fan of Petco. I used to get pet food there for Jazz and Pixie, but completely stopped going there after something I saw.

I was at the registers one day waiting in line and saw these dental bone things up there in a bin on clearance. I took a look at them and noticed that a lot of them had holes and weird things in the bones themselves inside a closed package. It ws only after looking at one for a good long moment that I realized the black flecks inside were bugs! Several of the bugs were dead but there were live ones too and they were burrowing in the bones. I looked at a few of them and most of the bones in the bin were like this. I called attention to it and the chashier immediately said they would be removed. I made my purchases and left. Fastforward a week. I go back for more food only to find the bones all still there by the register. This time I called a manager over and showed it to her. She just kinda shrugged and said that yeah that happened a lot and that she would remove it. Another week later, I come back again. Still there. I checked to see if they had been removed before I even went and got the food for my fluffs. I pulled a manager over again, a different one this time, and pointed it out to her. Told her that it had been pointed out twice before and nothing was done. I told her I was never, ever coming back to the store and then left. As I was leaving, I heard her yell for someone to get rid of them. I kept my word. Haven't been back since.

**camfan** · 06-12-2009, 08:56 AM

Whole Foods sells Natural Balance?? There's a Whole Foods minutes from my work...BUT...they are super costly so i can only imagine that they are selling the stuff for the maximum price--we jokingly call it "Whole Paycheck." I'll have to check and see the price...

I ALWAYS prefer to buy from the local merchants over Petco...however, half the time I go to our local store for food the shelves are EMPTY and it's more than a week until the next shipping, yada, yada. I can't afford to be making wasted trips--even if it is only a slight detour on my way home from work. Working full time and I have two kids at home I don't have ANY spare time. I was buying online but I'm not sure that is the best alternative for me, either. I ended up going to Petco last night (which is nowhere near my house) to pick up treats b/c the local store was out. The bag of treats I get at the local vendor is $9.99--at Petco they are almost $14!

**camfan** · 06-12-2009, 09:08 AM

QUOTE (camfan @ Jun 12 2009, 07:56 AM)

Quote:

Whole Foods sells Natural Balance?? There's a Whole Foods minutes from my work...BUT...they are super costly so i can only imagine that they are selling the stuff for the maximum price--we jokingly call it "Whole Paycheck." I'll have to check and see the price...

I ALWAYS prefer to buy from the local merchants over Petco...however, half the time I go to our local store for food the shelves are EMPTY and it's more than a week until the next shipping, yada, yada. I can't afford to be making wasted trips--even if it is only a slight detour on my way home from work. Working full time and I have two kids at home I don't have ANY spare time. I was buying online but I'm not sure that is the best alternative for me, either. I ended up going to Petco last night (which is nowhere near my house) to pick up treats b/c the local store was out. The bag of treats I get at the local vendor is $9.99--at Petco they are almost $14![/B]

Just called our Whole Foods...they don't carry it...

**thinkpink** · 06-12-2009, 09:36 AM

QUOTE (dwerten @ Jun 11 2009, 11:00 PM)

Quote:

i would blame petco more than natural balance

poor baby[/B]

Yep, I agree. I feed NB and while it's a new food for us I have yet to have a problem. Back when I used to shop at Petsmart it wasn't unusual for me to see tiny bugs all over some of their bags of food. I think the large chain stores have a harder time keeping their eye on that sort of thing than a smaller local store would.

**dwerten** · 06-12-2009, 11:44 AM

bummer luckily ours does - many times i have asked them to order items and they do and it comes the next day and they call me to pick it up so maybe ask if they can do that for you - depends on manufacturer -- i would be careful of the large chain stores more so petco after the info came out about their facilities i would not buy from them

The smaller stores do not have as large of stock so i think it is more fresh and i always check the bags - sometimes people poor into containers to look at food first before giving so they can see if anything lurking in there. I found rat poop in a vet food before it happens sadly

and can happen in people food too

QUOTE (camfan @ Jun 12 2009, 07:08 AM)

Quote:

QUOTE (camfan @ Jun 12 2009, 07:56 AM)

Quote:

Whole Foods sells Natural Balance?? There's a Whole Foods minutes from my work...BUT...they are super costly so i can only imagine that they are selling the stuff for the maximum price--we jokingly call it "Whole Paycheck." I'll have to check and see the price...

I ALWAYS prefer to buy from the local merchants over Petco...however, half the time I go to our local store for food the shelves are EMPTY and it's more than a week until the next shipping, yada, yada. I can't afford to be making wasted trips--even if it is only a slight detour on my way home from work. Working full time and I have two kids at home I don't have ANY spare time. I was buying online but I'm not sure that is the best alternative for me, either. I ended up going to Petco last night (which is nowhere near my house) to pick up treats b/c the local store was out. The bag of treats I get at the local vendor is $9.99--at Petco they are almost $14![/B]

Just called our Whole Foods...they don't carry it...
[/B][/QUOTE]

**mamamia** · 06-12-2009, 02:40 PM

I went to the feed store today and spoke to the owner about what happened. She said those bugs are called Food moth's. She said in all honesty...they are in ALL food....including human food. She said that the food would have been contaminated from the manufacturer. Most of you know...the bags of NB come sealed in plastic. She also said by putting the food in the airtight plastic container just incubated the bugs

So I asked her....so how should I store my food. She said she spoke to the Solid Gold distributor and they recommend keeping it in the original bag sealed with a clip.

So I have decided to switch his food to the Orijen Fish formula and I'll only be buying from the local feed supply.

06-12-2009, 12:38 AM	#11 (permalink)
mom2bijou Maltese Guru Name: Tammy Dog's Name: Chrisman's Benjamin Angelo & Marcris Sweet Dreams Emma Anjelica Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 6,839	Yikes! I use that same food but always buy online. I would be so upset too! I always inspect the kibble too bc you just never know. Definitely return the bag. Speaking of bugs, I found an ant floating in my tea yesterday. I almost threw up! __________________

06-12-2009, 01:00 AM	#12 (permalink)
dwerten Maltese Guru Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 4,484	i would blame petco more than natural balance poor baby __________________

06-12-2009, 01:50 AM	#14 (permalink)
3Maltmom Maltese Guru Name: Deb Dog's Name: Jops,Sammie,Frankie,LBB,Henry,Daisy,Lulu Join Date: May 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,147	I feed NB, and purchase from my local feed store. I love it, they are always packed with customers, and the food is flying off the shelves. There's no doubt, in my mind, the food is nice, and fresh. The cost is also a huge difference (much less than Petco). I will stop at Petco, in an emergency, but buy very little, and never any dry food. I had a client buy cat food at the grocery store, he gets home, opens it, and said it was swarming with some type of bug. He said they were almost flying out at him. It scared him ~ __________________

06-12-2009, 02:21 AM	#15 (permalink)
08chrissy08 Maltese Guru Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,566	I'm not a big fan of Petco. I used to get pet food there for Jazz and Pixie, but completely stopped going there after something I saw. I was at the registers one day waiting in line and saw these dental bone things up there in a bin on clearance. I took a look at them and noticed that a lot of them had holes and weird things in the bones themselves inside a closed package. It ws only after looking at one for a good long moment that I realized the black flecks inside were bugs! Several of the bugs were dead but there were live ones too and they were burrowing in the bones. I looked at a few of them and most of the bones in the bin were like this. I called attention to it and the chashier immediately said they would be removed. I made my purchases and left. Fastforward a week. I go back for more food only to find the bones all still there by the register. This time I called a manager over and showed it to her. She just kinda shrugged and said that yeah that happened a lot and that she would remove it. Another week later, I come back again. Still there. I checked to see if they had been removed before I even went and got the food for my fluffs. I pulled a manager over again, a different one this time, and pointed it out to her. Told her that it had been pointed out twice before and nothing was done. I told her I was never, ever coming back to the store and then left. As I was leaving, I heard her yell for someone to get rid of them. I kept my word. Haven't been back since. __________________

06-12-2009, 08:56 AM	#16 (permalink)
camfan Maltese Guru Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: MA (Boston area) Posts: 7,136	Whole Foods sells Natural Balance?? There's a Whole Foods minutes from my work...BUT...they are super costly so i can only imagine that they are selling the stuff for the maximum price--we jokingly call it "Whole Paycheck." I'll have to check and see the price... I ALWAYS prefer to buy from the local merchants over Petco...however, half the time I go to our local store for food the shelves are EMPTY and it's more than a week until the next shipping, yada, yada. I can't afford to be making wasted trips--even if it is only a slight detour on my way home from work. Working full time and I have two kids at home I don't have ANY spare time. I was buying online but I'm not sure that is the best alternative for me, either. I ended up going to Petco last night (which is nowhere near my house) to pick up treats b/c the local store was out. The bag of treats I get at the local vendor is $9.99--at Petco they are almost $14! __________________

06-12-2009, 02:40 PM	#20 (permalink)
mamamia Maltese Guru Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: North Florida Posts: 848	I went to the feed store today and spoke to the owner about what happened. She said those bugs are called Food moth's. She said in all honesty...they are in ALL food....including human food. She said that the food would have been contaminated from the manufacturer. Most of you know...the bags of NB come sealed in plastic. She also said by putting the food in the airtight plastic container just incubated the bugs So I asked her....so how should I store my food. She said she spoke to the Solid Gold distributor and they recommend keeping it in the original bag sealed with a clip. So I have decided to switch his food to the Orijen Fish formula and I'll only be buying from the local feed supply. __________________

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