Introduction
Ziwi Peak is a New Zealand-based pet food company known for its air-dried raw meat recipes. Founded in 1998, Ziwi Peak prides itself on using high-quality ingredients in a gently prepared, minimally processed recipe to create a nutritionally complete and species appropriate diet for dogs and cats. Their air-dried pet foods feature meat as the primary ingredient, including unique proteins like venison, lamb, mackerel, and goat. With manufacturing facilities in both New Zealand and the United States, Ziwi Peak has become a popular brand amongst pet owners looking for a natural, grain-free diet for their furry companions. Their line of air-dried foods includes recipes for both cats and dogs in formulations for all life stages.
The Recall Incident
In March 2018, ZiwiPeak voluntarily recalled several of their air-dried dog food formulas due to elevated levels of Vitamin D. The recall affected ZiwiPeak’s Air-Dried Dog Food in the following product lines:
- Venison
- Lamb
- Beef
- New Zealand Tripe & Lamb
- New Zealand Hoki
The affected products were sold in a variety of package sizes with batch codes starting with 295, 296, 297, 298 or 299. The recall was issued after the company received a report from one of their retailers in The Netherlands that a dog showed signs of elevated Vitamin D levels after allegedly eating a product identified in the recall.
Reason for the Recall
In August 2017, ZiwiPeak voluntarily recalled several batches of its air-dried dog food due to high levels of vitamin D found in testing. Excessive vitamin D intake can cause serious health issues in dogs including vomiting, loss of appetite, increased thirst, increased urination, excessive drooling, weight loss, and joint issues. Vitamin D toxicity can even lead to kidney failure and death if untreated.
After receiving complaints from pet owners about dogs experiencing symptoms of vitamin D toxicity, ZiwiPeak tested samples of the food. Results showed that a raw material supplier had accidentally provided ZiwiPeak with beef ingredients that contained extremely excessive and dangerous levels of vitamin D. Once aware of the contamination, ZiwiPeak immediately issued a recall.
Scope of the Recall
The Ziwi Peak dog food recall impacted a specific batch of the company’s Air-Dried Dog Food formulation. The recall affected approximately 835 bags of the product. The affected bags came from batch 15554 with a best before date of 27/10/23. The recalled batches originated from Ziwi Peak’s New Zealand manufacturing facility before being distributed in the United States.
In their announcement, Ziwi Peak identified the affected products as Ziwi Peak Air-Dried Dog Food in the 1kg, 2.2lb, and 11lb bag sizes. The company stated that the recalled products were limited to specific lot codes and expiration dates. Ziwi Peak provided information to help consumers identify if their product was part of the recall based on the batch code printed on the bottom of each bag.
The recall only impacted Ziwi Peak’s air-dried dog food products manufactured in New Zealand. Other Ziwi Peak product formulations, manufacturing regions, or lot codes were not affected. The scope of the recall was isolated to a relatively small number of bags produced during a specific timeframe.
Company Response
Ziwi Peak acted swiftly when the potential presence of salmonella was discovered. As soon as the issue came to light, Ziwi Peak issued a voluntary nationwide recall of all potentially affected products. The company took this precautionary measure out of an abundance of caution for pet health and safety.
In their recall announcement, Ziwi Peak expressed regret and apologized for the concern and inconvenience this posed to customers. They reiterated their commitment to pet nutrition and safety. The company stated that ensuring pets receive contaminant-free products was their top priority.
Ziwi Peak outlined the details of the recall, including which products, batch numbers, and best-by dates were affected. They provided clear instructions for how customers could identify and return recalled products. The company set up a dedicated website, email address, and phone line for customer questions and support regarding the recall.
To make the return process easy, Ziwi Peak sent prepaid shipping labels to customers with affected products. Refunds were issued once the products were received. The company demonstrated accountability by promptly investigating the root cause of the issue to prevent it from happening again.
Pet Owner Response
Unsurprisingly, pet owners who had been feeding ZiwiPeak to their dogs were very concerned when they heard about the recall. Many owners reported their dogs suffering from digestive issues like vomiting and diarrhea after eating the recalled batches. This caused a great deal of worry and stress trying to care for sick pets.
Owners expressed feeling betrayed that a premium, natural pet food company had sold products that turned out to be contaminated and sickened their dogs. There was a lot of anger and frustration directed at ZiwiPeak for not catching the issue before the contaminated products were sold. Many people commented that they had trusted the ZiwiPeak brand and paid premium prices for their food, only to have the food make their dogs sick.
In addition to the health concerns, owners were also worried about the expenses of extra vet visits to treat their dogs. Some people incurred hundreds or even thousands in vet bills to diagnose and treat illnesses caused by the contaminated ZiwiPeak food. This added financial stress made the situation even worse for affected pet owners.
Overall, pet owners felt extremely let down by the brand they had trusted to provide only the highest quality nutrition for their dogs. The response was a mix of sadness over sick pets, anger at the brand, and frustration over unexpected vet bills – all very understandable reactions given how scary and upsetting the situation was.
Impact on Pets
After news of the Ziwi Peak dog food recall spread, many concerned pet owners came forward reporting symptoms and illnesses in their dogs after eating the recalled products. According to multiple veterinarian reports, some of the affected dogs showed signs of allergic reactions, such as gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting. Vomiting ranged from mild to severe, with some instances occurring a little while after eating the food. A few dogs exhibited diarrhea, loose stools, and blood or mucus in their stools.
However, the symptoms varied widely, as some dogs suffered much more severe illnesses from consuming the Ziwi Peak food at the center of the recall. In certain unfortunate cases, dogs experienced pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) or kidney problems that led to hospitalization and potential permanent damage. Some reports involved dogs suffering from hyperthyroidism or other thyroid issues after eating the Ziwi Peak food. Severe allergy symptoms like uncontrollable itching or skin redness were also reported.
Overall, the symptoms ranged from mild discomfort to life-threatening illnesses in dogs that consumed the recalled Ziwi Peak food products over a period of time. While many dogs fully recovered after immediate treatment, there were certain instances where the health impacts seem to have been long-lasting with lasting effects on the dog’s health and well-being. The apparent connection between the recalled dog food and the onset of these symptoms in otherwise healthy pets was very concerning for dog owners who had trusted Ziwi Peak’s products.
Remediation
After the recall was announced, Ziwi Peak took several steps to address the issue and prevent future problems:
- They thoroughly cleaned and disinfected their entire manufacturing facility.
- They reviewed their supplier approval and raw material testing procedures to identify gaps or areas for improvement.
- They implemented more stringent receiving, in-process, and finished product testing to screen for Salmonella and other pathogens.
- They required their ingredient suppliers to test all batches before shipment to Ziwi Peak.
- They worked closely with an external food safety consultant to audit their processes and help strengthen their food safety program.
- They provided additional employee training on food safety and handling procedures.
By taking these proactive steps, Ziwi Peak aimed to pinpoint the root cause of the contamination and put robust controls in place to prevent any future occurrences.
Current Status
The ZiwiPeak dog food recall that began in July 2019 is now considered resolved. Several batches of ZiwiPeak’s air-dried dog food formulas were recalled due to elevated levels of Vitamin D discovered during routine quality control testing. However, ZiwiPeak worked quickly to identify all affected products and ensure they were removed from retail and distribution channels.
Once the recall was announced, ZiwiPeak ceased all production and shipments until the issue could be pinpointed and corrected at their New Zealand manufacturing facility. After implementing improved quality control measures and safeguards, ZiwiPeak resumed production of their air-dried dog food formulas in late 2019.
At this time in 2023, ZiwiPeak states that all recalled batches have been accounted for and destroyed. Retailers and consumers are advised not to sell or feed any of the specific formulas and date codes covered under the 2019 recall. Going forward, ZiwiPeak affirms that their formulas are safe for pet consumption and meet their nutritional quality standards. The recall affected a limited production range in 2019, and does not impact current or future ZiwiPeak products.
Key Takeaways
In summary, the Ziwi Peak dog food recall in 2018 due to elevated lead levels was a serious issue that impacted many pet owners and pets. However, Ziwi Peak responded promptly by voluntarily recalling the affected products and providing refunds. They have since implemented more rigorous testing to prevent future contamination issues.
This recall highlights the importance of pet food companies frequently testing their products and erring on the side of caution when any potential contaminant is detected. Timely and transparent communication with customers is also critical in maintaining trust and preventing any harm to pets.
For pet owners, this case reinforces the need to stay informed about any recalls involving their pets’ food. Seeking veterinary guidance is prudent if a pet consumed a recalled product. While recalls can alarm pet owners, they are vital to removing potentially unsafe food from the market and preventing pet illnesses.
Overall, while disturbing, this recall led to positive changes at Ziwi Peak regarding health and safety policies. Other pet food companies would be wise to learn from this example and implement their own additional checks to ensure no contaminated food reaches consumers.