China stiff-arms FDA on jerky pet treat testing, reports show

NBC ^ | 8/22/12 | JoNel Aleccia

[EBH]

Chinese government officials overseeing plants that make chicken jerky pet treats blamed for thousands of illnesses and deaths among American dogs have refused to allow U.S. inspectors to collect samples for independent analysis, newly released records show.

Investigators with the federal Food and Drug Administration came away empty-handed after conducting April inspections at four jerky treat manufacturing sites in Liaocheng and Jinan, China, according to the records.

The plants make pet treats sold by the St. Louis-based Nestle Purina PetCare Co., including the popular Waggin’ Train jerky brands.

Chinese officials stipulated that FDA officials could collect samples only if they agreed to specific conditions, including a requirement that the samples be tested in Chinese-run laboratories.

As a result, “no samples were collected during this inspection,” wrote Dennis L. Doupnik, an FDA investigator who visited the sites.

In addition, the reports showed that the Chinese plants conducted either no laboratory tests or only sporadic tests of the raw materials, including meat used in treats fed to many of the 78.2 million pet dogs in the U.S.

[deadrock]

If anyone is feeding their dog anything from China, they might as well give the dog up to the local police dept for target practice.

[fella]

Lost a really good Great Pyrenees to the fake protein supplement the chi-coms sold the dog food makers awhile back. We try to avoid chinese stuff as much as possible now.

[marron]

Just go and buy a bag from the supermarket.

Or, just block imports from those factories until they comply.

[rocketmag]

I read the packaging very closely, Only products manufactured in the US. We had a male have seizure like symptoms after being allowed to have rawhide while he was staying at a friends house. Very scary

[Spirit of Liberty]

That’s what I was thinking; the crap’s sitting on the shelves!!

OK, if this stuff is coming from an American company, how do we know what food is safe?

[Slump Tester]

Screw Nestle Purina - why buy ANY pet food from them if they sell crap from China?

[Joe 6-pack]

WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

[goat granny]

I buy jerky for human comsumption, and its usually a little cheaper. Have to take it easy on the amount, the vet doesn’t like the sulfides (I think thats it) in jerky..

[deadrock]

I feed my dog Petcurian NOW. All local products. Duck, salmon and turkey with omega oils. NO GRAINS.

Is it expensive? 65 bucks for 25lbs.

I am not affiliated with this company in any way.

Petcurian website will show the closest retailer which is handy when traveling with your dog/s.

[WILLIALAL]

“Or, just block imports from those factories until they comply.”

That is what a sane President would have done, but Obama is scared shitless of the ChiComs.

[trisham]

We don't buy anything for our dogs that is made in China. We also buy nothing from any company that has a history of having to recall bad product.

We are very close to feeding only home-made food.

[deadrock]

Sorry, spelling mistake. The company is Petcurean.com

[X-spurt]

Purina used to be the reliable pet food. Now with Nestle, a true “global” anything for a profit company.

As with most things from PRC, Buyer Beware!

[khelus]

Just go and buy a bag from the supermarket.

Or, just block imports from those factories until they comply.

That would require the FDA to get out of bed with global corporations that place saving nano cents on the dollar by manufacturing in red china ahead of safety. After the problem with plastic added to pet food ingredients to boost the 'protein' content, the FDA set 'acceptable' limits for plastic in food!

[Monkey Face]

Make your own pet treats. There are enough online sites to make sure your dog is getting what YOU get! If YOU can’t eat it, then don’t give it to your pets!

[EBH]

I feed Nature’s Variety RAW diet for my cats.

Recently the AVMA and the AAHA came out with policy statements to vets to discourage raw diets. My Atlas actually wrote the AVMA to have his viewpoint considered: http://www.finickyfeline-fido.com/blog/2012/07/28/Atlas-write-to-the-AVMA-about-Raw-Food-for-Cats.aspx Too bad for him they refuse to listen.

Last week the AAHA came out with a similar policy statement.

And yet...the FDA is powerless

[WakeUpAndVote]

WE HAVE A WINNER! You are dead on with that statement.

[rex regnum insanit]

Same here. Any food product from China, whether for animals or humans cannot be trusted. Right now I boil ground turkey and mix in mashed sweet potato for my wee beasties. They get a few ounces of that with the (gluten free) dry kibble I give them. The kibble has to be made in the US or Canada and can’t contain any ingredients from China.

[Monkey Face]

Make your own pet treats. There are enough online sites to make sure your dog is getting what YOU get! If YOU can’t eat it, then don’t give it to your pets!