Rachael Ray dog food is known for being a relatively affordable dog food brand with good quality formulas and nutritious recipes. This brand sources its ingredients and manufactures its food in multiple locations, but none of these locations include any cities in China.
It’s important to know where your dog’s food comes from and if it contains high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you need to know about Rachael Ray Nutrish.
About Rachael Ray Dog Food
The Rachael Ray Nutrish brand was founded in 2008 after celebrity chef, Rachael Ray, developed some dog food recipes for her own dog, Isaboo the Pitbull. The brand was under the umbrella of Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, but this company was bought out by JM Smucker Company in 2019. This larger company also has Milk-Bone, Meow Mix, Milo’s Kitchen, and Nature’s Recipe under its belt.
The Rachael Ray Nutrish brand first started with just a few recipes. However, it expanded over the years and now produces various kinds of dry and wet dog food and dog treats.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Ingredient Sourcing
The brand’s manufacturer will source ingredients within the United States. The sources will vary depending on availability. All the dry dog food is produced by Big Heart Pet Brands, which is located in Orville, Ohio. Big Heart Pet Brands is a division under the JM Smucker Company.
While Rachael Ray’s dry dog food is manufactured and produced in the US, the brand’s wet food is produced in Thailand.
Rachael Ray Nutrish Recall History and Lawsuits
Rachael Ray Nutrish has had a couple of recalls. The first recall was in 2015 for its wet cat food. The recall was due to significantly high levels of vitamin D in the cat food. Excessive amounts can lead to vitamin D toxicity for both cats and dogs.
The second recall occurred in 2019 when the FDA recalled several different brands that manufactured grain-free dog foods. Rachael Ray Nutrish’s grain-free recipes were included in this recall.
Rachael Ray Nutrish was also in the spotlight in 2018 when consumer Markeith Parks filed a complaint against the company. Her class-action lawsuit stated that Rachael Ray Nutrish was misleading by having a “natural” label, while the recipes also included glyphosate, which is an herbicide.
The lawsuit was dismissed in April 2019 because the judge determined that the dog food contained a negligible amount of glyphosate, and this amount wouldn’t be harmful to dogs or sway consumers from buying this dog food.
Parks amended and appealed her lawsuit shortly afterward, but it was dismissed again.
While the case was ultimately dismissed, it serves as a strong reminder that dog owners must act responsibly and check to make sure that they feed their dogs healthy, high-quality dog food.
Packaging and dog food names can be misleading, so it’s important to do research on dog food brands and check the ingredient lists to ensure that the food is nutritious and safe.
Conclusion
Rachael Ray Nutrish manufactures above-average dog food and treats, and none of the recipes have any connection to China. This pet food company is known to use high-quality ingredients, but it’s not without some recalls and customer complaints. The customer satisfaction rates seem to vary from recipe to recipe.
So, to ensure that your dog eats healthy, high-quality food, make sure to do your research on individual Rachael Ray dog food recipes. If you’re feeling stuck, you can always consult with your veterinarian for any recommendations and to gather expert opinions.
Featured Image Credit: Chewy
