Blue Buffalo Dog Treats Recall: Understanding the Reason and Impact

Blue Buffalo, a well-known pet food company, has issued a recall of their dog treats due to potential contamination. The recall was announced after the FDA discovered that the treats contained high levels of aflatoxin, a toxic substance produced by mold.

The recalled treats were manufactured in the company's Joplin, Missouri facility. According to the FDA, the affected products were distributed nationwide and were sold in various retailers and online.

The recall affects several types of dog treats, including Blue Buffalo's Wilderness and Blue Buffalo's Jerky Strips. The company has instructed customers to stop feeding the affected products to their pets and to return them to the place of purchase for a full refund.

The recall is a precautionary measure, as the FDA has not yet confirmed any illnesses or deaths directly linked to the contaminated treats.

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Blue Buffalo has had to issue a number of pet food recalls going back to 2007.

One of the most recent recalls was in March 2017, when Blue Buffalo recalled a single run of Blue Wilderness canned dog food due to potentially excessive levels of beef thyroid hormone.

A month earlier, in February 2017, Blue Buffalo recalled some cans of its Homestyle Recipe dog food because of possible metal contamination.

There was also a recall in May 2016, due to moisture problems and the possibility of mold, affecting some Blue Buffalo sweet potato-flavored dog food.

In November 2015, a single lot of Blue Buffalo chew bones was recalled due to potential salmonella contamination.

The company also recalled a limited number of Blue Kitty Yums cat treats in November 2015, following reports of propylene glycol, which is unacceptable in cat treats under FDA guidelines.

Blue Buffalo has also been involved in larger recalls, such as the 2007 Menu Foods/melamine recall, which affected their products manufactured by American Nutrition Inc.

In this instance, Blue Buffalo denied knowledge or consent of the additive being in the product, stating they trusted their supplier.

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Blue Buffalo has had a history of recalls, with the most recent one being in March 2017 due to potentially excessive levels of beef thyroid hormone in their canned dog food.

Routine testing at the manufacturing site revealed the presence of Salmonella in the product, which is a critical element of good manufacturing practices that Blue Buffalo skipped.

In 2015, a Blue Buffalo recall on a single lot of chew bones was issued due to potential Salmonella contamination, highlighting the importance of proper testing and quality control measures.

The company's own founder, Bill Bishop, acknowledged the randomness of the 2007 melamine recalls, which were caused by a supplier's contamination of rice protein concentrate, and expressed regret over trusting the supplier without proper oversight.

Blue Buffalo's recall history is a stark reminder of the importance of quality control measures in pet food manufacturing. Routine testing at the manufacturing site revealed the presence of Salmonella in the product, but the product was already shipped to PetSmart Stores in 9 States.

The absence of "Test and Hold" procedures, a critical element of good manufacturing practices, contributed to this issue. This step, which involves testing products before releasing them to the market, was skipped by Blue Buffalo.

The FDA guidance on Salmonella testing recommends, but does not require, that food facilities maintain control of a food that is being tested for the presence of Salmonella, pending the final outcome of that testing. This lack of control can lead to adulterated foods entering commerce.

The frequency of recalls for Blue Buffalo has increased recently, and the company's aggressive growth coupled with outsourcing manufacturing could be the driving factor behind this trend. In fact, a 2015 cat food recall highlighted the risks associated with outsourcing manufacturing.

Here are some key reasons why Blue Buffalo's recall happened:

These factors highlight the importance of prioritizing quality control and transparency in pet food manufacturing.

Blue Buffalo has a history of false advertising, with a notable lawsuit in 2014 against Purina. They were accused of lying about their ingredients, specifically claiming their pet food didn't contain chicken/poultry by-products.

Blue Buffalo acknowledged that a substantial portion of their pet foods did contain poultry by-product meal, despite their advertisements claiming otherwise. They paid a $32 million settlement fund.

Their reputation took a hit due to these lawsuits, and it's unclear how they'll move forward. Hopefully, they'll address customer concerns with actions rather than just words.

Blue Buffalo has had its fair share of recalls over the years. In 2017, they recalled a single run of Blue Wilderness canned dog food due to excessive levels of beef thyroid hormone.

Blue Buffalo also recalled some cans of its Homestyle Recipe dog food in February 2017 due to possible metal contamination. Additionally, they recalled wet dog food cups that month due to a packaging problem.

In May 2016, moisture problems and the possibility of mold prompted a limited recall of some Blue Buffalo sweet potato-flavored dog food. This was not the first time they had a recall related to moisture issues.

In November 2015, Blue Buffalo recalled a single lot of some chew bones due to potential salmonella contamination. A month earlier, they also recalled a limited number of Blue Kitty Yums cat treats due to reports of propylene glycol.

There was also a recall in October 2010 due to a sequencing error made by an ingredient supplier. The supplier had contaminated some products with Vitamin D during a previous processing.

In April 2007, Blue Buffalo was affected by the larger Menu Foods/melamine recall. They confirmed the presence of melamine in rice protein concentrate in food manufactured by American Nutrition Inc. for Blue Buffalo.

Here is a list of some of the Blue Buffalo recalls mentioned earlier:

If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact Blue Buffalo Customer Service at 855-201-4331.