Choosing the right brand of raw dog food for your pet is an important decision that should not be made without considering the ingredients, health and safety concerns, and recalls of the product. There are a lot of options out there, but it is important to know the facts before you make the final choice.
Ingredients in bravo raw dog food
Whether you are a dog lover or just considering the raw food diet for your pet, Bravo dog food is a good option. It is grain free and contains no artificial preservatives or colors.
Bravo offers four product lines. The Basics, Balance, Blends, and Boneless are all made with real meat and other natural ingredients.
The Basics line features a medley of meat and organs. You can choose between turkey, chicken, or duck. The ingredients are also supplemented with minerals and vitamins.
The Bravo Blends are also made with limited ingredients. They include ground bones, organs, and supplements. These formulas are meant for intermittent or supplemental feeding. You can choose from beef, chicken, lamb, and turkey.
The Balance raw diet is also made with meat and other ingredients. It contains bones, organs, and essential minerals. It meets the AAFCO standard for complete nutrition.
The Boneless line is made with meat and fish ingredients. These formulas are only suitable for intermittent or supplemental feeding.
Bravo’s dog food is also available in a 6-pound bag. You can rehydrate the food with water.
The Bravo Pet Food Company has been providing high-quality meats for over 70 years. The company uses antibiotic-free poultry and responsible harvested fish. They use a multi-step processing process to keep the products as natural as possible.
Recalls of bravo raw dog food
Several dog food recalls have taken place in the past. One of the biggest ones is for Bravo brand pet foods. This brand of dog food has been recalled at least eight times.
Bravo has recalled products because of the possibility of Listeria monocytogenes contamination. This type of bacteria is extremely dangerous for both humans and animals. The bacteria can cause serious ailments such as diarrhea, fever, lethargy, and vomiting. In addition, it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths in pregnant women.
In order to avoid getting infected, people should wash their hands after handling contaminated food. They should also clean any surfaces that have come in contact with the contaminated food. In addition, they should dispose of any contaminated food that they have purchased from the company.
Bravo has recalled two types of frozen raw dog food products. These include the Ground Beef and Performance Dog varieties. These diets are sold in two-pound plastic sleeve packaging.
The FDA has found traces of Listeria monocytogenes in the Bravo facility. This type of bacteria can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. In addition, it can affect the urinary tract.
If you think that your dog has eaten a product that is recalled, you should contact your veterinarian. You may also consider filing a complaint with the FDA. You can do so on the FDA’s website. The FDA will investigate the matter and take enforcement actions when necessary.
Safety concerns about bravo raw dog food
Several Bravo raw dog food products have been found to contain dangerous contamination. The company has issued recalls for at least three of these products, including Performance Dog Diet.
Bravo claims that the company’s third party lab found no evidence of Salmonella contamination before shipping the products. However, the FDA and Minnesota Department of Agriculture tested samples of finished dog food and found salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes in some samples.
The FDA issued a warning letter to Bravo Packing in March of 2020. The letter reiterated the FDA’s observations in an inspection report, indicating that Bravo failed to follow Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMP) standards.
In addition, the agency cited unsanitary conditions at the Bravo facility. For example, the air curtains in the dog food processing room were dirty and soiled. The facility also used unsanitary storage and food-storage equipment. During the inspection, a sample of the Performance Dog Diet was found to contain salmonella.
The company also failed to provide the FDA with a draft distribution list for Performance Dog Food. In addition, the firm failed to follow proper dilution procedures when using sanitizer. This error reduced the effectiveness of the sanitizer.
The FDA found that Bravo had failed to follow CGMP standards for animal food. The FDA inspected the Bravo facility in May of 2021. The inspectors found “significant violations” of food safety rules.
