After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced more illnesses and deaths in pets in their investigation into jerky treats that are mostly made in China, two major pet food retailers announced this week that they will stop the sale of dog and cat treats made in China.
Both PetCo and PetSmart will have all Chinese-made treats removed from shelves in 2015. It’s effective at PetCo stores by the end of this year and by March for Petsmart.
While the FDA has not been able to pinpoint the exact cause to the rash of illnesses and deaths – and it cannot prove the jerky treats made in China are the cause – uncertainty and fear has led both retailers to veer on the safe side by removing such products from shelves. This also follows after numerous shoppers have requested for the ban of such products.
To date, the FDA has received more than 5,600 complaints of dogs becoming sick after eating the jerky treats in question. The complaints include 1,000 canine deaths as well as the death of 24 cats and 3 humans.
Illnesses include gastrointestinal and liver disease, kidney and urinary disease, and a variety of neurologic, dermatologic and immunologic symptoms.
Pet jerky treats that have already been voluntarily recalled include Nestle Purina PetCare’s Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch, Del Monte’s Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers, Publix’ private brand Chicken Tenders Dog Chew Treats and IMS Pet Industries’ Cadet Brand Chicken Jerky Treats.