I emailed Earthborn just recently. I think I contacted Blue Buffalo a couple of years ago when we started feeding it to the cat (we still use it for our cats).

eta the reply I got from Earthborn:

According to our plant manager Earthborn is not run on the same line as our peanut biscuits, nor the same area of the plant. We don't include any regrind in to the Earthborn so it should never happen, but to guaranteed that it won't, would be the time that something weird would happen and a peanut would make it's way across the plant into the food. We will be moving our treat line to a separate building the first week of June and with the operation in a totally different building we would feel confident that there would be no way for the peanuts to contaminate the Earthborn.

Cindy MontgomeryVP, MarketingMidwestern Pet Foods, Inc
9634 Hedden RoadEvansville, IN 47725p 812-867-4504, ext. 107
812-867-0424
cmontgomery@midwesternpetfoods.com

Thanks for your suggestions - I'll look into them.  The breeder uses Diamond puppy food, and last I checked the region wasn't included in the recall, but I will still likely transition to something different.  I did see Blue Buffalo and some of the Natura Pet foods at a couple stores, so I'll look into them.  Jessica, did you call Blue Buffalo or Earthborn?

One Wellness variety was recalled recently but I don't think it was from their Core line. But on their website they do have a peanut variety of snacks. It's called Wellbars Crunchy Peanuts and Honey.

We just switched to Wellness Core (GF variety) because it was one of the few high nutrient brands without gluten or egg.  It doesn't have nuts but to be honest, I have not checked out the brand from a manufacturing standpoint.   

It's tough because between our allergies and the dogs overall pickiness (which is not the case with this food, he loves it) plus his obvious issues with corn and other cheap fillers.

I would prefer to go to a more raw brand but I am still researching what would be best for him and us as a family.  Many of the "easier" options contain egg which is an issue for one child.  While Radar generally avoids the kids other than to sit under them to keep the floor clean, he is also sympathetic to their sadness and will come to lick them when they are crying.

Between worrying about nuts and all the recalls, our list has gotten a lot smaller. Right now I would trust Blue Buffalo and the brand we settled on (Earthborn Holistic). Starting at the beginning of June it's made in a plant that doesn't use any nuts. However, even in the former plant it was in a completely separate area from where the peanut butter treats were made. I think I would also trust the Natura Pet line (California Natural, Healthwise, Innova, Evo, etc) but I can't find them locally and have not contacted them in at least 4 yrs. So things may have changed.

Treats we use are Plato Pet Treats and Blue Buffalo plus Merrick brand bully sticks. We used to use Natural Balance treats (recently enough that we're finishing up a bag of them) but I'm just more comfortable avoiding them for now once this bag is gone. Our dog also loves sliced apples.

Would anyone be willing to mention names of dog foods and treats they have used w/out incident?  We are getting a puppy and I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the choices.  We only have a PN allergy, but in the past we reacted to a family member's dog eating Science Diet - later finding it had ground peanut shells.  Am I correct in understanding dog food labels don't have to call out allergens?  Treats are a big concern for me too, as it seems most have some PN version.

Thanks!

Yes I understand that it's precautionary. I feel bad for all of the other companies who are losing $$ because of Diamond's practices AGAIN. I think I've seen more recalls from that company than any other. And it makes me wonder what they'll be recalling for next. Some NB dry and canned food WAS part of the melamine recall a few years ago and there was a recall for some of the dry food last year (salmonella).

We're not in an affected state; but also note that the recall is precautionary on their part-- they know of NO reports of their own foods being tainted in any way, they just use Diamond for some manufacturing.  Also note that Natural Balance has a "test-and-hold" protocol.  We've used them for a long time, but I'll tell you, we became a LOT more loyal after the melamine recalls a few years back, which wound up engulfing most of the major brands.

I will say that one down side of NB dog food is that it tends to go rancid quickly.     Fewer preservatives.

natural balance is on the current recall list. Or did you switch from that one in the past?

YES, absolutely.  That is the cause of almost all of DD's known ingestion reactions, most of them anaphylactic.  My DD is one that regularly reacts to some Kraft products that most PA/TNA, egg allergic people tolerate fine.  She has a really low threshold, in other words.

She's only had one known pn ingestion in her life-- the one that resulted in grade IV anaphylaxis within seconds after a dose of ~100 mg.

She also has had anaphylactic reactions to inhalation and (apparent) contact, occasionally from sources never identified as definitely contaminated (invisible traces?).

Again, though-- we don't worry too much about dog food if the label reads safe and they don't market a peanut-containing variety.  We have a hard enough time finding a decent dog food that doesn't actually CONTAIN egg.

If it became a big problem, I'd make my own dog food with a pressure cooker.  For now, having DD wash her hands after handling the dog food works fine.

FWIW, our dog's dry dog food wasn't ever recalled; we considered that to be EXCELLENT news insofar as them controlling the actual manufacturing process, which obviously has additional implications for us given DD's allergies.  We've used Natural Balance (a variety of types) and Avoderm, though the latter has reformulated and now includes egg, as I recall.

I would obviously avoid any food or treats that actually contain peanut but my concern is traces. Have your kids had contact reactions to food that is made on shared lines but doesn't have the actual ingredient?

My son had a reaction from my SIL dog after being licked directly after the dog finished eating.  There was egg in the dog food.  My SIL switch dog foods to one that had no egg (love my SIL)

dd has had a few very significant hive incidents that we can attribute to past dog food.  she is dairy allergic as well as nut allergic though and so many dog foods have trace dairy.  we have finally found a dog food that she is okay with and that the dog is okay with -- my lab is allergic to chicken, beef, turkey, duck and grains...i have the leanest lab you've ever seen!

I've posted this in the past, but it's been a while.  When DS was very young, he always broke out in hives when his cousin's dog licked him.  Once, he had one very large hive on his cheek in the exact shape of the dog's tongue.  We had thought he was allergic to dog saliva. BUt he only had a problem when this one particular dog licked him, so we actually think it was something, probably a food or treat containing peanut, in the dog's diet that did it. 

I think one barrier is that most pet foods are made by a number of companies that are not pet food companies but pet food manufacturing companies. Which is why so many brands were recalled recently even though it was just a Diamond company plant-very few pet food companies actually make their own.

I can imagine that egg is a big problem. I think I've seen it on every dog food ingredient list I've read and I've read a lot of them.