Honest Kitchen® issued a recall on February 21, 2013, for five lots of the company’s Verve™, Zeal™, and Thrive™ dog foods. Potential Salmonella contamination was the reason for the recall.
The recall was initiated when the company learned that one of the ingredients in the affected products had been recalled by its supplier for Salmonella contamination. While the company did test the affected batches and has not received any reports of illness associated with the product, it decided to err on the side of caution and issue the recall.
Symptoms of Salmonella poisoning among pets include fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Additionally, humans can become infected through contact with their pets or the recalled product. In either case, pet owners should seek the advice of a health professional if they think they or their pet have been exposed to Salmonella.
Affected products in this recall include batches of the dog foods sold through retailers, mail order, or online across the United States and in Canada, and were produced between August and November 2012. The following table contains the name of the products, the item codes production date, expiration date, size, and lot number for each of the recalled items.
| Item Code | Product Name | Production Date | Expiration Date | Size | Lot Number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V4 + VR | VERVE™ | 8/20/12 | 8/20/13 | 4 lb. box,10 lb. box | 2332A (batches 1-3) |
| VR | VERVE™ | 11/1/12 | 11/1/13 | 10 lb. box | 3062A (batches 8 & 9) |
| TM | THRIVE™ | 9/18/12 | 9/18/13 | 1 oz. sample | 2622A (batch 3) |
| Z4 + ZR | ZEAL™ | 8/14/12 | 8/14/13 | 4 lb. box,10 lb. box | 2272A (batches 1–5) |
| ZR | ZEAL™ | 9/21/12 | 9/21/13 | 10 lb. box | 2652A (batches 1–4) |
Source
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Consumers who bought the recalled product can receive a full refund for the product
along with $1 to cover the cost of postage, by mailing the UPC, along with the lot code
with a completed Reimbursement Form to
The Honest Kitchen® at 145 14th Street, San Diego, CA 92101.
Address the envelope to Attn: Reimbursements. To contact the company directly about the recall,
consumers can call The Honest Kitchen® at 1-866-437-9729, or email them.