Pet treats from China pulled from shelves after AVMA issues warning
By Gina Spadafori
September 14, 2007
Looks like some folks have learned some lessons. When AVMA member veterinarians reported health problems with jerky treats made in China, the association lost no time in issuing a warning:
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has recently been made aware of several complaints from pet owners and veterinarians that multiple brands of jerky treats manufactured in China have been making pets sick. Symptoms of illness have included vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. To our knowledge, no deaths have been reported.
The AVMA posted an alert on its Web site on September 13 to inform its members and the public about what was known. Today, the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) issued a statement saying it also has become aware of an unusual number of dogs presenting similar symptoms and abnormal test results associated with consumption of some jerky treats. The ACVIM statement is available at www.acvim.org/uploadedFiles/Jerky_Treat_Info_September_14.doc.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is currently testing several products to see if a contaminant can be found. So far, they have ruled out melamine, one of the chemicals that led to the massive pet food recall this spring, but have yet to identify anything that might be making pets sick.
While a list of brand/product names of affected treats is not yet available, the AVMA has learned that all complaints have involved jerky treats from China. We recommend that pet owners use their best judgment in this matter.
Suspected cases should be reported to the FDA. To find the number for the FDA district office consumer complaint coordinator in your region, visit www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.
Or maybe we haven’t learned so much after all, since Itchmo is reporting that Petsmart has issued an internal memo pulling the treats from the shelves, with no mention of it yet on the company Web site. Hey, it’s not as if you wanted or needed to know or might have some of the product at home already.
There are multiple brands of chicken strips which are labeled Made in China. Those imported brands also have beef, duck, pork, and pig products such as strips, tendons, bones, chews, and ears. None of those are recalled, nor explicitly mentioned. But I am certain I won’t be buying any of those for awhile out of an overabundance of caution.
Comment by Dennis — September 14, 2007 @ 5:42 pm
How about NEVER buy ANYTHING made in China?!
My dogs love a piece of string cheese for a treat, no need to buy things called treats.
Comment by Elaine — September 14, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Elaine I agree. My dogs also love cheerio’s, salt free pretzels,gold fish crakers ,pieces of apples , carrots & little pieces of hot dogs.Nothing from china is save.
Comment by thomas — September 14, 2007 @ 6:17 pm
Agree with Elaine!
Comment by Lynn — September 14, 2007 @ 6:24 pm
Here we go again :(
Hey Joe/Jane consumer..wake up..start reading labels and do not buy anything made in china !!
Takes a bit longer to shop but well worth it for some peace of mind for both you and your pets.
Comment by newlurker — September 14, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
There is a lot of stuff out there made in China.
Some of it has some very small print telling where’s its made, but with large bucholic pictures of New England. DOUBLE CHECK EVERYTHING!
It is the responsibility of the Federal Government to protect us and our pets from these poisons and they have failed miserably because they are in bed with the profiteers and the Communsit Chinese government - profits before consumer protection - a national disgrace.
And remember, many of those pet TOYS are also made in China - any bets on the amount of lead in them?
Comment by MFEMFEM — September 14, 2007 @ 7:10 pm
I just posted an article about this on my blog: http://carolonpets.com/blog/
Comment by Carol Osborne, D.V.M. — September 14, 2007 @ 7:32 pm
For those of you who read labels and don’t buy anything from China, remember to TELL the clerk, or the manager of the store EACH TIME you check out!
If you don’t mind calling attention to yourself, do so loudly so others can hear.
Another “trick” of mine, check the baby teethers and pacifiers and toys that are intended to be chewed on. If they are made in China (almost ALL of them are) ASK if the store has checked these items for LEAD CONTENT?! And if so, why not??
This is one way to get the story out, and believe me, most of the clerks agree with me.
Comment by Elaine — September 15, 2007 @ 9:20 am
Comment by Elaine — September 15, 2007 @ 9:20 am
“For those of you who read labels and don’t buy anything from China, remember to TELL the clerk, or the manager of the store EACH TIME you check out!
If you don’t mind calling attention to yourself, do so loudly so others can hear.
Another “trick” of mine, check the baby teethers and pacifiers and toys that are intended to be chewed on. If they are made in China (almost ALL of them are) ASK if the store has checked these items for LEAD CONTENT?! And if so, why not??
This is one way to get the story out, and believe me, most of the clerks agree with me.”
EXCELLENT suggestion !!!
Comment by MFEMFEM — September 15, 2007 @ 10:37 am
I just returned two bottles of apple juice to my supermarket, after I saw on the bottle, “Concentrate from China.” Yikes!!!
Won’t be purchasing that juice anymore.
Comment by Marcy — September 15, 2007 @ 10:48 am
Marcy, I hate to tell you this, but virtually all the apple concentrate now comes from China. And lots and lots of apple juice is made from that concentrate (not to mention other juices as well as all the things apple juice is used as a sweetener in).
Comment by The OTHER Pat — September 15, 2007 @ 1:01 pm
Wow…really?
I just purchased organic apple juice…wonder if it was made in China?
Comment by Marcy — September 15, 2007 @ 2:12 pm
marcy,
i don’t trust any store bought fruit juice anymore since they can call it organic no matter where it’s from. i get my juice from an orchard upstate now. it really sucks that i just can’t pop into a corner store and grab a pint of juice, but it’s not worth it to me. and i do feel better that i’m not supporting the big corps with their juice that comes from who knows where.
Comment by straybaby — September 15, 2007 @ 8:27 pm
One thing that I (think) I can still count on: Wine. Last night I opened a bottle of Chianti, “Product of Italy” and thought, “Oh God, I hope so!”
Because the whole China important poisoning mess has given me a need to drink.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 16, 2007 @ 8:41 am
i’m currently supporting the vineyards of the napa valley and upstate ny ;)
if they start messing with my wine . . . .
Comment by straybaby — September 16, 2007 @ 9:14 am
What was astounding to me, was that when I tried to explain to the checker why I was bringing the apple juice back (she didn’t seem to care in the first place), she acted like she was almost oblivious to the China recalls. I tried to explain it to her, but don’t know how much of it sunk in.
How many people are walking around with blinders on their eyes to all of this? I would rather know, than not.
Comment by Marcy — September 16, 2007 @ 10:02 am
Oh, I agree! Buy American! California and NY wine and Kentucky bourbon. (I don’t know much about hard liquor — are there other American kinds of it?)
This Italian bottle was a gift, though — and a very nice bottle it was.
Of course, after reading of the scandals in the Italian olive oil trade …
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 16, 2007 @ 10:58 am
i think there is with bourbon, but i’m pretty clueless also. i needed help just the other day because a recipe called for bourbon or Tennessee whiskey! lol!~
i like American wines because it’s easier for me to remember the vineyard names! ;) you just gave me an idea, wine tasting upstate with the fall foliage! :)
Comment by straybaby — September 16, 2007 @ 11:27 am
I was speaking to Rochelle A Lavens who is the president of the Pet Food Task Force. She sells gormet pet food in Granview Ohio. She seemed very knowledgeable about even the poisoning going on in Human Food. I was stunned and impressed with just how much she knew. For instance she said that recently they found drywall in prescription drugs for heart medication! If anyone has a link to that information please post. I can’t find it but I don’t doubt her. She personally knows her pet food suppliers and has visited their farms. Hope everyone knows someone on the task force.
Comment by Concha Castaneda — September 17, 2007 @ 8:48 am
The organic apple juice I bought is from New Zealand…and the cranberry juice I bought is USA.
The whole ordeal of the Chinese apple juice just reminded me that I need to be more diligent in checking origin.
Comment by Marcy — September 17, 2007 @ 1:37 pm