Natural Balance Dog Food Recall & Safety Review
Manufacturer: Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc. (Big Heart Pet Brands / Smucker) · Also known as: Natural Balance L.I.D., Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Diets
Safety Status
Natural Balance's dog food lines were recalled four times between 2007 and 2012: twice in 2007 tied to the industry-wide melamine crisis (its own Venison dry line, then canned products from a co-packer using melamine-contaminated rice protein), once in 2007 when co-packer Castleberry's Food Co. recalled canned products over a botulism-contamination risk, and once in 2010 for a positive Salmonella test on its Sweet Potato & Chicken dry recipe. A 2012 recall was a precaution tied to sister-plant contamination at manufacturer Diamond Pet Foods (Natural Balance's own retained samples tested negative). No recalls have affected its dog food lines since 2012.
Want extra peace of mind?
Natural Balance has some flagged concerns. These alternatives have a cleaner track record if you'd rather not take the risk.
- No FDA-verified recalls on record
- Risk score 7/100 — reviewed 2026-07-22
- No FDA-verified recalls on record
- Risk score 7/100 — reviewed 2026-07-22
- 1 recall on record, all resolved
- Risk score 16/100 — reviewed 2026-07-22
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Special concern
Recall History (4)
- medium severityResolved
Precautionary recall of dry dog food recipes manufactured at a Diamond Pet Foods facility during that plant's Salmonella Infantis outbreak; the company's own retained samples tested negative
Affected products: 5 Natural Balance dry dog food recipes manufactured by Diamond Pet Foods
Source: FDA CVMView source - medium severityResolved
Routine FDA surveillance sample of Sweet Potato & Chicken dry dog food tested positive for Salmonella
Affected products: Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Chicken Dry Dog Food
Source: FDA CVMView source - high severityResolved
Co-packer Castleberry's Food Company recalled canned goods for potential Clostridium botulinum (botulism) toxin risk following a sterilization-process failure at its Augusta, GA plant; Natural Balance's canned dog food, produced at that plant, was swept into the recall as a precaution
Affected products: 4 varieties of Natural Balance canned dog food
Source: FDA CVMView source - high severityResolved
Melamine contamination found in rice protein concentrate used in its dry Venison dog food; expanded April 27, 2007 after supplier American Nutrition Inc. confirmed the same contaminated rice protein was also used in Natural Balance's canned dog food line — part of the broader 2007 industry-wide melamine pet food crisis
Affected products: Natural Balance Venison dry dog food, Natural Balance Venison & Brown Rice canned dog food and dog treats
Source: FDA CVMView source
Controversial Ingredients
No controversial ingredients flagged in our review.
Safer Alternatives
Lower-risk brands from our own reviewed dataset, based on the same recall data shown on this page.
- No FDA-verified recalls on record
- Risk score 7/100 — reviewed 2026-07-22
- No FDA-verified recalls on record
- Risk score 7/100 — reviewed 2026-07-22
- 1 recall on record, all resolved
- Risk score 16/100 — reviewed 2026-07-22
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Risk scores are compiled from FDA recall databases, company announcements, and public ingredient records. They are informational only and not a substitute for veterinary advice. Read our full methodology & data sources.