Your dog’s diet is imperative to a healthy and happy life. And if your pooch loves a particular brand, you want to know everything about it from its ingredients to recipes and more. In my article today, we look at the Taste of the Wild dog food recall in detail.
A somewhat new dog food brand, Taste of the Wild was introduced to the pet food market about 2007. The brand aimed at meeting the increased need for high-quality natural dog foods in the market as well as grain-free diets with healthy ingredients.
Taste of the Wild is produced and marketed by Diamond Pet Foods, a family-owned firm that was established in 1970 by Schell and Kampeter. The two were brothers-in-law with a common vision and bought a former milling company.
The company’s headquarters are located in Meta, Missouri, and has facilities in Gaston, Lathrop, and the newest one is in Ripon. Their dog food is highly recommended by many reviewers. Most of them commended the brand for using an adequate amount of named meats as the source of animal-based protein.
Like many great and reliable dog food brands, however, it is not without its downfalls. From dog food recalls to lawsuits, you will find our article today informative and very helpful.
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Has the Taste of the Wild dog food ever been recalled?
Although most dog owners highly recommend the Taste of the Wild dog food brand, their major concern is on Diamond Pet Food due to its recall history. That being said, Taste of the Wild has only been recalled once in 2012 due to possible salmonella contamination. A Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report dated May 5, 2012, pulled all the brand’s dog foods with several specifications that we shall give in detail at the recall history section below.
Taste of the Wild Dog Food Recall History
The Taste of the Wild brand line comprises 3 products, including Taste of the Wild, Taste of the Wild Prey Limited Ingredient, and Taste of the Wild Ancient Grains. The one dog food recall in May 2012 on the brand was a huge one. In fact, the recalled dog food due to positive tests of salmonella contamination had sickened dozens of people and lots of pooches. The foods all came from a single Diamond Pet Food facility in South California.
Check out the table below:
| Year | Reason for Recall | Announcement | What Was Recalled |
| May 2012 | Possible salmonella contamination | FDA report dated 5th May 2012. Read the FDA Report here. | All Sizes Of Taste Of The Wild Dry Dog Food With The Following: Production Codes With Numbers 2 Or 3 In The 9th Digit Letter X In The 10th Or 9th DigitBest By date of December 9, 2012, through April 7, 2013. |
That must have been a wide range of products involved in the recall.
Taste of the Wild Dog Food Complaints
While the Taste of the Wild dog food brand has had one major recall, the manufacturing firm has found itself in hot soup due to lawsuits. In recent years, the brand has had numerous class-action lawsuits due to complaints about dog food. Check out the information in detail below:
| Lawsuit | Lawsuit Date | Complaint |
| Jackson et al. v. Schell & Kampeter Inc. d/b/a Diamond Pet Foods et al. | February 2019, Illinois | Claims positive tests for lead, arsenic, lead pesticides as well as other lethal constituents in Taste of the Wild dog food. Read case info here or here |
| Grossman v. Schell & Kampeter Inc. d/b/a Diamond Pet Foods et al. | August 2018 | Claims unidentified heavy metals, pesticides, acrylamide, as well as bisphenol A (BPA) in Taste of the Wild dog food. Read more about this case here. |
| Marciano v. Schell & Kampeter Inc. d/b/a Diamond Pet Foods et al. | May 2012 | Claimed neglect, excessive supplementation, state law infringements, and more for salmonella contamination recall on Taste of the Wild dog food among other brands. Read more about the $2 million case settlement here. |
The 2012 lawsuit against Taste of the Wild was in due course settled for $2 million where some clients got $10 checks in the mail. Other customers also collected refunds for spent vet bills as well.
Taste of the Wild Dog Food Heart Disease
Taste of the Wild dog food is also featured in the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) June 2019 investigation on sixteen (16) pet food brands that are under scrutiny for heart disease. The dog food was fed to pets that developed dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) from 2014 to 2019. We found this information in a CBS News Article here.
Most of these incidents are found in large dogs but this time the case was different as even small dogs were affected as well. The major culprits of heart disease were caused by grain-free dog foods. Taste of the Wild has 10.1% of the total 524 DCM cases. With a few answers from the FDA as of now, there has been no recalls on any of the featured brands. However, the most irritating response they gave regarding the issue is that it is a complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors.
Speaking to the VIN News Service, a Diamond Pet Food company spokesperson said that Taste of the Wild is linked to causing DCM in 53 pets only. The company has, however, sold about 29 million bags of the brand. She believes there are more unanswered queries regarding the inquiry.
Taste of the Wild Dog Food Ingredients
Usually, the ingredients of the brand depend on the formula you choose for your canine buddy as they offer a range of products. Most of the ingredients used by Taste of the Wild dog food are sourced from the United States. Nonetheless, some that are not locally obtainable have been outsourced from reliable suppliers in different countries. They include New Zealand (lamb), Germany (potato protein), China (handpicked nutrients), and Belgium (chicory). You can always check this info on the backside of the food packaging.
Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Recall
There is no record of the Taste of the Wild high prairie grain-free dry dog food having a recall in any of the sites, including the FDA site.
The High Prairie Adult dry dog food formula is a fantastic choice for younger pooches and active dogs that need high protein diets to thrive well. This recipe includes a range of proteins from fish and animals to provide your pooch with vital amino acids needed for a balanced diet. The major con for this formula is that it contains chicken which is a common allergen to dogs.
Wrap-Up
Overall, Taste of the Wild is an excellent dog food brand that tries to use natural and healthy ingredients to keep your doggie happy and healthy. Compared to others in its class, the brand only has had just one major recall which is a good sign of trust. And although it has several lawsuits and an impending FDA investigation, that is common in the pet food industry. We would recommend the brand, but always consider your dog’s needs first.
FAQs
Q: Is Taste of the Wild Safe now?
A: Yes, there is no current active recall on any brands by Taste of the Wild. We will be sure to update this article if there is any recall, lawsuits, or complaints about their kibble. Dog Food Advisor has rated their kibble at 4.5 out of 5 with a justification for the high rating being high-quality grain-free ingredients such as named animal-based protein and other US-sourced ingredients.
Q: What are some of the best Taste of the Wild Dog Food.
A: Below are some of the best Taste of the Wild dog food;
- Taste of the Wild High Prairie Grain-Free – 4.5/5 by DFA
- Taste of the Wild with Ancient Grains – 4.5/5 by DFA and 4.7/5 on Amazon by 16k+ customers
- Taste of the Wild Cans – 5/5 by DFA and 4.5/5 by 2k+ customers on Amazon
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Hi there! My name is Alex Landy, one of the co-founders here at Our Pets HQ and a parent to a small-breed Yorkie. I am a published author of two books on dog breeding and currently write on various pet-related blogs about caring for dogs. I am a parent of two daughters and live outside Boston where I spend a lot of time with family and serve in different breeding clubs. You can reach me at alex@ourpetshq.com
