If you have read anything about BFF, you have probably read about a thiamine recall and hundreds of sick cats.
That happened. It is also not what most people think it was, and the detail that gets left out changes the picture completely for anyone shopping in the United States.
Here is the full story, plus an honest look at what is actually a good, high-moisture wet food at a fair price.
A price note that changes the obvious first buy. The classic BFF 5.5-ounce cans work out to about 36 to 38 cents an ounce, roughly a quarter less than Weruva’s own cans at about 49 cents. The OMG Rainbow Road variety pack, in smaller 2.8-ounce cans, costs about 57 cents an ounce.
The OMG line is also less tuna-heavy than the rest of BFF: its listing names beef, salmon, tuna, chicken, turkey and lamb among the recipes. So it is a good way to test what your cat likes, and the classic cans are the cheaper way to keep feeding once you know.
BFF cans, by texture and price
| Recipe | Texture | Price | Per oz | Pick it if |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OMG Rainbow Road variety, 24 x 2.8 oz | Gravy, mixed proteins | $37.98 | $0.57 | You want to find a favourite before buying a case. |
| Tuna & Chicken 4EVA | Minced in gravy | $50.16 | $0.38 | You want a second protein alongside the tuna. |
| Tuna & Shrimp Sweethearts | Gravy | $50.16 | $0.38 | Your cat prefers loose gravy to jelly. |
| Tuna Too Cool | Aspic (gelee) | $48.99 | $0.37 | Your cat likes a firmer jelly. |
| Tuna & Salmon Soulmates | Aspic (gelee) | $47.76 | $0.36 | Your cat is a committed fish eater. The cheapest per ounce. |
| Tuna & Pumpkin Valentine | Minced in gravy | $47.99 | $0.36 | You want a little fibre in the rotation. |
The thiamine recall, and the detail everyone omits
This needs stating precisely, because the shorthand version is genuinely misleading.
In 2017, BFF products were recalled over insufficient thiamine, or vitamin B1. Thiamine deficiency in cats causes appetite loss, unsteadiness, dilated pupils, head tilting and seizures, and can be fatal. The event was linked to hundreds of illnesses and several deaths. That is serious and should not be minimised.
The part usually left out: the affected products were an Australia-exclusive BFF line. Australian customers were asked to return cans with best-before dates between September 2018 and October 2019. Weruva has no recall history in the United States or anywhere outside Australia.
So if you are buying BFF in the US, you are buying from a production line that has never been recalled. If you are in Australia, the history is directly relevant. That distinction matters enormously and gets flattened into brand was recalled almost everywhere it is mentioned, including in our own Weruva review, which we have since made more precise.
Check the current position yourself in the FDA recall database rather than relying on any summary. The Cornell Feline Health Center covers thiamine deficiency and its signs.
Is a tuna-heavy diet a problem?
BFF is built around tuna far more than most brands, and that deserves a straight answer rather than either panic or dismissal.
Tuna is not dangerous for cats in commercial cat food. Complete and balanced fish recipes are formulated with appropriate nutrient levels, unlike canned tuna intended for humans, which should not be fed as a diet.
Two practical cautions. First, some cats become so fixated on fish that they later refuse everything else, which becomes a real problem if they need a therapeutic diet. Second, variety across proteins is generally sensible over a cat’s lifetime.
The fix is easy: rotate. BFF’s tuna and chicken pairings exist for exactly this, and alternating them with a poultry-led food from another brand keeps options open. Our best wet cat food guide covers poultry-led alternatives worth rotating in.
BFF vs Weruva: what you actually give up
- Price: BFF runs noticeably cheaper per case than Weruva’s main lines. That is the main reason to choose it.
- Protein variety: Weruva spreads across chicken, beef, mackerel and more. BFF’s classic cans are tuna-forward, though the OMG line mixes in beef, chicken, turkey and lamb.
- Moisture: both are built around high water content, which is the shared strength and the best reason to buy either.
- Texture options: BFF’s gravy and aspic split is useful, since cats are opinionated about texture in a way they are not about ingredients.
Read our Weruva review alongside this if you are choosing between the two.
Is BFF a good buy for your cat?
Buy it if you want Weruva’s high-moisture approach at a lower price, or if your cat is a committed fish eater and you want a complete food built around that rather than fighting it.
Skip it if you want protein variety in a single brand, or if a tuna-dominant range makes you uneasy. Compare with our main cat food guide for broader options.
My take on BFF
BFF is a good high-moisture wet food at a fair price, and the recall story that follows it around is far less alarming for US buyers than the headline suggests. An Australia-only production line was affected, and the US range has never been recalled.
The genuine consideration is the tuna focus rather than the history. Rotate proteins, use the chicken pairings, and it is a sensible everyday food. BFF OMG Rainbow Road Variety Pack Grain-Free Canned Cat Food, 2.8-oz can, bundle of 24 is the easiest way to find out which texture your cat prefers before committing to a case. This article is educational rather than veterinary advice.
BFF questions
Q: Was BFF cat food recalled?
BFF products were recalled in 2017 over insufficient thiamine, but the affected line was Australia-exclusive. Weruva, which makes BFF, has no recall history in the United States or anywhere outside Australia.
Q: Is too much tuna bad for cats?
Tuna in complete and balanced commercial cat food is fine, unlike canned tuna made for humans, which is not nutritionally complete. The practical risks are cats becoming fixated on fish and refusing other foods, and the general value of protein variety over a lifetime.
Q: What is the difference between BFF gravy and aspic?
Gravy is a loose sauce with higher moisture, while aspic is a firmer set jelly. Cats often have strong preferences between the two, so buying a small quantity of each before committing to a case is sensible.
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We are some passionate cat owners from different professions. We love our cats and have a lot of experience in how to care for our pets. We are incredibly excited to share our knowledge, experience, and research with you. So you can take good care of your loving cat. We will answer most of the common questions about owning cats, taking care of them, etc. If you have any question contact with us. Thanks for visiting! Enjoy the content.
