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.” 

US Congress schedules hearing on China pet treats

The US Congressional-Executive Commission on China has scheduled a hearing for June 17, “Pet Treats and Processed Chicken from China: Concerns for American Consumers and Pets,” to consider the issues of China's food safety regulation, US government regulation of imported Chinese foods and the overall safety of those foods.

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Two major US food chains have recently pulled Chinese-made dog and cat treats, such as jerky strips, after they were possibly linked to the deaths of roughly 1,000 dogs in the US and Canada. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating dog illnesses linked to Chinese jerky since 2007. As of May 1, 2014, it had received about 4,800 reports of such illnesses.

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.

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."

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.

Food & Water Watch responds to FDA update on jerky pet treat investigation

Food & Water Watch, a group whose goal is to ensure sustainable and safe food for consumption, issued a statement following the October 22 release of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s update to its investigation into pet illnesses and jerky treats from China.
According to Food & Water Watch: "[October 22], the Food and Drug Administration posted a long-awaited update on the agency's investigation into unsafe imported pet treats and illnesses in dogs linked to these treats. Food & Water Watch has urged the agency to update the public with more information about this situation for many months, and we appreciate the new information the agency posted today. But America's pets are still at risk from these potentially deadly treats.
"Since 2007, thousands of American dogs have fallen ill or died after eating jerky treats made in China. Today's update from the FDA showed a drop in reported illnesses since the decision by Nestlé Purina and DelMonte in January to recall their chicken jerky dog treats produced in China. This drop in reported illnesses indicates that there is likely some connection between illnesses and jerky treats imported from China. A recent Australian study described in FDA's update also points to strong links between pet illnesses in Australia and consumption of imported pet treats from China.
"But the source of the problem has still not been identified. And there are imported pet treats from China made by other companies still being sold in the United States. FDA should focus its inspection and laboratory activities on those imported pet treats and require more data from the companies to prove that the products are safe.
"Finally, the Obama administration needs to release the proposed rule on preventive controls for animal feed, including pet food, under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. This proposed rule has been held up by the Office of Management and Budget for nearly two years."

Pet owner asks for warning labels on petfood packaging after dog suffocates

A pet owner in Canada is hoping to raise awareness about petfood packaging dangers after her Yellow Lab suffocated after getting his head stuck in a petfood bag, according to a report.
Natalie Burnell took one of her dogs for a walk, while leaving her other dog, Bison, at home in the basement. But, Bison got into a bag of cat food in the home, which got stuck on the dog's head and caused him to panic, Burnell said. Burnell found the dog dead in the basement when she came home.
"I had no idea he could suffocate from these bags. . . . I keep blaming myself for not putting the bag one shelf higher," she said. "It's been such a huge blow. He was such a big part of our lives and we thought he would live a long life.''
Burnell advises pet owners to cut up the petfood bags before throwing them away. She is also asking petfood manufacturers to put warning labels on the packaging so that other owners do not experience the same thing with their pets. 

RECALL: Purina recalls Waggin' Train, Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky treats

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company's wholly owned subsidiary Waggin' Train LLC is voluntarily recalling its Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats sold throughout the United States until further notice. The New York, USA, Department of Agriculture notified the company that testing found trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky treat products.
According to the company, the antibiotics found in the chicken jerky treats are approved for use in poultry in China and other major countries, but are not among the antibiotics approved for use when raising poultry in the US.
"All of us at Waggin' Train care deeply about pets and their owners, and the quality of our products is of the utmost importance," said Nina Leigh Krueger, president, Waggin' Train LLC. "Waggin' Train has served millions of pets and their owners very well. In the final analysis, our company and our loyal consumers must have total confidence in the products we sell and feed our pets. Once we understand and determine how to comply with the technicalities of different regulatory frameworks, we will work with all appropriate parties to define the best way to supply the market."
For a product refund or more information, please call the company's Office of Consumer Affairs at +1.800.982.0704 or visit www.waggintrainbrand.com.

RECALL: Milo's Kitchen recalls Chicken Grillers, Chicken Jerky dog treats

Milo's Kitchen is recalling Chicken Grillers and Chicken Jerky dog treats.

Milo’s Kitchen is voluntarily recalling its Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers home-style dog treats from retailers in the US. The New York, USA, Department of Agriculture notified Milo's Kitchen and the US Food and Drug Administration that several lots of the Chicken Jerky dog treats were found to contain trace amounts of residual antibiotics.
The company is recalling both its Milo's Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers dog treats because they are both sourced from the same chicken suppliers. The company says that although the use of antibiotics to keep chickens healthy and disease-free while raising them is standard practice in poultry production for both human and petfood, the antibiotics found in the products were unapproved and should not be present in the final food product.
According to Milo's Kitchen, part of the company's safety testing program involves testing for a range of substances commonly used to ensure the health of chickens, but it did not test for all of the specific antibiotics found by the New York Department of Agriculture.
“Pet safety and consumer confidence in our products are our top priorities,” said Rob Leibowitz, general manager, Pet Products. “While there is no known health risk, the presence of even trace amounts of these antibiotics does not meet our high quality standards. Therefore, today we decided to recall both products and asked retailers to remove the products from their shelves."
Leibowitz said that consumers who discard the treats will receive a full refund. Consumers with questions about the Milo's Kitchen recall can get further information by calling +1.877.228.6493.

China responds to chicken jerky dog treat complaints

The Chinese government has responded to complaints about chicken jerky treats imported from that country that have been linked to dog illnesses in the US and have been the subject of recent investigations by the US Food and Drug Administration.
Congressman Jerry McNerney wrote a letter to the Chinese government about the chicken jerky treats, asking the government to "consider halting production of these chicken jerky treats until the FDA can determine whether or not the products contain tainted material."
In response, the Chinese government wrote, "From the perspective of the Chinese side, there might be something wrong with the FDA's investigation guidance." According to a report, the letter also warned not to influence public opinion and "to clear the name of Chinese pet food and eliminate the negative impact thereof on Chinese pet food trade and bilateral relationship." 

Pet food safety advocates urge Walmart to remove jerky pet treats

Pet food safety advocates sent a letter to the chairman and president of Walmart asking the company to voluntarily remove chicken jerky pet treats manufactured in China from the shelves of all Walmart and Sam’s Club stores.
Since 2007, the jerky treats from China have been linked to the deaths of more than 360 dogs and one cat and 2,200 illnesses, the advocates' letter says. Although the US Food and Drug administration has issued cautionary statements to consumers about feeding the treats to their pets, no recalls of the products have been made.
On Black Friday, November 23, pet food safety advocates Susan Thixton of TruthAboutPetfood.com and Mollie Morrissette of PoisonedPets.com urge pet owners to join them by going to the Walmart stores in their communities to personally ask store managers to remove these dangerous pet treats from their store shelves. For further information about the Black Friday for Pets campaign, visit the campaign's Facebook page. 

Chicken jerky treats linked to deaths of 360 dogs, 1 cat

FDA recommends owners eliminate feeding jerky treat products from China with more than 2,200 claims of illnesses or deaths

Over the past 18 months, federal health officials have said claims of illnesses linked to chicken jerky treats imported from China have now reached more than 2,200, including reports that at least 360 dogs and one cat have reportedly died after eating the treats.
The Food and Drug Administration recommended pet owners avoid the jerky products entirely. “FDA is reminding pet owners that jerky pet treats are not necessary for pets to have a fully balanced diet, so eliminating them will not harm pets,” agency officials said in an online report.
FDA also said it will begin testing the treats to see whether irradiation of the products may have contributed to the reported treat-related symptoms, ranging from diarrhea and vomiting to kidney failure, Fanconi syndrome and death. US regulations allow petfood, including pet treats, to be irradiated up to a maximum of 50 kiloGrays to provide microbial disinfection or elimination of other pathogens.
However, repeated tests conducted at FDA laboratories, at the agency's Veterinary Response Laboratory Network and by other labs have failed to detect any microbiological, chemical or other contaminants in high enough levels to cause the symptoms in the pets. “To date, none of the testing results have revealed an association between a causative agent and the reported illnesses,” FDA said.

FDA failing to protect pets from jerky treats, nonprofit claims

Food & Water Watch, a US nonprofit organization that works to ensure safe and sustainable food and water, issued a statement, in which the organization claims that the US Food and Drug Administration is failing to protect pets from potentially toxic chicken jerky treats made in China.
According to Food & Water Watch executive director, Wenonah Hauter: "Since 2007, thousands of American dogs have fallen ill or died after eating jerky treats made in China. In the past of couple days, it has come to light that Chinese government officials overseeing the factories that make the questionable treats refused to allow US inspectors to collect samples for independent analysis.
"While this lack of cooperation shows an unfortunate disregard for health and safety on behalf of the Chinese government, it's the Food and Drug Administration who has shirked its responsibility to keep U.S. citizens and their pets safe and it's the FDA who must step up and block these potentially deadly treats from harming more animals.
"The FDA waited until it received 2,000 reports of illnesses and deaths in US dogs before launching its investigation. Although the China investigation took place in April, it took the FDA four months to admit that they were denied permission from collecting samples from the Chinese facilities. As the FDA dragged its feet, the suspect treats remained on store shelves and put thousands of dogs at risk.
"What's more disgraceful than the FDA's dawdling is the fact that it has full authority under Section 306 of the Food Safety Modernization Act to refuse shipments of these treats from China now. Enough is enough. It's time for the FDA to issue an import alert on all pet food manufactured in China before more animals and the humans that love them suffer needlessly," says Hauter.

Class-action lawsuit filed over 2010 Kroger petfood recall

Macuga, Liddle & Dubin filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court against the Kroger Company on behalf of all customers who purchased recalled pet food contaminated with aflatoxin.
Beginning December 18, 2010, Kroger recalled a total of 10 pet food brands, more than 68,300 bags, which were possibly contaiminated with aflatoxin.
The lawsuit's lead plaintiffs alleged that they fed Kroger's Old Yeller Chunk dog food to their dog, who, in January 2011, vomited and became lethargic. After two veterinary visits, the plaintiffs' dog died.
The recalled petfood was distributed to 19 US states and sold at Kroger, Dillons and Gerbes stores. If your pet suffered any illnesses or damages related to the Kroger petfoods recall, or if you purchased any of the recalled Kroger petfoods, call Macuga, Liddle & Dubin at +1.800.536.0045.

Chicken jerky treat lab analysis released in new FDA report

The US Food and Drug Administration issued the findings of a new report about complaints of pets suffering Fanconi syndrome-like symptoms or dying after consuming chicken jerky treats imported from China.
FDA collected and tested nearly 300 jerky treat samples in the US from April 2007 through June 2012, testing for bacterial contamination, mold, chemicals and heavy metals. Although the treats were found to have some adverse effects, FDA's report with laboratory findings did not indicate that further regulatory action was needed. However, FDA figures show the number of complaints of animal illnesses or deaths blamed on the treats is now at more than 1,800, according to FDA spokeswoman, Tamara Ward.
“This does not represent all testing that has and is being conducted by FDA,” Ward said. “Additional testing is currently being conducted through other avenues.”

New dog illness complaints linked to Chinese chicken jerky treats

A new record of complaints from pet owners and veterinarians submitted to federal health officials shows nearly 1,000 dogs have reportedly been sickened after eating chicken jerky treats made in China, according to a recent msnbc.com article.
Since November 2011, the US Food and Drug Administration has received almost 900 reports of pet illnesses and deaths. In early 2012, the agency sent inspectors to the Chinese plants that manufacture the jerky treats associated with the complaints, according to the article, but spokeswoman Tamara Ward of the Food and Drug Administration said the results of those inspections are not yet available. The administration has been unable to detect any toxin responsible for the pet illnesses, despite repeated testing, officials said.
The three brands of chicken jerky treats most frequently cited by pet owners and veterinarians in the complaints were Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brands, produced by Nestle Purina PetCare Co., and Milo’s Kitchen Home-style Dog Treats, produced by the Del Monte Corp. Both manufacturers have said their chicken jerky treats are safe and the pet illnesses are unrelated to the product. 
However, Milo's Kitchen representatives confirmed that the company paid at least one pet owner US$100 in exchange for a release of all liability related to the pet owner's sick dog. Milo’s representatives said they provided the $100 as a “goodwill gesture” and asked that the consumer sign a “standard release form,” which is done on a case-by-case basis. The dog also underwent evaluation by a veterinarian.
“Following the evaluation, the veterinarian consultant concluded the symptoms experienced by the pet were not related to consuming Milo’s Kitchen chicken jerky treats,” said spokeswoman, Joanna DiNizio, in an email statement. 
Food and Drug Administration officials have said the companies may recall the treats at any time but regulations do not allow for products to be removed based on consumer complaints alone. 

RECALL: FDA to investigate chicken jerky dog treats made in China

US Food and Drug Administration inspectors are being sent to manufacturing facilities in China that make chicken jerky dog treats to investigate a potential link between illnesses and deaths in dogs and the treats, according to MSNBC.  
The exact number of inspectors involved in the chicken jerky treat investigation and the plants that will be visited are unknown, and Food and Drug Administration officials declined to comment on the inspections. 
The inspections in China come after growing pressure from US pet owners, including Robin Pierre, a co-founder of “Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made in China," who says she has collected more than 7,000 signatures on a petition urging the Food and Drug Administration to take action.
"While I am happy that the FDA is in China investigating now, it never should have taken this long. Too many of our innocent and voiceless companions suffered horrific deaths...No animal should have ever had to die because of a 'treat'," she said.

Spanish RECALL update: Compy dog food wants consumers to contact them over pet illnesses

After supermarket chain Mercadona pulled Compy wet dog food off shelves in select stores in Spain due to reports of pets suffering from kidney failure, dog owners are submitting claim forms to a new website set up by those living in Spain. But, the dog food’s manufacturer is urging concerned consumers to contact them directly instead.
“We believe it is easier and faster for those affected to contact us directly,” said manufacturer Tunaliment’s pet division spokesman, Miguel Fernandez.
The manufacturer’s veterinarian reports found that excessive vitamin D levels in the wet dog food, which is sold in aluminium-lined cartons, may have caused kidney failure in pets. According to the manufacturer, this relates only to the new packaging and not to the previous, tinned wet dog food.
Consumers can contact the manufacturer of the Compy wet dog food directly at informacion@tunaliment.com or +1.619.113.976.

RECALL: More pet owners call for China chicken jerky dog treat recall

An increasing number of pet owners are speaking out on the Internet, calling for the government to force a recall of chicken jerky dog treats from China that have been reportedly causing illness and even death in some pets that consume the treats, according to Food Safety News.
The US Food and Drug Administration tested the treats, but has not confirmed a link between the chicken jerky treats from China and the pet illnesses being reported by owners, yet owners and lawmakers continue to call for further investigation and FDA's recall of the product. On March 1, the agency released a one-page document outlining findings from 241 tests for potential contaminants and 130 tests with pending results. Though the 2012 test results are still pending, none of the results released found a conclusive link of the jerky treats to dangerous levels of contaminants.
Consumers are calling for action, as a private Facebook group called "Animal Parents Against Pet Treats Made in China!" grew over the past month from having nearly 100 members to more than 2,500 currently, and pet owners are also creating and signing online petitions to ban the products.

"A lot of these pet parents are just wringing their hands, hoping the FDA will find some sort of answer," said Poisoned Pets blogger, Mollie Morrisette. "If this was [potentially contaminated] baby formula, we would have had the answer when it started five years ago. It would all get pulled off the shelves out of caution as soon as anyone suspected it might be contaminated." 

FDA urged to issue recall for chicken jerky pet treats from China

Pet owners and government representatives are urging the Food and Drug Administration to take action to ensure chicken jerky treats from China are removed from US store shelves, after reports of pets being sickened or killed after consuming the dog chews.
"The FDA must not wait to issue a voluntary recall until it is able to definitively identify a causal agent," said Ohio, USA, Rep. Dennis Kucinich. "The FDA has clearly established an association between consumption of the chicken jerky and illness and death. It is simply not feasible to expect every dog owner to be aware of a modestly publicized warning from the FDA." The Food and Drug Administration has been investigating the chicken jerky products since 2007, but has yet to determine a cause of the illnesses linked to treat consumption. "No specific products have been recalled or implicated because we have not detected a contaminant," said Tamara Ward, Food and Drug Administration spokeswoman. "The FDA continues to actively investigate the problem and its origin. If we find evidence of any contaminant, the FDA will take appropriate action and notify the public." The Food and Drug Administration advises pet owners to monitor their pets and stop feeding the jerky products if pets show signs of decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and increased water consumption and/or increased urination.