Why is Whiskas cat food being recalled
Is Whiskas Dry Cat Food Being Discontinued? [Why It Is Hard To Find?]
As some cat owners may know, Whiskas has chosen to discontinue its range of dry cat food. This food was previously made in the USA and offered a balanced diet for cats aged one and older. And these arent the only WHISKAS products that consumers are struggling to find.
Continue reading to discover what has happened to WHISKAS and why its so hard to find their products on your supermarket shelves. Then, learn when this brand is likely to return and how to satisfy your feline in the meantime.
Where Has Whiskas Cat Food Gone?
Whiskas is among the brand leaders of cat food, which provides meaty food packages in jelly, gravy, or sauce. The Whiskas brand provides consumers with nutritional content and guaranteed product analysis with recognizable purple packaging.
During the COVID pandemic, the world saw an increase in pet owners and, therefore, increased pet food demand. Unfortunately, at a time when manufacturing became limited, the supply rate was unable to meet these increased demands. The effects of this are still felt by consumers today.
Why Is Whiskas Out Of Stock?
Whiskas is out of stock because of several reasons:
- An increase in demand hit the company at a time when production was challenging.
- Global supply chain issues make getting their products on the shelves challenging.
- A quality control issue has seen Whiskas eradicate its dry range.
In an online statement, Whiskas said, We are working hard to get our normal stock levels back on the shelf as soon as possible.
Has Whiskas Recalled Their Dry Cat Food Range?
Several dry cat food products that Whiskas produce have been recalled since 2021. The parent company of Whiskas has stated that a selection of the raw ingredients didnt meet the stringent quality specs of the manufacturer, which is why they recalled the products.
There had been no consumer complaints from this issue, but the products were issued throughout Canada.
What Is The Quality Control Process For Whiskas Cat Food?
Whiskas take quality control very seriously, with 20 control points throughout the manufacturing process. These include chemical analyses, packaging, machine checks, and full traceability of ingredients to ensure they deliver the best food quality to their consumers.
Which Of Their Dry Food Products Has Whiskas Recalled?
Any products whose ingredients did not meet the quality specifications received arecall notice. A complete list of these products is detailed below.
Product | Best By Date | UPC |
Meaty Selections 670g | 6/13/2022 7/19/2022 | 058496 43320 8 |
Meaty Selections 2kg | 6/23/2022 8/12/2022 | 058496 70322 6 |
Meaty Selections 4kg | 7/17/2022 8/12/2022 | 058496 70124 6 |
Meaty Selections 9.1kg | 6/16/2022 8/17/2022 | 058496 70329 5 |
Meaty Selections 11.6kg | 6/24/2022 7/22/2022 | 058496 44481 5 |
Beef Selections 2kg | 6/25/2022 8/6/2022 | 058496 44451 2 |
Beef Selections 9.1kg | 8/13/2022 | 058496 43353 6 |
Seafood Selections,Natural Salmon andShrimp Flavor 2kg | 6/25/2022 8/18/2022 | 058496 70332 5 |
Seafood Selections,Natural Salmon andShrimp Flavor 4kg | 8/9/2022 8/10/2022 | 058496 02681 3 |
Seafood Selections,Natural Salmon andShrimp Flavor 9.1kg | 6/26/2022 8/13/2022 | 058496 42152 6 |
Tuna Selections and Natural Tuna Flavor 9.1kg | 6/25/2022 8/7/2022 | 058496 43469 4 |
Kitten Dry Cat Food 1.5 kg | 7/18/2022 | 058496 70310 3 |
Indoor Dry Cat Food 1.5kg | 6/23/2022 7/19/2022 | 058496 23285 6 |
Indoor Dry Cat Food 3kg | 7/19/2022 | 058496 42153 3 |
Why Is It Difficult To Find Whiskas Cat Food?
Its not just the discontinuation of Whiskas dry range that makes this cat food challenging to find; global supply chains are also struggling. Issues with supply and shipping delays mean Whiskas is struggling to get its products on supermarket shelves.
In 2021, after the COVID pandemic, manufacturers warned that stockpiling would lead to supply shortages, which are still rife as we move through 2022. In addition, international supply chains continue to struggle with reduced levels of manufacture, limited freight movement, and increased demand for certain products.
Its not just cat food; other necessities such as paracetamol have also struggled to reach consumers.
Why Did Whiskas Choose To Recall Their Dry Food Products?
Whiskas did not receive any consumer complaints in relation to the quality control issuing that they flagged in manufacturing. However, Whiskas pride themselves on a quality product and are committed to removing any products that do not meet its standards.
Where Is Whiskas Cat Food Manufactured?
Whiskas products are made in Australia and Canada; the pouch products are made in Thailand.
How Is Whiskas Cat Food Made?
Whiskas prioritizes ingredients such as poultry, beef, and fish which are chopped and milled. These meat products are essential for a cats diet, as they are obligate carnivores who obtain all of their nutrition from protein sources.
Whiskas design their wet food pouches as the primary source of a cats protein and water intake. All ingredients are chopped and mixed into smooth chunks or pate; these are combined with a water-based texture that your cat will love, such as gravy or jelly.
The remaining part of the protein sources is cooked and mixed using an extruder. Here, they are combined with vegetables, vitamins, minerals, and cereals. The mixture expands and hardens thanks to a contrasting pressure and temperature, forming a crunchy texture.
What Are The Ingredients In Whiskas Cat Food?
Whiskas make their food from raw ingredients, including poultry, beef, pork, fish, offal, vegetable, cereals, vitamins, and minerals. Each recipe delivers the right mix of nutrition for your feline, and all ingredients are naturally harvested.
Whiskas pride themselves on eliminating genetically modified ingredients, and all components are suitable for human consumption. However, every ingredient must comply with their detailed nutritional specifications, and supplies are regularly checked.
Is Whiskas Cat Food Coming Back?
Yes, Whiskas has confirmed that their full cat food range will be available on supermarket shelves at some point in the near future.
What Is The Best Alternative To Whiskas Dry Food?
Whiskas may be returning to our shelves in the future. But whats the best cat food range for our felines in the meantime?
Iams is another cat food company that Mars, Inc. owns. They manufacture a range of cat foods to suit your pets individual needs; these cater to every life stage and activity level. In addition, they offer a ProActive Health dry range of food and three wet food lines Purrfect Delicacies, Purrfect Delights, and Perfect Portions.
DINE is another brand that offers a range of fine foods for your feline.
Their range includes pieces of real meat and fish in various sauces. This brand provides products for every cats lifestyle and appetite with varied textures and tastes.
Final Thoughts
You may be struggling to find Whiskas cat food on your local supermarket shelves. This is due to several combined factors: COVID has created a situation with increased demand and decreased supply, preventing Whiskas from being able to produce an adequate amount of food effectively.
In addition, the global supply chain crisis prevents the products they have manufactured from making it onto supermarket shelves. And to top it off, Whiskas decided to recall their dry food product range due to a quality issue.
The Whiskas website contains up-to-date information, including its intention to put products back on consumer shelves as soon as possible. In the meantime, try IAMS or DINE as an alternative selection for your fur baby.
Related Articles
Sources
https://www.hometesterclub.com/au/en/reviews/dine-daily-slices-succulent-chicken-wet-cat-food-tray?review-page=5
Cat Food Recalls and Alerts Complete List
Cat Food Recall FAQs
What cat food is currently recalled?
Is there a Purina cat food recall?
There is no official cat food recall at this time, however there are many online claims of cats becoming severely sick. Follow the link for more information about the impacted product:Purina Pet Food Recall Rumors.
Is there a TFP Nutrition cat food recall?
Is there a Mid America cat food recall?
What cat food has never had a recall?
If you visitour brands page, you can see all the brands that have never had a recall (marked by heart symbol.)
What should I do if my cat food has been recalled?
Navigate to ourrecall reporting pageto see instructions on how to contact the company and ask for a refund. Check if your cat is behaving normally, and contact a healthcare provider or veterinarian immediately if they are showing unusual symptoms.
How can I get cat food recall alerts?
Subscribe to thePet Food Recall Alertsto receive timely alerts on pet food recalls. Our service ensures youre immediately informed about important safety notices, sending the latest updates directly to your inbox so we can all keep healthy pets.
Whats the difference between a recall and a Market Withdrawal
A recall is initiated when a product in the distributors supply chain or facility violates FDA regulations and could lead to legal action. This is typically due to contaminants found in the product or ingredients, such as salmonella and listeria. In contrast, a market withdrawal involves minor issues or non-violations that do not warrant legal action by the FDA.
How do I know if my cat is sick from a recalled product?
Cats infected by Salmonella contamination or Listeria monocytogenes contamination can exhibit a range of symptoms, which can vary depending on the severity of the infection and the individual cats health. Here are some common symptoms or serious ailments to look out for:
Cat salmonella infection may show the following symptoms:
- Diarrhea, which may be bloody
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Abdominal pain or abdominal cramping
- Lethargy or decreased activity level from a typically active cat
- Weight loss in chronic cases
Symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection in cats:
- Fever
- Lack of appetite
- Nausea or Vomiting
- Diarrhea or bloody diarrhea
- Difficulty in breathing
- Lethargy or listlessness
- Muscle soreness or muscle pain
- Abortion in pregnant cats
- Neurological symptoms such as circling, lack of coordination, drooling, seizures, or paralysis due to the bacterias ability to affect the nervous system
Its important to note that cats, especially those with Salmonella infections, can be asymptomatic carriers. This means they can harbor the bacteria and potentially spread it to other animals or humans without showing any signs of illness.
If you suspect your cat might be suffering from an infection caused by Salmonella, Listeria, or any other pathogen, its crucial to consult a veterinarian as soon as possible. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for the health and well-being of your cat and can also help prevent the spread of infection to other animals and humans.
Whiskas is an international brand of cat food that is sold globally. Its parent company is American and is called Mars, Incorporated. The company offers cat food varieties, including biscuits, dry meat cans, treats, jelly packages, sauces, gravy meat, etc. It is known for its identifiable packaging of purple and white color on a cat head boundary drawing background.
It was initially known as Kal Kan and was started in 1936 in Los Angeles, California. For the first two decades, it expanded its business in the United States of America. Later on, in 1958, it entered the UK market as well. Later on, in 1968, this company was acquired by Mars Inc. It was then that it became a subsidiary company of Pedigree foods. Kal Kan changed its name in 1989 to Whiskas food.
This was done to make its name over the key and easily pronounceable among the public. The company has been involved in a lot of Marketing projects. The company has always prioritized publicity and new marketing techniques to build a good image in the market. The strategy helped Whiskas food become one of the worlds biggest cat food producers.
Also Read Whiskas Cat Food Feeding Guide
Is Whiskas cat food discontinued?
By September 2021, around 12 variants of Whiskas cat food were withdrawn from the market. This was done because the ingredients used in the products did not meet the quality requirements. Customers were complaining about the product. The company was accused of using cheap ingredients to make the products, further causing medical issues in cats. All those consumers who had purchased that batch of products were told to discard it.
It was said that the set of cat food was medically unfit for consumption. The company claimed they had not received any complaints from the consumers regarding the product. But still, a decision was taken by the company to withdraw all the available products in the market. Whiskas has been a trailblazer cat food product in the market for a long time. It has had the first-mover advantage in the market, inspiring many new cat food brands.
For years, its products have maintained good quality and nutritional value. Suddenly there was an outrage among the public regarding the bad quality of food they had started producing. It has been believed that as more pets were adopted during the pandemic, Whiskas was more in demand. To keep up with demand, the company started using cheap ingredients for faster production.
Why was Whiskas out of stock?
Whiskas was out of stock for a very long time in the market. Being the staple diet of many cats, it caused massive turmoil in the market. Here are some of the reasons why Whiskas was out of stock in the market-
- An increase in demand during the lockdown led to production-related issues. The company couldnt keep up with the order in the market, which is why the product was unavailable.
- There were logistic issues that were causing supply chain issues. Even if the production went smoothly, there was a problem delivering the product.
- The quality control in the ingredients used urged the company to withdraw all of its stock. They had to continue with the production again, which caused a shortage in the market.
Also Read Whiskas Cat Food Review
Here is a list of the products that Whiskas have recalled-
- Meaty Selections 670g
- Meaty Selections 2kg
- Meaty Selections 4kg
- Meaty Selections 9.1kg
- Meaty Selections 11.6kg
- Beef Selections 2kg
- Beef Selections 9.1kg
- Seafood Selections, Natural Salmon and shrimp Flavor 2kg
- Seafood Selections, Natural Salmon and Shrimp Flavor 4kg
- Seafood Selections, Natural Salmon and Shrimp Flavor 9.1kg
- Tuna Selections and Natural Tuna Flavor 9.1kg
- Kitten Dry Cat Food 1.5 kg
- Indoor Dry Cat Food 1.5kg
- Indoor Dry Cat Food 3kg
Ingredients used in Whiskas cat food
Whiskas cat food has always prioritized using ingredients that are good for the well-being of cats. This involves using ingredients such as poultry, beef, and fish chopped and milled. Protein is an essential nutrient for cats. Since they are Carnivore animals, their primary protein source is meat. This is why feeding hearts to cats is necessary. They designed their wet food pouches in such a way that it serves as their daily source of water and protein.
They use many vitamins, minerals, and cereals to make their food. As soon as you remove the food from the can and put it in a pan, the mixture starts melting and sometimes becomes edible. Although each product uses an ingredient list, some essential ingredients are poultry, beef, pork, fish, offal, vegetables, cereals, vitamins, and minerals. The company even claims that its food is also safe for human consumption. However, it is essential to check the ingredient list to ensure that you dont eat anything youre allergic to.
Also Read Is Whiskas Cat Food Being Discontinued?
Is Whiskas dangerous for cat health?
It was reported that there had been mycotoxin contamination. It is a type of compound that is formed from molds. Although there have been no reported illnesses, it is undoubtedly a bit dangerous to health. It has also been claimed that the company uses a minimal amount of animal-based proteins. This makes the whole point of making your pet consume this food worthless. The company also uses a lot of corn and gluten, which can make your cat diabetic.
A lot of customers have linked this food to health issues among cats. Some have even claimed that this causes a shorter lifespan among cats. It has also been reported to contain meat composite rather than actual meat. The recipe also contains cornstarch in huge quantities. There are a lot of harmful dyes and preservatives as well.
This can cause severe nutritional deficiencies among cats. The macronutrients added to this food are not that bad, but what causes the main problem is the additives that have been used. Some ingredients used in the product that are not good for your cats are Soy Oil, Corn Starch-Modified, Wheat Gluten, Guar Gum, Caramel Coloring, and BHA/BHT.
Now its up to you what you want to feed your cat. As we have told you already, the preservatives and artificial components used in this product cause the primary concern. Although the company has tried to include all the possible nutrients in the food, the preservation technique used is wrong.