take it how you want because it is not official

[2ndchance]

This came through a springer rescue site and I am just passing it along but there have always been trouble with these particular type treats.
My sister in law works for delmonte so I am in touch with her waiting to see what she knows
I did not get this information from the FDA in my email as I usually do. Again just a warning.

. FDA put out an alert today saying that certain brands of China-made chicken jerky have made nearly 1,000 dogs sick in the US in recent months. Since Nov, FDA has over 900 reports of illness and death from vets and concerned pet owners. Despite research the FDA cannot identify the toxin.
Among those recently cited in complaints are the following brands: (1) Waggin' Train, (2) Canyon Creek Ranch produced by Nestle Purina Petcare Co, and (3) Milo's Kitchen-style Dog Treats produced by Del Monte Corp. The companies are questioning their liability. FDA cannot do a recall unless they can identify the cause but said the companies can recall treats at any time.

 

[Ivoryudx]

I saw a internet news article on this a couple of days ago. People need to stop feeding their dogs anything made in China!!! Period!

 

[2ndchance]

agreed! I don't think they take dogs as pets the way we do!

 

[DAWNMERIE]

People need to stop feeding their dogs anything made in China!!! Period!

That's more of a difficult task than people believe. I questioned Solid Gold about that and they said they were still getting the taurine from China, (that they could not find a suitable supplier anywhere else??) they also told me they are screening for any toxins but still I'd be more comfortable knowing nothing came from there! I actually now want to email Wellness to see what they have to say....I'll let you guys know what I find out.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Just got off the phone with Wellness and they basically told me the same thing as Solid Gold, it may just be a protocal answer but she commented about all the regulations over here being a reason as to why they can't purchase the products used from China here. According to the woman I spoke to those ingredients are the Vitamin C and the taurine, which is not in all of thier products. She also made mention of all the screening they do for those products shipped from China.

 

[Thehallk]

agreed! I don't think they take dogs as pets the way we do!

Not that I disagree about getting food locally, but I don't think the status of their pets had much to do with it. Lots of "human" food grown and/or distributed in USA (and Canada) has problems from time to time also. Like the lettuce listeriosis that's happening right now. I think every pet distributor has lower standards than human grade food distributors, but sometimes mistakes happen somewhere along the line and bacteria is introduced. Having said that, we all need to make the informed decisions that make us most comfortable! And hopefully we have no more sick dogs from these products!

 

[janices]

Champion, makers of Orijen/Acana does state on their website no ingredients sourced from China. Honest Kitchen states on boxes no ingredients from China. Grandma Lucy's states ingredients sourced within US.

China does not have same manufacturing standards the US has. That is one of the reasons more cost effective to send over there. Book "Poorly Made In China" by Midler, quality is compromised in cost cutting with chemical formulation alterations which can be difficult to detect. The process resembles the hunt for performance enhancements used by athletes, where a few get caught but the cleverer ones stay ahead by using products not yet on the prohibited list.

 

[2ndchance]

I would have to agree with all of the above comments. What I meant about China not taking their dogs seriously is that they sometimes use them for food. That being said, it is impossible to keep up with everything that passes through our doors, for humans or pets. But Pet foods seriously lack the attention/testing they deserve and I only say that because humans handle it. This goes for farm animals as well. Young children are often put in charge of feeding, young children also do not was their hands much.

Chicken jerky treats have had problems for years, and not just those from China. Thankfully most of us on this forum are kinda wise to such things, but much of John Q Public is not . Also I consider myself very fortunate to be able to own dogs just because I love them, I can see ,I can walk , and can do normal everyday stuff. My dogs cost me little to purchase initially, but there are those that pay a pretty penny for their dogs and I am not talking show dogs, I am talking guide dogs, assistance dogs, seizure alert dogs.These trained dogs can cost 20 grand or more, and can save your life. Can you imagine losing that one dog because of the food you feed? Most of these people with these needs may not have access to a computer and if there is nothing in the news about the recalls they'll never know about them. This is why I think it so important for someone to make pet food items a bit safer and enforce some type of law to do so. We took a step in the right direction when President Bush passed the pet act in 2006, I wish they could take it a step further but unless it is a wide spread problem affecting humans, like we are getting ill from Cow's milk , checking or regulating is dropped as soon as the cause is found and the disaster over.
I have not heard anything on the news about the recalls. I live in rural PA where the biggest news is someones car well off the hill and crashed into a house. Have any of you that live in major cities heard of the recalls of food on your news?

Dawnmerie grateful that you did so much to check things out.

 

[Ivoryudx]

I agree when an ingredient IN something is made in China, its very difficult to figure out. My problem is when it blatently states on the bag 'Made in China' and its a dog treat, then don't buy it! To me thats like paying someone to poison your dog for you. It makes no sense to me, how these companies are still affording to manufacture these things, when people can just read the bag themselves and not buy it. Many of them are not cheap either, so it just blows my mind how thoughtless many American Pet Owners seem to be.

 

[Ivoryudx]

I agree its not just China, but thats the easiest one to target in this conversation.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Sallie with your post you made me make a phone call....so thank you, older folk aren't so aware of the issues...I just called an older neighbor who has vision issues, his dog, Ginger was very ill a few weeks back and I talked a few things over with him at the time...but he was in with his car a few days ago and he brought some treats for the dogs with him and I just now thought...he gave Myra a chicken jerky treat!!!! So I just got off the phone with him and told him to throw out the package....he was getting a magnifing glass to read the package I said at this point, it's not worth it...throw them out. Hope he listened to me....cause his Ginger is a sweetie....and I'd hate to see anything happen to her.

 

[Jeannie]

I've also been told not to feed any treats that say "made in the Americas". Mostly likely made in South America and it is not safe. I only buy Made in the United States.

 

[blaue_augen]

I've also been told not to feed any treats that say "made in the Americas". Mostly likely made in South America and it is not safe. I only buy Made in the United States.

Oh, I hadn't heard this one. I'll be careful of it also, thank you.

On a similar topic, there are a seemingly growing number of human foods that are coming from China. I have noticed "product of china" on canned oranges, canned mushrooms, as well as some children's candies.

And I agree, companies here in the US make "mistakes" (sometimes on purpose?) too.

 

[2ndchance]

Sallie with your post you made me make a phone call....so thank you, older folk aren't so aware of the issues...I just called an older neighbor who has vision issues, his dog, Ginger was very ill a few weeks back and I talked a few things over with him at the time...but he was in with his car a few days ago and he brought some treats for the dogs with him and I just now thought...he gave Myra a chicken jerky treat!!!! So I just got off the phone with him and told him to throw out the package....he was getting a magnifing glass to read the package I said at this point, it's not worth it...throw them out. Hope he listened to me....cause his Ginger is a sweetie....and I'd hate to see anything happen to her.

Oh Dawnmerie, I am so glad you were able to help that gentleman! I never even thought of the older generation that does not have computer access and there are many of them out there that have pets!

Jeannie, I had not heard that either so thank you so much for sharing that info!

It is human nature to make Mistakes, so I do expect them, but when those mistakes are coming from another country it takes longer to hunt everything down and report it. If it is a mistake in America then it may not take as long. The only thing we can do as dog/pet owners is to report any unusual sickness and especially if it a multiple dog/pet home and all are eating the same thing.

 

[DAWNMERIE]

Just figured I'd share a picture of the sweetie, Ginger....and yes...I spoke with him this morning and those treats were from China, he threw them out! Yes, many elderly don't get on the computer so thanks for the reminder!

 

[blaue_augen]

Ginger is beautiful! That's a great picture!!

 

[2ndchance]

Aw Ginger looks so gentle! I am glad you were able to help your neighbor and his dog. And for a good reminder that not everyone automatically gets this type of news until there is huge deal and makes national news. From your posting of your neighbor it has made me think of the elderly that I know and I called them. One used Diamond foods and did not realize what was happening there, but that was it. I am glad I called and have made an elderly list going with their permission I will call with latest updates. I also posted recalls by the computer sign in at work because I work with young children and many have their Grandmas and Grandpas drop them off and pick them up. As well many of the families have very little themselves so they may not have computers either.