Tag: jerky treats

April 1 Deadline to File Claims for Dogs Sickened by Certain Jerky Treats

Did your dog get sick (or worse) after eating Canyon Creek Ranch or Waggin’ Train jerky treats?

In May 2014, Nestlé Purina Petcare Company and Waggin’ Train LLC agreed to pay $6.5 million to the pet parents of dogs who were sickened or died after eating jerky treats that were manufactured in China.

The deadline to file a claim is April 1, 2015.

A two-page list of the products can be found here. For each of your pets who became ill after consuming one of the products, you may be reimbursed up to 100 percent of certain economic damages (such as vet bills and the purchase price of the product), if you provide documentation. You may also receive up to $300 per pet for economic damage for which you do not have documentation.

For more information and to file a claim, visit Dog Treat Product Settlement.

The U.S. District Court is scheduled to hold a final approval hearing on June 23 to determine whether the proposed settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate.

Neither Nestlé Purina Petcare Company or Waggin’ Train LLC admitted fault in the settlement. The agreement requires Nestlé Purina “to undertake enhanced quality assurance measures and modify certain language on its packaging,” according to a press release.

Since 2007, the FDA has warned pet parents about illnesses in dogs who ate jerky treats made in China. The symptoms include kidney failure and gastrointestinal problems. After all this time, the FDA has still not determined what has caused the illnesses. This year both Petco and PetSmart finally stopped selling pet treats manufactured in China.

Nestlé Purina is currently facing another major class-action lawsuit claiming that thousands of dogs got sick or died after eating Beneful dry dog food. In a statement on its Beneful website, the company called the lawsuit “baseless” and blamed social media for spreading “false information.”

Because of this most recent lawsuit, two U.S. senators have asked the FDA to investigate the claim and provide updates about measures being taken to prevent the contamination of pet food.

Photo credit: Parker Knight

RECALL ALERT: Big Bark All Natural Beef Jerky Treats

Some Big Bark All Natural Beef Jerky Treats for Dogs are being voluntarily recalled because they may be contaminated with Salmonella bacteria.

According to a press release from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the product’s manufacturer, Grill-Phoria LLC, of Loveland, Colo., is recalling about 200 3.5-ounce stand-up pouches. The bags do not have lot codes.

The recalled jerky treats were manufactured and distributed between Sept. 20, 2014 and Jan. 2, 2015 to independent pet stores in Colorado, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming.

The recall was initiated after a routine sampling test by the Colorado Dept. of Agriculture revealed that the finished product tested positive for Salmonella.

Salmonella can affect animals who eat the contaminated products, and there is also a risk to humans who handle the products, especially if they do not thoroughly wash their hands (and any surfaces the product touched) afterward.

The symptoms of Salmonella poisoning in both pets and people include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Pets may also become lethargic. If you or your dog experience any of these symptoms after eating or handling this product, see a doctor or veterinarian.

If you purchased this product, return it to the store for a full refund.

For more information about the recall, call Grill-Phoria at 970-663-4561 Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. MST.

Photo: FDA

Petco and PetSmart Will Stop Selling Treats Made in China

You can expect the dog treat shelves of your local Petco and PetSmart stores to start looking pretty barren. As both national chains promised last year, they will no longer sell pet treats that were manufactured in China.

More than 1,000 dogs have died after eating chicken, duck or sweet potato jerky treats made in China, and nearly 5,000 more have become ill. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been investigating these cases since 2007 (and taking way too long to do so, many pet parents complain). No link has yet been found between the treats and the illnesses.

About 60 percent of the illnesses reported to the FDA were gastrointestinal problems; 30 percent were kidney or urinary issues; and the remaining 10 percent were symptoms including convulsions, tremors, hives and skin irritation.

“We know some pet parents are wary of dog and cat treats made in China, especially chicken jerky products, and we’ve heard their concerns,” Jim Myers, CEO of Petco, said in a press release last May. “As a leader in the industry and the trusted partner for our pet parents, we’re eager to make this transition and to expand our assortment of safe and healthy treats, the majority of which are made right here in the U.S.”

Since September, Petco has been pulling the products from its online store and 1,300 physical stores; PetSmart will finish removing them by March.

Petco Vice President John Sturm told the Associated Press the chain will substitute the China-made treats with those made in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands.

Last week Jump Your Bones recalled some lots of its Roo Bites, treats made in Australia from dehydrated kangaroo meat, because they may have contained Salmonella.

It seems like it may not be a good idea to feed your dog commercially made jerky treats, no matter where they’re manufactured.

Photo credit: Tony Alter

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