.jpg)
All Pages
Pet Food Article Categories
Even More FDA Reports of Illness due to Chicken Jerky Treats
- 12-29-2011
- Categorized in: Pet Food Recall
MSNBC.com is reporting the FDA has received 353 reports of dog illness and or death related to Chicken Jerky Treats made in China. Just last month, the FDA reported only 70 illnesses or deaths relating to the treats; a little more than a month later the total is up to 353.
It is concerning why in all of 2011 - up to November 18, 2011 - the total FDA reports of pet illnesses or deaths relating to Chicken Jerky Treats imported from China was only 70 -- then a little more than a month later the total of reports increased to 353.
Are more pet parents/veterinarians reporting to the FDA because of the alert sent out in November? Or is the same percentage of reports coming into the FDA - which would mean many, many more pets are becoming ill or dying?
Let us hope that because the FDA (and the Canadian Veterinarian Association) issued a warning last month to pet parents and veterinarians, more are reporting to the FDA. Going with that line of thinking (more pet parents and veterinarians reporting illness or death believed to be related to a treat or food to the FDA), just imagine how powerful these warnings could be if only we knew of all that is being reported. If this much of an increase can happen in a little more than a month, imagine how effective an FDA warning could be to warn pet parents about other pet food related illnesses or deaths?
Please - be VERY cautious of feeding your dog a meat jerky treat (chicken or other) sourced from China. As well, Please report every incident of pet illness or death you and/or your veterinarian believes to be related to a pet food or treat to the FDA and to your State Department of Agriculture. For reports to the FDA, you can do this online using the Safety Reporting Portal. For reports to your State Department of Agriculture, ask to speak to the person in charge of pet food.
And Please - FDA - realize that your warning issued last month has vastly increased the reports of pet illness/death. Do more of these warnings! And perhaps it is time for a jerky treat recall?
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
Author, Buyer Beware
Co-Author Dinner PAWsible
TruthaboutPetFood.com
PetsumerReport.com
What's in Your Pet's Food?
Is your dog or cat eati
ng risk ingredients? Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the 'rest of the story' on over 2500 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. www.PetsumerReport.com
The List
The List of pet foods that Susan wouldn't hesitate to feed to her own pets!
Have you read Buyer Beware?
Cooking for pets made easy, Dinner PAWsible.
Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter? Click Here to subscribe.
Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter.
Become a Fan of Truth, Vindication, Dinner PAWsible, Buyer Beware on Facebook.
Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here
Email to Friend
Fill in the form below to send this article to a friend:
Relentless publicity about this issues from TAPF.com will hopefully work to bring pressure on FDA to issue more warnings and perhaps even the possibility of a recall. It is a noble task that you pursue.
It seems that we've seen enough in the past several years to conclude that pet food products sourced from China, or pet foods that include ANY ingredients sourced from China, should not be considered for our pets.
Good comment but how do we know what ingredients are sourced from China that go into the making of chicken, beef or bacon and cheese treats for our dogs, and then on those packages it says Made in the U.S.A.? How can we find this out?? I need to know.
Actually you have to call the individiual companies and ask - are all your ingredients produced and distributed here in the USA, meaning that you source nothing from China?
The better companies, and the ones that do business with independent pet supply stores usually have a higher notch of quality, although it costs more.
By the way a nice alternative to the "meat" jerky treats are the sweet potato jerky treats. The ones I buy are made here in the USA. Of course there are some pets that only go for "meat" products. And if you have a dehydrator meat jerky treats can be made at home. No worries!
When will people and pet owners learn! Nothing good comes of Chinese Imports!!! The Retail stores are just as much at fault for even stocking these brands. Shame on them and letters should be written to the big box stores threatening a boycott until they change their policy!!!!!!!!
So far I haven't seen any brands named. Has anyone? While I think that items from China should be scrutinized, I think that the bigger problem comes from manufacturers that GO to China and say, "I want a Jerky Treat (or biscuit, or toy for dog & human alike) that I can purchase for fifty cents. (and then the Chinese guy needs to find a way to fullfil the WMart Purchasing Agent's request :) I just find it odd that there are so many filings and no definative diagnoses.
Yes what are the brands,that's what I want to know
Susan, where is the notice on the FDA's website? I have looked and looked, but the only thing I found was a notice that was reviewed December 13, 2011. Also, have you read anything on the Astralia connection?
I didn't find it either - I was going with what MSNBC was reporting. I'd guess that a journalist with MSNBC phoned the FDA and this information was provided verbally.
No to the Australia connection - except that symptoms seem to be similar to those suffered by dogs in Australia several years ago (Fanconi syndrome).
This is not in defense of China but we may need to expand the search of the real causes. According to the FDA, they have found nothing in the jerky products that would cause the problem. Could it be misreporting? We know heartworm, flea, vaccines and other drugs produce the same symptoms. Could it be that these are the cause and the jerky just be a convienent scapegoat?
Yet another reason why I invested in a dehydrator and have making all my own treats, including fresh chicken strips and turkey jerky, for over a year.
I am totally puzzled that no pulls or recalls were issued. That doesn't make any sense and it is disturbing.
So many people are still unaware of this problem and dogs continue to get sick.
Who in the world would want to risk losing their pet or incurring Vet bills in the name of a cheap treat? Why worry about which brands are affected? Why should a consumer have to call any company?? Or require anymore details about symptoms versus probably cause? China's Chicken Jerky Treats have been recalled enough already in the past (for Samonella) to prove it's not a trust worthy product. Very hard to believe why readers here would even want any more "details".