RECALL:Nutro dog treats recalled for potential mold

Apple Chewy dog treats were sold at PetSmart 

Mars Petcare has issued a voluntary recall of its Nutro Apple Chewy dog treats due to potential mold.
The product, Nutro Chewy Treats Apple 4 oz., was sold at PetSmart with the SKU 5229600, product UPC 7910511344, and lot codes beginning with ‘4 50’, ‘5 02’, ‘5 03’, OR ‘5 05’ (regardless of best by date).
Consumers are urged to stop feeding this product to their pets and bring any remaining Nutro 4 oz. Apple Chewy Treats affected by this recall to their nearest PetSmart for a full refund.
If you have questions about this voluntary recall, contact Nutro Customer Service at +1.800.833.5330.

RECALL: Blue Buffalo recalls Cub Size Wilderness Wild Chews Bones

Product has potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

Blue Buffalo Co. is voluntarily recalling one production lot of Cub Size Wilderness Wild Chews Bones. This is being done in an abundance of caution, as the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The product was distributed starting November 19, 2015, in PetSmart stores located in the following 9 states: California, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. The recalled product comes individually shrink-wrapped in plastic with the UPC number 840243110087 printed on a sticker affixed to the product, and an expiration date of November 4, 2017, printed as “exp 110417” on the shrink-wrap. Consumers should look at the UPC Code and expiration date on the product package to determine if it is subject to the voluntary recall.
Routine testing at the manufacturing site revealed the presence of Salmonella in the product. No illnesses have been reported to date and no other Blue Buffalo products are affected.
Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Pets with Salmonella infections may have decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Other clinical signs may include lethargy, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, and vomiting. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare provider.
Consumers who have purchased the product subject to this recall are urged to dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for full refund.
Consumers with questions may contact Blue Buffalo at +1.888.641.9736 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT Monday through Friday, or by email at Bluebuffalo4260@stericycle.com for more information.

RECALL: Salix Animal Health expands Good ‘n’ Fun recall

Original recall was issued October 1, 2015

Salix Animal Health L.L.C. of Deerfield, Florida, USA, is voluntarily expanding its recall of Good 'n' Fun - Beefhide Chicken Sticks because this product may be contaminated with Salmonella.
Sampling conducted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture confirmed the presence of Salmonella in an additional lot of this product. In an abundance of caution, Salix Animal Health is expanding its original recall to include the tested lot and others made around the same timeframe. This affects Good 'n' Fun - Beefhide Chicken Sticks only; no other product is affected by this announcement.
The recalled Good 'n' Fun - Beefhide Chicken Sticks were distributed nationwide to Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar retail stores. The recalled product is packaged in a 2.8 ounce bag stamped on the back side with an item code number of 82247 and with an expiration date ranging from 02/2018- 07/2018.
The UPC code is 0 91093 82247 1 as shown in the table below.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers of Salmonella and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
Salmonella can affect animals that eat contaminated products and there is a potential risk to humans if they come in contact with Salmonella from handling contaminated products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
No other product is affected at this time. Customers should look at the item number, and expiration date on the product package to determine if it is subject to the voluntary recall. Customers who have purchased the product subject to this recall are urged to dispose of the product or return it for full refund.
We take our responsibility to pets and their owners seriously and are taking steps to prevent it from occurring in the future. Salix Animal Health is also working with retailers to ensure that the affected product is removed from inventory and is no longer sold.
If you have these products, please contact Salix Animal Health’s consumer affairs team at +1.800.338.4896, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 5 pm. EST for a refund. Customers with questions may call the consumer affairs team at the number listed above.

RECALL: Salix Animal Health recalls Good ‘n’ Fun product

Salix Animal Health L.L.C. has initiated a voluntary recall of one lot of Good 'n' Fun - Beefhide Chicken Sticks because it may have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The recalled Good 'n' Fun – Beefhide Chicken Sticks was distributed nationwide by Salix Animal Health to Dollar General and Dollar Tree retail stores.
The recalled product is packaged in a 2.8-ounce bag stamped on the back side with lot # AO15010 and with an expiration date of 03/2018. The UPC code is 0 91093 82247 1.
No pet or consumer illnesses from this product have been reported to date. However, Salix Animal Health is conducting a voluntary recall of this product.
The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the Georgia Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Salmonella in one 2.8 ounce package of Good 'n' Fun - Beefhide Chicken Sticks labeled with the recalled code.
No other product is affected at this time. Customers should look at the lot code and expiration date on the product package to determine if it is subject to the voluntary recall. Customers who have purchased the product subject to this recall are urged to dispose of the product or return it for full refund.
Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some, or all, of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected, but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is investigating the cause of this problem to prevent it from occurring in the future. Salix Animal Health is also working with retailers to ensure that the affected product is no longer sold and removed from inventory.
If you have these products, contact Salix Animal Health's consumer affairs team at +1.800.338.4896, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST for a refund. Customers with questions may call the consumer affairs team at the number listed above.

RECALL: NatPets recalls I and Love and You product

NatPets L.L.C., d/b/a I and Love and You, of Boulder, Coloado, USA, is expanding its voluntary recall of cow-boom! strips – beef gullet because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
There have been no reported pet or human illnesses associated with this recall.
This voluntary recall is limited to cow-boom! strips - beef gullet that were packaged into 2.0 oz bags, with lot numbers ending in 4T1 or 5T1, a best-by-year of 2016 or 2017 and UPC number 8 18336 01134 4.
The company has notified its distributors and retailers and is taking this voluntary action as a precautionary measure. No other products of the company are affected by this recall.
Routine sampling by an inspector for the Colorado Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Salmonella, which prompted this voluntary recall. This product is supplied by a US supplier.
Consumers should look at the lot numbers and best-by-dates printed on the bag to determine if it is subject to this recall. People who have purchased these products are instructed to dispose of the product or return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.
Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is risk to humans who handle the product, especially if the handler does not thoroughly wash his or her hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to the product.
Healthy people handling the product contaminated by Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever. Although rare, Salmonella may result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with the product should contact their healthcare providers immediately.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the product and has exhibited these symptoms, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.
Consumers with questions may contact the company at +1.855.ILY.LOVE Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. (MT) or via email at service@ilypet.com.

RECALL: Natural Dog Co. recalls Tremenda Sticks

Pet chews have potential to be contaminated with Salmonella

The Natural Dog Co. Inc. of Windsor, Colorado, USA, is recalling its 12oz bags of 12" Tremenda Sticks pet chews because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.
The recalled 12" Tremenda Sticks were distributed to retail stores in California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Missouri, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, Utah and Washington.
The recalled product comes in a 12oz bag without a lot number or expiration date with UPC number 851265004957. Products with new packaging, which includes a lot number and expiration date but the same UPC are not affected by this recall.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
The potential for contamination was noted after a Colorado Department of Agriculture inspection of the product revealed the presence of Salmonella in a sample taken from a 12oz package of 12" Tremenda Sticks.
Production of the product has been suspended while FDA and the company continue their investigation as to the source of the problem.
Salmonella can affect animals eating the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
 Consumers who have purchased 12oz packages of 12" Tremenda Sticks should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at +1.888.424.4602, Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.

RECALL: Nylabone Puppy Starter Kit dog chews recalled

TFH Publications Inc./Nylabone Products, of Neptune, New Jersey, USA, is recalling one lot of its 1.69 oz. package of the Puppy Starter Kit dog chews because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonella can affect animals ingesting the product and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The recalled Puppy Starter Kit consists of one lot of dog chews that were distributed nationwide, to Canada, and through one domestic online mail order facility.
The product comes in a 1.69 oz. package marked with Lot #21935, UPC 0-18214-81291-3, located on the back of the package, and with an expiration date of 3/22/18 also stamped on the back of the package.
The potential for contamination was noted after routine testing by the company revealed the presence of Salmonella in one lot of 1.69 oz. packages of the Puppy Starter Kit.
No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this problem.
Consumers who have purchased 1.69 oz. packages of the Puppy Starter Kit from affected Lot 21935, UPC 0-18214-81291-3, Expiration date of 3/22/18, should discontinue use of the product and may return the unused portion to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions may contact the company at 1-877-273-7527, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time (after hours/weekends covered by third-party poison control center).

RECALL: Pet International Beef Trachea Pet Treat recalled

Treats, sold in Colorado, could be contaminated with Salmonella

Pet International of Miami, Florida, USA, is recalling 1,500 units of 6-inch Beef Trachea Pet Treat because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.


The 6” Beef Trachea Pet Treat was distributed to retail stores in Conifer and Lakewood, Colorado, USA.
If you have this product, use gloves and put in a double bag and throw it away as soon as possible. Do not touch the product in any way, and if you do, wash your hands immediately with an antibacterial soap.
The potentially affected product will pertain to a particular lot number, and are specific to a particular size of the pouch it’s sold in. Anyone having these products should verify the following:


• Brand: Buster’s Natural Pet Supply
• Lot Code: 8501450
• Size: 6-inch Beef Trachea/ 12 Pack Plastic Pouch
• UPC Code: 8501450

No illnesses have been reported to date. We are still warning consumers that if any of the above information is on the package you have, do not feed it to any animals at all. It may be hazardous and should be disposed of immediately.
The recall was as the result of a routine sampling program by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and analyzed by FDA, obtained from Buster’s Natural Pet Supply in Conifer, Colorado, USA. and found to be positive for Salmonella. The product sampled had a Buster’s Label on it, but was manufactured by Pet International. Buster’s Natural Pet Supply recalled the entire product from the two stores that the distributor sells it. The Pet International Inc. continues their investigation as to what caused the problem.
Consumers who have purchased 6-inch Beef Trachea with Buster’s Natural Pet Supply Label on it and are wishing to be refunded because of the recall, can take the product back to where bought it from, with receipt. A special form will be provided to be filled out as well. Both the form and the receipt are needed for the refund.
Consumers with any questions about the recall product may contact the company at by phone at +1.305.591.3338 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST or via e-mail at sergioh@petint.com.
Salmonella can affect animals (i.e. dogs) eating the products and there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet products, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products.
Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their health care providers.
Dogs with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets (i.e. dogs) will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your dog has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

RECALL: Big Bark All Natural Beef Jerky Treats recalled for Salmonella

The company has recalled about 200 bags of the jerky treats. The recalled product was manufactured and distributed between September 20, 2014, and January 2, 2015, without any lot codes.

Big Bark All Natural Beef Jerky Treats for Dogs, made by Grill-Phoria L.L.C. of Loveland, Colorado, USA, has tested positive for Salmonella after routine testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture.


The company has recalled about 200 bags of the jerky treats. The recalled product was manufactured and distributed between September 20, 2014, and January 2, 2015, without any lot codes.
No illnesses have been associated with the recalled treats.
Grill-Phoria said it has stopped production and distribution of the treats while it investigates what caused the positive test results.
Consumers who have purchased the recalled treats are urged to return the product to the store from which it was purchased and request a full refund.
Big Bark All Natural Beef Jerky Treats for Dogs were distributed in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and Oklahoma through Nor-Sky Pet Supply L.L.C. through independent pet stores. The product is under the Big Bark label and is in a stand-up pouch that is 3.5 oz. in weight and labeled as All Natural Beef Jerky Treat.
Pets affected by Salmonella may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some pets will have decreased appetite and abdominal pain.

RECALL: Jump Your Bones recalls dog treats on Salmonella concerns

The products affected by the recall are identified with the UPC code 63633010041 for 80 g./2.82 oz. bags, and .32 oz. sample bags. 

Florida-based Jump Your Bones is recalling its Roo Bites dog treats because the product may be contaminated with Salmonella, according to reports.


The treats were distributed to retail petfood stores nationwide and were sold in boutique bags and online. The products affected by the recall are identified with the UPC code 63633010041 for 80 g./2.82 oz. bags, and .32 oz. sample bags.
Consumers who purchased the product are urged to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund, or to dispose of the product immediately. FOr more information about the recall, call +1.888.249.6755, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. EST.
So far, no pet or human illnesses have been reported.

RECALL: Barkworthies recalls dog chews on Salmonella concerns

Chicken Vittles dog chews recalled after routine testing by Colorado Department of Agriculture

Barkworthies of Richmond, Virginia, is recalling select lots of its Barkworthies Chicken Vittles dog chews because they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.


The recalled product was distributed nationwide beginning on May 6, 2014. The product can be identified by the Lot Code printed on the back of the plastic pouch or on the bottom. This product is being recalled as it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella:
BARKWORTHIES CHICKEN VITTLES
Lot Code: 1254T1
Size: 16 oz. plastic pouch
Best Used by Date: May 2016
UPC: 816807011510
The recall was initiated after routine testing by the Colorado Department of Agriculture revealed the presence of Salmonella in a single lot of the product. No additional products are affected by this recall. The company has received no reports of illness in either people or animals associated with these products to date.
The recalled product should not be sold or fed to pets. For a full refund, pet owners should return all unused product to their place of purchase along with a completed Product Recall Claim Form available on the Barkworthies website.

Kong Aussie Sticks recalled due to possible mold contamination

Petfood product manufacturer JAKKS Pacific has recalled its Kong Aussie Sticks dog treats due to possible mold contamination.
"The products were not dried properly, so a small percentage of finished goods have gone moldy," said a company spokesperson. "The majority of the product is fine, and the mold was caught at our distribution center, but some product may have made it to PetSmart. So, we are recalling all the product at PetSmart and destroying all the product we have at our DC."
The products being recalled have item numbers of 75559 or 75560, and Best Before dates of 1/30/16 or 1/31/16. Product can be returned to PetSmart for a full refund.

Global Pet Foods removes China-produced pet treats from stores

Canada's Global Pet Foods is pulling China-made pet treats from 160 of its stores, effective immediately.

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This decision comes on the heels of US-based Petco and PetSmart releasing statements of similar intent, though their move is voluntary (Global Pet Foods' is mandatory) and not immediate. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet been able to definitively determine that jerky treats from China are causing ongoing illnesses in pets, in spite of years of testing. But stores carrying the treats are beginning to listen to consumers.
“The FDA has not identified a direct link between any of these treats manufactured in China as causing the specific type of illness,” said Michelle Friedman, PetSmart spokesperson. “However, we have been hearing concerns both from the FDA and our customers. We decided that it was the right thing to do.” 

Food Sentry: FDA should test jerky treat ingredients for contamination

Food Sentry, a global food monitoring service, said it may understand why the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has yet to figure out why dogs are becoming ill from chicken jerky treats. While the FDA has posted more than 280 test results, that testing has all been conducted on the finished jerky treat products, rather than on any of the treats' ingredients.

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"In the Beijing/Tianjin/Hebei/Shandong region alone there are more than 350,000 chicken farms that supply chicken product manufacturers in the region," said Food Sentry Chief Operating Officer and Analyst Scott Witt. "This is relevant because this highly industrialized area is significantly contaminated with dozens of industrial byproducts."
Witt, who helped develop a system for the FDA that predicts the likelihood of contamination of imported food, used the leather-making industry to illustrate his point. "One of the dirtiest industries in terms of contamination is the tanning industry," he said. "One of the many contaminants in the tanning process is chromium, which leaves a residue on the tanned product. Leather scrap is left over after the manufacturing process and, because it is relatively high in protein, it is often hydrolyzed and sold as a protein feed product." Witt identified hexavalent chromium as having the potential to build up in the chickens if they eat the contaminated feed. That toxin could then get passed on to the dogs, which, over time, may potentially get sick and die as a result.
The FDA needs to "get to the beginning of the product's life and look deeply," according to Witt.

Nestle Purina, Waggin' Train create jerky treat fund to compensate dog owners

Nestle Purina PetCare Co. and Waggin' Train LLC will create a US$6.5 million fund to compensate dog owners who believe their animals were harmed by chicken and other jerky treats made in China and sold by the companies.

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If approved, the settlement would also require Nestle Purina to undertake “enhanced quality assurance measures” regarding pet treats made in China and to modify language on its packaging. In announcing the settlement, filed in US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, neither party admitted fault. “Neither Waggin’ Train, Nestle Purina nor any of the consumers concede that their claims or their defenses were not valid,” said lawyers for the parties. “All parties entered into the agreement only to bring the litigation to a prompt and certain resolution.”
The FDA has warned consumers since 2007 about growing reports of illness in animals that ate chicken, sweet potato and other jerky treat products from China. But, despite extensive testing, no cause has been found for the illnesses. Nestle Purina and Waggin’ Train officials have consistently said that their treats have not been confirmed to cause any illness in animals and that the products are safe to feed to pets as directed.

RECALL: Pet Center Inc. recalls Lamb Crunchy's dog treats

Pet Center Inc. of California, USA, has issued a recall for Lamb Crunchy’s dog treats due to possible Salmonella contamination.

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The recalled products are sold in 3-ounce bags of Lamb Crunchy’s dog treats (LAM-003) with UPC number 727348200038 and date code 122015. The products were made in the USA and distributed to California, Wisconsin, Colorado and Washington states to Gelson’s Market, General Pet, Nor-Sky Pet Supply and Independent Pet.
The bacteria was found by the State of Colorado Department of Agriculture in a random sample. If you purchased this product, do not give it to your pet. Return it to the place of purchase for a refund.

Food & Water Watch delivers petition on China pet treats

Food & Water Watch has delivered a petition on behalf of "animal parents" to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against pet treats and food made in China. It wants the agency to implement Section 211 of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that would inform consumers about the dangers of these treats. Under that rule, grocery stores will have to post notices in conspicuous places telling consumers about contaminated food products, including petfood.

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Terry Safranek, a founding member of Animal Parents Against Pet Treats & Food Made in China (APAPTFMIC), said in a statement, "I lost my beloved dog Sampson in January 2012 to poisonous pet jerky treats made in China. 
Since 2007, FDA has reported that 600 dogs have died and over 4,600 have gotten sick and the common denominator is that all of these pets consumed imported jerky treats from China. While I appreciate the effort that the agency has made to look at this problem, China is still being permitted to export these products to the U.S. and we are no closer to finding out what is killing our pets. FDA should ban these products from coming into our country until we figure out what is going on. Short of that, FDA should implement this section of FSMA that would inform consumers of the dangers of these products."

Nestle Purina to reintroduce Waggin' Train dog treats

Nestlé Purina has announced plans to reintroduce its Waggin' Train dog jerky treats in February, along with a sister brand. The product was pulled from production in 2013 on concerns about possible linked pet deaths and a resulting government investigation, but the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no conclusive findings on the link between the China-made chicken treats and pet illnesses.

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Pending federal lawsuits against Nestlé Purina (and competitor Del Monte Corp.) from customers who say the companies' treats did their pets harm, along with lingering concerns overall, may make Waggin' Train's revival difficult. But Nestlé Purina maintains that their treats have always been safe for pets. "It was always safe to feed, and we are very confident with these products," said Nina Leigh Krueger, president of Waggin' Train. "We definitely believe in this brand, and we feel like there is good growth potential for the company."
Waggin' Train now contracts with a single-source, U.S.-based supplier for raw materials at a newly built facility in China and has its own in-house inspectors on site, according to Nestlé Purina's Vice President of Manufacturing Bill Cooper. "We certainly had very stringent testing prior to the withdrawal, but we've enhanced that," Cooper said. "We've also met with the FDA on several occasions to go through our testing," said Cooper. "We are confident the quality controls are better than anyone else's manufacturing jerky treats."
The company said it's bringing Waggin' Train back due to consumer demand. The product lineup has been pared down from about 30 products to its current offerings: Chicken Jerky Tenders made in China, and two U.S.-made products, Jerky Duos and Smoky Jerky Snacks.

AVMA won't warn against feeding treats tied to illness, deaths

Despite reports of pet illness and deaths tied to jerky treats, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) says it won't warn pet owners against feeding the treats to their dogs, according to an NBC News report.

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The AVMA rejected a resolution this month that would have discouraged use of the jerky products until further evidence about safety is available.
"The resolution as presented is basically dead," said David Kirkpatrick, an AVMA spokesman. "We don't have the scientific proof to say, 'Don't do it.'"
Instead, the AVMA's house of delegates recommended that the group tell its 85,000 members to report jerky-related pet problems to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and to work with the FDA to safeguard animals through "quality control of pet food and treats."
The strips, nuggets and other treats have been linked to nearly 600 pet deaths and 4,500 illnesses since 2007. The conditions include gastrointestinal illnesses, kidney failure and Fanconi syndrome. The AVMA and the FDA remind owners that jerky treats are not a necessary part of a pet's diet and to seek medical care at the first sign of gastric distress or kidney trouble.
The AVMA resolution came weeks before Nestle Purina Pet Care said it plans to introduce new versions of its Waggin' Train products in February, and Del Monte Foods Corp. said it would offer new versions of its Milo's Kitchen treats in March.
The companies issued nationwide recalls last year after New York state agriculture officials detected trace levels of unapproved antibiotics in jerky treat samples. The FDA and company officials said that the antibiotics weren't tied to the ongoing reports of illnesses.
Nestle Purina said it has made "significant enhancements" to the Waggin' Train production process, including limiting meat sourcing to single suppliers and requiring that each batch of treats be tested for a range of contaminants.

EXPANDED RECALL: Bailey's Choice expands chicken dog treats recall in Georgia, USA

Bailey's Choice Dog Treats LLC of Waleska, Georgia, USA, is expanding its earlier recall of select packages of chicken dog treats due to potential Salmonella contamination, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
The recall was expanded to include 5-ounce packages of the following treats: 

• 100 percent Chicken Treat treats marked with lot numbers: "Jun 2 2013," "Jun 3 2013," "Jun 15 2013," "Jul 8 2013" and "Jul 22 2013"
• 100 percent Chicken Breast Treat marked with lot number: "Jun 4 2013"
• 100 percent Teriyaki Chicken Treats marked with lot number: 132881
Georgia Department of Agriculture inspectors will continue checking retail stores and warehouses to make sure the recalled products have been removed from sale. To date, no illnesses have been reported.
Consumers who purchased these recalled dog treats should return the products to the place of purchase for a full refund. Consumers with questions should contact the company at +1.770.881.0526 or thomdo4570@gmail.com.