The 2007 Melamine Recall: A Defining Moment
For many pet owners, the question of whether Natural Balance uses ingredients from China is directly tied to the catastrophic 2007 pet food recall. In April 2007, Natural Balance Pet Foods found melamine in samples of its food, which led to a recall. The source of the contamination was traced to rice protein concentrate imported from a Chinese firm. This industrial chemical, sometimes used as a fertilizer in Asia, caused kidney failure in pets across the US. The incident was part of a larger scandal that rocked the entire pet food industry, prompting a widespread consumer concern about the origin of pet food ingredients. The recall was a pivotal moment that forced pet food manufacturers, including Natural Balance, to re-evaluate their quality control measures and supply chains.
Natural Balance's Response and Enhanced Safety Protocols
Following the 2007 recall, Natural Balance undertook significant changes to rebuild consumer trust. The company established its own ISO 17025-accredited laboratory to proactively test every single production run for nine different toxins before any product is shipped to retailers. This was a direct and effective response to the crisis, demonstrating a serious commitment to quality and safety. The brand now promotes its "Feed with Confidence" program, which assures pet owners of rigorous testing standards. By entering a product's UPC and lot number on their website, customers can view the test results for that specific batch, a level of transparency that was unthinkable before the recalls. These stringent protocols are designed to prevent a recurrence of past issues, regardless of ingredient origin.
Understanding "Globally Sourced Ingredients"
On its website, Natural Balance clearly states that its recipes are "Made in the U.S.A. with high-quality, globally sourced ingredients". This phrase is crucial to understanding the company's current practices. "Globally sourced" does not explicitly exclude ingredients from China, but it is a common industry term. Many pet food companies source certain vitamins, minerals, and other specialty ingredients from international suppliers, as these raw materials may not be widely available or cost-effective to produce domestically. The key takeaway for pet owners is that while the finished product is cooked and crafted in the US, the raw materials can come from anywhere in the world. Natural Balance's emphasis on "high-quality" and its rigorous testing program are its main guarantees of safety, rather than claiming exclusive U.S. ingredient sourcing.
The Evolution of Natural Balance Ownership and Policy
Since its founding by Dick Van Patten in 1989, Natural Balance has changed hands multiple times, with each new owner potentially influencing company policy, including sourcing. The timeline of ownership is as follows:
- Founded in 1989 by actor Dick Van Patten.
- Acquired by Del Monte Foods in 2013, which later became Big Heart Pet Brands.
- Big Heart Pet Brands was sold to J.M. Smucker in 2015.
- Private-equity firm Nexus Capital Management acquired Natural Balance in 2020.
- In 2023, Nexus merged Natural Balance with Canidae Pet Food Company under a new parent company, Ethos Pet Brands.
This history shows that the company today operates under a different management structure and ownership than it did during the 2007 melamine recall. While the original brand legacy remains, the current policies, particularly regarding ingredient sourcing and safety testing, are a direct result of these later corporate developments.
Key Ingredient Sourcing
- Vitamins and amino acids
- Certain minerals and trace elements
- Unique carbohydrates like cassava flour or rice varieties
- Specialty oils and fats
Consumer Transparency Checklist
- Check the product packaging for a 'Made in the U.S.A.' claim for manufacturing.
- Look for a batch code or lot number on the bag.
- Use the batch number on the Natural Balance website to request test results.
- Contact the company's customer care team with specific sourcing questions.
- Stay informed about any new pet food industry news or recalls.
Natural Balance Sourcing: Before and After the 2007 Recall
| Feature | Before 2007 Recall | After 2007 Recall (Current) |
|---|---|---|
| Sourcing Transparency | Less transparent; reliance on third-party suppliers, including some from China for key ingredients like rice protein concentrate. | Increased transparency; implemented "globally sourced ingredients" policy with verifiable batch testing. |
| Testing Protocols | Less stringent; did not have a company-owned, ISO-accredited lab for proactive testing of every batch. | Rigorous; established an ISO 17025-accredited lab to test every production run for toxins. |
| Melamine Risk | Directly impacted by a melamine-contaminated ingredient from China. | Greatly reduced; batch testing specifically checks for nine different toxins, including melamine. |
| Corporate Ownership | Owned by founder Dick Van Patten and Joey Herrick. | Owned by Ethos Pet Brands (since 2023 merger). |
| Consumer Assurance | Relying on brand reputation; resulted in a significant crisis of consumer trust. | Restored trust through enhanced protocols and website transparency for specific batch test results. |
Conclusion: A Shift from Risk to Rigorous Testing
While Natural Balance has a well-documented history of using a Chinese-sourced ingredient that led to a 2007 recall, the company's current operational practices have changed dramatically. The brand now operates under new ownership and explicitly states its products are made in the USA using globally sourced ingredients. Most importantly, it has implemented robust, transparent testing protocols to ensure the safety of every batch. The use of "globally sourced" remains a broad term and does not guarantee that no ingredients come from China, but the company's commitment to rigorous testing and transparency offers a level of assurance to concerned pet owners. For those seeking absolute certainty, contacting the company directly for a specific batch is the most reliable method.
For more detailed information on their safety standards, you can visit the Natural Balance website's "Feed with Confidence" page.
