Beware the numerous ways in which jerky treats are named
It is important to remember that although the type of treat most often mentioned in the press is described as a jerky treat, the treats may also be called by a myriad of other names such as stix, chips, poppers, tenders, drumettes, kabob’s, strips, fries, lollipops, twists, wraps, bars, tops, discs and any other name they can come up with that sounds cute and yummy.
The report goes on to say that there is speculation the problems may also extend to pork treats and cat treats imported from China.
The next time you shop for dog treats, check the packaging to see where they were made. Even if the packaging is in English, it may come from thousands of miles away. In fact, a substantial number of dog treats are made in China and then shipped to the United States, Canada and other countries for resale at pet stores. So, are dog treats made in China safe, or should you choose a different product for your canine companion? Maybe… or Maybe Not Some dog treats made in China are perfectly safe, but others pose a serious risk of illnesses or even death. As an owner, you have to ask yourself if youre willing to take that risk (hint: you shouldnt). Treats made in China are much more likely to cause health issues than those made in the United States. Your dog might be perfectly fine after consuming a made-in-China treat, or he could succumb to toxicity, seizures, cancer or other serious medical problems. China: The Wild West of Pet Food The problem with dog treats made in China is the countrys lack of government regulations for the industry. As explained by Forbes, China has laws regulating the production of human food but not pet food. Pet food companies are free to produce pet food and dog treats without the scrutiny of government bodies looking over their shoulder. Unfortunately, this often results in low-quality pet food and dog treats being produced in China, some of which may contain toxic ingredients. Some of these treats are sold locally, though most are shipped overseas where they end up on the shelves of your local pet store. The Growing Problem of Made-in-China Dog Treats From 2007 to 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received more than 5,200 complaints about illnesses and deaths caused by jerky treats, most of which are imported from China. The FDA further explains that roughly 60% of these cases involves digestive issues, whereas 30% involve kidney or urinary issues. The FDA is constantly working to improve the safety of pet food and dog treats, and this means pulling potentially harmful products from the shelves. But the FDA simply doesnt have the resources to check and analyze every pet food product imported from China. For these reasons and others, its recommended that you avoid buying dog treats made in China and instead choose treats that are made here in the United States.
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Could Tainted Glycerin Be the Cause of the Problem?
After checking various online sources, nearly every Chinese jerky dog treat ingredient list checked by The Dog Food Advisor looked to made with glycerin.
So, could contaminated glycerin be the cause of the problem?
According to the FDA manufacturer notification, this appears to be a reasonable possibility.
Until the FDA or the industry has positively identified the cause the death of these unfortunate — and innocent — animals, why expose your pet to these avoidable risks?
So, what’s the best course of action?
Avoid feeding these potentially deadly treats in the first place. Don’t buy them. Or if you already have, take them back to the store you got them from.
You can report complaints about FDA-regulated pet food products by calling the consumer complaint coordinator in your area.
Or go to http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints.
Dangerous dog treats from China
Do you know where your dog’s treats were made? If the back of the bag reads “Made in China,” beware.
Treats that could be dangerous for your dog are still being sold on store shelves nationwide.
In mid-February, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced their intention to complete further testing of Chinese chicken jerky treats linked to dog illnesses and deaths.
The chicken jerky treats, all made in China, have been linked to hundreds of reported pet deaths since 2010, and the number of dogs affected as risen sharply; since the FDA initiated their official warning against the treats in November, 2011, nearly 500 reports of toxicity resulting in illness or death were issued with the FDA. The incidences are widespread, with owners across the country filing reports.
Stories of families losing dogs as a result of these tainted treats are as tragic as they are baffling. In some cases, owners reported feeding their dogs as little as half of a treat before the dogs fell ill. A Facebook group dedicated to spreading the word about the contaminated treats has grown by nearly 2,000 members in the past month.
Many of the dogs ingesting the tainted treats are coming down with a “Fanconi-like” syndrome. After eating one or more of these chicken jerky treats, a dog’s kidneys could become compromised. The kidneys then leak dangerous amounts of glucose and electrolytes into the dog’s urine. In serious cases, the dog will go into complete renal failure.
Symptoms to look for include excessive thirst, a lack of energy, frequent urination, a lack of appetite, diarrhea, and vomiting. Owners who believe their dog may be affected by tainted treats should seek immediate veterinary care.
The American Veterinary Medical Association urged dog owners to purchase treats with caution back in June 2011, when reports from Canada revealed potential toxicity in the same “made in China” treats. Concern about these treats, however, was reported by the AVMA as far back as September 2007.
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) have both thrown their hats into the ring in the fight to have these unsafe products pulled from the shelves. Both have contacted the FDA repeatedly, urging the agency to announce a recall.
In a letter, Kucinich urged the FDA to recall the products and alert the public: “The FDA has clearly established an association between consumption of the chicken jerky and illness and death,” he stated. “It is simply not feasible to expect every dog owner to be aware of a modestly publicized warning from the FDA.”
If these treats are so dangerous, then why haven’t they been recalled? Though both government and independent animal health laboratories have tested samples of the chicken jerky treats, there have been no definitive contaminants or toxins determined – yet. The treat samples have been checked for a number of unsafe chemicals, including melamine, diethylene glycol, and arsenic.
As of the end of February, the FDA’s Veterinary Laboratory Response Network has tested 80 samples, with 153 samples to go. There is no word on when these tests will be completed or if they will yield results definitive enough for a recall to be ordered.
Pet food products produced in China were first linked to sometimes-fatal pet illnesses in 2006. Tests conducted in early 2007 revealed that certain pet foods made in China were secretly infused with a cheap additive called melamine, a substance made from coal that ended up poisoning and, in some cases, killing dogs and cats in the United States. The discovery led to the FDA recall of over 60 million packages of pet food.