April 25, 2024⚠ Important 4health recall information appears below.
Brand Name: 4health
Product Lines: 4health Grain Free Pork & Potato Dog Food; 4health Grain Free Duck & Potato Dog Food; 4health Healthy Weight Dog Food; 4health Grain Free Turkey & Potato Dog Food; 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula; 4health Indoor Adult Cat Formula; 4health Grain Free Whitefish; and Potato, & Pea Formula for Adult Cats
Company: Tractor Supply Co.
Headquarters: 200 Powell Place, Brentwood, TN 37027
Website: https://www.tractorsupply.com/
Phone: 877-718-6750
Contact Form: https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/cms/customer-service
4health Company Overview
4health, a premium line of pet food and treats, is exclusively available at Tractor Supply Company stores, a company with roots dating back to 1938 when it started as a mail-order business for tractor parts. Over the years, Tractor Supply has evolved into a significant retail chain, catering to the diverse needs of rural communities. A major portion of their sales, over 30%, is attributed to exclusive brands like 4health, launched in January 2010. This introduction marked a significant milestone for the company, with one official describing the launch as “a real home run.”
4health pet food stands out for its commitment to pet health, which is evident in the brand’s name itself. This is reflected in products like their Original Adult Dog Formula, designed to meet the comprehensive nutritional needs of adult dogs and ensure optimal health. This emphasis on health and quality resonates with Tractor Supply Company’s staff too, many of whom choose 4health products for their pets. According to Tractor Supply Company President Steve Barbarick in a 2019 CNN interview, the brand’s success is bolstered by the personal recommendations from team members to their neighbors in the close-knit communities they serve.
The success story of 4health Pet Food is intertwined with Tractor Supply’s growth and commitment to serving rural communities, offering a unique blend of personal touch and product quality. The brand’s focus on health and nutrition, backed by the company’s extensive history and community involvement, positions 4health as a trusted choice for pet owners seeking quality and value.
Has There Ever Been a 4health Recall?
There have been 4health recalls, at least 3 times over the years.
Most recently, our research team discovered a Class II voluntary 4health recall for canned pet food in February 2017 that has apparently never been reported publicly — until now.
Our team discovered this 4health recall buried in a 2017 FDA Enforcement Report. According to that report, thousands of cases of 4health dog and cat foods, all packaged in 13.2 oz. cans, were recalled by manufacturer Simmons Food because of the possibility of foreign material. The recall was issued following consumer complaints about certain cans of Doctors Foster and Smith dog food, which had been manufactured in the same canning facility.
It is interesting that this recall action did not receive more media attention at the time — but not terribly surprising, given that it was found buried in a 2017 FDA Enforcement Report.
“Unlike with public warnings, the recalls listed in [an] FDA Enforcement Report are not limited to urgent situations that present serious hazards to health and are not necessarily used to alert the public about the risk or hazard of a product under recall,” according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Four years earlier, in March 2013, Diamond, a manufacturer of 4health, recalled several varieties of cat food including 4health because of potentially too low levels of thiamine, an essential vitamin (B1) for cats.
In May 2012, Diamond also recalled all brands of 4health pet food manufactured in its Gaston, South Carolina, facility because of potential salmonella contamination.
The full list of 4health pet food recalls appears below.
4health Recall History
February 2017
Cause: Possible foreign material. Announcement: FDA Enforcement Report, per Plus Media Solutions press releases dated May 31, 2017. What was recalled: The following 4health canned pet foods, no dates provided:
- 4health Chicken & Rice Formula for Dogs, 13.2 oz., UPC #7-49394-01849-8
- 4health Lamb and Rice Formula for Dogs, 13.2 oz., UPC #0-49394-01850-4
- 4health Turkey & Salmon Dinner for Cats, 13.2 oz., UPC #7-49394-04303-2
March 2013
Cause: Low thiamine levels. Announcement: FDA report dated March 10, 2013. What was recalled: 4health All Life Stages Cat Formula, 5 lb. and 18 lb. bags, Product Code #NGF0802 and “Best by” dates of either Aug. 14, 2013 or Aug. 18, 2013.
May 2012
Cause: Potential for salmonella. Announcement: FDA report dated May 5, 2012. What was recalled: All brands of 4health dry pet foods with a “Best Before” date of Dec. 9, 2012 through April 7, 2013.
4health Company Complaints
2019 Heart Disease Investigation
We also want to alert readers to the fact that, in late June 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified 4health as one of 16 pet food brands that may be linked to heart disease in dogs and cats. None of those 16 brands have been recalled as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation, though. Most, but not all, of the pet foods are “grain-free” and/or dry (kibble) dog food formulations.
The FDA says this is a “complex scientific issue that may involve multiple factors,” and that it cannot even be certain that diet is a cause of heart problems.
Have you had a problem with 4health?
- See our reporting page for contact info.
- Leave a comment below to share your experience with others.
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References
- “Tractor Supply Co. Introduces Exclusive Super-Premium Pet Food Line.” Pet Product News. Sept. 12, 2017. http://www.petproductnews.com/News/Tractor-Supply-Co-Introduces-Exclusive-Super-Premium-Pet-Food-Line/.
- “Tractor Supply Company at Credit Suisse Group Small and Mid Cap Conference.” FD (Fair Disclosure) Wire. Sept. 14, 2010.
- De Lombaerde, Geert. “Tractor Supply Plans Private-Label Push; President Tells Conference In-House Brands Will Be Big Margin Driver.” Nashville Post. June 17, 2011.
- Meyersohn, Nathaniel. “What Tractor Supply Co. Can Teach Other Retailers.” CNN. Jan. 24, 2019. https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/24/business/tractor-supply-company-retail/index.html.
- “4health Original Original Salmon & Potato Formula Adult Dog Food, 45 lb. Bag.” Tractor Supply. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/4health-original-salmon-potato-formula-adult-dog-food-45-lb-bag.
- “FDA Enforcement Report: 4health Chicken & Rice Formula for Dogs, Net Wt. 13.2 oz., Distributed by Tractor Supply Company, 200 Powell Place Brentwood, TN 37027, UPC 7-49394-01849-8.” U.S. Official News/Plus Media Solutions. May 31, 2017.
- “FDA Enforcement Report: 4health Lamb and Rice Formula, Net Wt. 13.2 oz., Distributed by Tractor Supply Company, 200 Powell Place Brentwood, TN 37027, UPC 0-49394-01850-4.” U.S. Official News/Plus Media Solutions. May 31, 2017.
- “FDA Enforcement Report: 4health Turkey & Salmon Dinner for Cats, Net Wt. 13.2 oz., Distributed by Tractor Supply Company, 200 Powell Place Brentwood, TN 37027, UPC 7-49394-04303-2.” U.S. Official News/Plus Media Solutions. May 31, 2017.
- “Public Warning and Notification of Recalls Under 21 CFR Part 7, Subpart C: Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). February 2019. https://www.fda.gov/media/110457/download.
- “Recall — Firm Press Release.” FDA. March 10, 2013. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ucm343084.pdf.
- “Recall — Firm Press Release (Updated: Correct Production Code Information).” FDA. May 5, 2012. Archived at https://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ucm303034.pdf.
