China Says No to Independent Testing of Pet Treats

[joeybee12]

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.

http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/22/13399443-china-stiff-arms-fda-on-jerky-pet-treat-testing-reports-show?

Assholes.

One solution, get the word out and boycott Nestle.

[get the red out]

1. Look for "Made in the USA" on the label

I've started reading labels for what goes into my dog as much, or more, than what goes into me and my husband. I didn't have a pet when all those poor dogs and cats were killed by the Chinese pet food poison. I can't begin to imagine the horror.

I recently changed our dog's food brand because a South Carolina plant was putting out food with salmonella, and that was made in this country. It's hard keeping one's pet safe. But worth the effort.

[joeybee12]

2. I know, you would think this should be easy...

But it isn't...and South Carolina...that's what happens in red states when you don't keep all those "job-killing regulations."

[get the red out]

6. I agree

The food my dog eats now is made in Wisconsin. I decided it wasn't good enough that the recall "ended" and they had another plant in MO that one of the pet supply stores here buys from.

[Zoeisright]

12. There's a problem with that.

Food manufacturers don't have to tell you the country of origin on products if the ingredient is changed at all. And by "changed", I mean cooked. So labels aren't going to tell you everything you need to know.

[KurtNYC]

3. why can't they just test samples that were shipped over here?

I live on the main street of a small town and some people practically demand to give my dogs treats. Some don't even ask they just walk up and pull something out of their pocket. It still catches me off guard sometimes because I never knew that people just walk around with milkbones and other processed foods in their pockets. I have literally fished "treats" out of my dogs' mouths because people snuck them past me.

Even the stuff which is not outright poison scares me. How do you dry and preserve meat by products and animals fat without preservatives that are just short of embalming fluid?

[Sunlei]

4. how do we even know that 'meat' is chicken?

[RockaFowler]

5. I'm making my own now

It's ridiculous that they send us garbage and we have to serve it to our dogs. I'm buying a dehydrator and making my own jerkey. It's the only way I'll know for sure.

[kenny blankenship]

7. What they do with their own political dissidents is their business

[4th law of robotics]

8. This could really hurt Nestle

People don't like it when their pets are poisoned. For some reason that gets to them.

I would favor an embargo on any consumables from countries that routinely poison us and refuse to allow any independent testing.

But since that apparently isn't a possibility then a boycott is the next best thing.

[kysrsoze]

11. I agree. Nestlé is a bunch of bastards - remember the baby formula scandal

[jsr]

9. Chinese-run laboratories?

LOL.

[kysrsoze]

10. Watch out for China-sourced human food too!

If you see fruit in jars, it's quite possible it came from China. Same goes for frozen fish and cheap candy. Those scumbags don't care if they poison us or our animals.

[Marrah_G]

13. Buy American made pet food and pet treats.

Not only will your animal have less of a chance of being poisoned, but you will also be helping to keep American's employed.

[4th law of robotics]

14. It's an excellent opportunity for american pet-food producers

I wonder why they haven't hit on it more?

"Sure it costs a little extra. But isn't a few dollars a month worth it for the peace of mind? Remember, it wasn't American producers that gave your dogs melamine and called it food a few years back".

[Marrah_G]

15. I am a big fan of Blue Buffalo

That's what my kitty gets.

[SDjack]

17. Buyer beware. Made-in-USA does not mean that all ingredients

in pet food are produced in USA. The labeling law has loopholes. One of them allows Chinese producers to send dangerous ingredients to companies in Canada. Then Canadian companies mix Canadian, American, Chinese, etc. ingredients and export them to USA for mixing and bagging various commercial brands. That "Canadian" product is label washed -- that is, there is no mention of Chinese origin ingredients, and that is in accordance with the label law. The only way you can be sure about any commercial pet food is to write the CEO and ask.

[Egalitarian Thug]

16. It's ironic that, thanks to China killing so many of our pets, it is easier to find pet food and

treats that are made here, than it is to find domestic food for people.

[Wilms]

18. .