Many things have occurred since I published the email I received from a Chinese pet treat manufacturer regarding a U.S. Pet Food/Treat company.  Unfortunately, we (pet owners) have few places to turn for help.

After publishing the story of a Chinese pet treat manufacturer stating a US company instructed him to add melamine and other fillers to pet treats, things have been very interesting.  The following is an update on what’s been happening…(to read the original story, click here)

I received an email from a Chinese manufacturer of dog treats on 4/20/09.  The Chinese manufacturer claimed that a US company instructed him to add melamine and other risky or inferior fillers to lesson the cost of the treats.  I was shocked by his claims, however with further correspondence I believed his story; Mr. Chinese Manufacturer answered every one of my questions openly and (I felt) honestly. 

Mr. Chinese Manufacturer also stated than a US investment firm, which invested in the US pet treat company in question, was also aware of the inferior and risky ingredients added to the pet treats.  His initial email provided me not only the name of the US pet treat company, it also provided me with the name of the CEO, the US investment firm, and a representative of the US investment firm.  All were said to be aware of inferior ingredients added to the pet treats and that the treats were irradiated despite what was stated on the product label.

Before providing the information to pet owners, I verified every claim he made that I could.  The investment firm did recently buy in to the treat company, the representative of the investment firm was real, and the US dog treat company and it’s CEO were as he stated.  When I published Mr. Chinese Manufacturer’s news on my site, I did not include the names of the US companies involved nor the US business people involved.  I did however turn over all the information I was provided to the FDA; the Florida FDA representative told me he was turning all information over to the Investigative Unit Branch Manager.  The Chinese manufacturer and I corresponded many times over several days, and then he just disappeared.

During our correspondence, he shared with me the Chinese Government wanted his company to come public with the story.  I managed to make contact with a major news network and they were anxious to tell a world of pet owners this story.  However, we needed the proof that Mr. Chinese Manufacturer stated he had; the instructions from the US company to add inferior and risk ingredients in lieu of more expensive vitamins and minerals as stated on the product label.  It seemed to me that at long last, pet owners were going to be informed of a horrible story of greed and recklessness.  And then all communication with Mr. Chinese manufacturer was lost. 

Interestingly, at the very same time Mr. Chinese manufacturer stopped communicating with me, the suspect US pet food/treat company – that was never mentioned in my previous story – called me.  Within an hour of speaking with the CEO of the US company, a negative comment was posted on the original article on my website.  The IP address of this comment was the Investment Firm Mr. Chinese Manufacturer told me was aware the risky and inferior ingredients were added to the treats.  Despite not (yet) having the undeniable proof the Chinese company was instructed by the US company to add the risk ingredients, the guilt of this US company is crystal clear to me.  Furthermore, my guess is the Chinese whistleblower has gone underground due to threats from the US company. 

Where can we go from here? 

Since reporting this story, I have also been contacted by several pet owners who have lived through the pain of losing a pet (or pets) to a tainted food.  Their concern was that this horrible incident would be delayed and delayed at the FDA, and in the meantime pets could become seriously ill or die eating these treats.  I was encouraged to test the treats for the exact ingredients the Chinese whistleblower told me were or were not there.  I’ve since learned that testing for only a few things, on just one product, would cost upwards of $700.00.  I have also since learned that many approved testing laboratories have major pet food companies – or the larger foundation company as clients.  Conflict of interest could definitely hinder honest testing results. 

This particular story aside, just imagine what it’s like for countless pet owners who watch a beloved pet die or become ill to what they believe is a contaminated pet food or treat.  Many of you reading this know exactly what that feeling is.  And then, when you learn that testing the food to prove a pet food problem will cost upwards of $700 (on top of thousands of dollars in vet bills you have already spent), and then learning the lab might not even provide you with accurate results due to conflict of interest; a feeling of hopelessness doesn’t even come close. 

Myself and so far, a few pet owners that have suffered painful losses due to pet foods, have decided to develop a non-profit corporation devoted to pet food testing (and in the future pet food lobbying efforts).  We will find a laboratory free from conflict of interest; our initial goal is to test one pet food per week.  A few good hearted, determined individuals have attempted this effort in the past, however their efforts have dwindled due to lack of funding.  I – we – will not let this effort fade into the woodwork.  Within the next few months you will be learning of our new non-profit foundation.  Very beginning plans are a foundation that will be taking reports of pet food contaminations directly from pet owners and providing the testing funds in order to hold the manufacturer accountable.  Our foundation members will be pet owners from all across the US and Canada and a manufacturer will never know what batch or in what part of the country a pet food sample will be tested.  The testing results will be used to file reports with the FDA and made public in order to protect pet owners. 

When the paperwork is completed, I will be asking for your donations (and your suggestions to gain more donations!) and together we will hold pet food manufacturers accountable for the safety of their products. 

In the meantime, let us hope and pray the FDA has made contact with Mr. Chinese Manufacturer and will soon be knocking on the door of the US companies involved.  Although I am still not at liberty to disclose to you the name of the US Pet Food/Treat company, my hope is the FDA will be sharing that information very soon. 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Truth about Pet Food
Petsumer Report
www.TruthaboutPetFood.com

Are you subscribed to Truth About Pet Food Newsletter?
Receive future pet food articles and alerts delivered to your email box. Click Here to subscribe. Your privacy is guaranteed - your email address will not be sold or shared.

Does your pet’s food contain Chinese Ingredients?
Petsumer Report knows if Chinese Imports are used in over 1200 different cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. Subscribe to Petsumer Report - reporting imported or U.S. only, human quality or lesser grade, Shelf Life, and red flag pet food ingredients. 40+ new reviews added monthly. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.  http://www.PetsumerReport.com

Follow Truth about Pet Food on Twitter.  Twitter updates now on the TruthaboutPetFood.com homepage (scroll down below Blog listing on right).  To follow TAPF on Twitter...Under People Search, look for Susan Thixton or TAPF (Truth about Pet Food was too long for Twitter).  Instant pet food updates should an emergency occur.  www.Twitter.com/TAPF