Chinese Ingredients in dog food...

[Richard Crowe]

Reading the labels does not guarantee that the food we feed our dogs is safe.  I have been feeding Holly a kibble sold by a local pet supply chain "Kahoots".  The sales person stated that it was totally U.S. made and the label indicated "made in the USA".  Holly, who has a sensitive digestive track, does very well on this kibble.  However I contacted the Kahoots Home Office regarding the make-up of their dog foods.  Here is my original query and the reply from Kahoots as well as my final reply back:

"Does Kahoots sweet potato and fish kibble/canned food contain ANY materials/products from China?

This is the reply I received:

Richard - Our Kahoots canned food does not have any ingredients from China.
Our dry foods do contain vitamin packs that are from China.
Let me know if you have any other questions.
Have a great day,
Chris

I replied to Chris at Kahoots:

Thank you very much for your prompt and honest reply.  We will continue using your canned food but, will no longer take a chance on your kibble.

It is a shame that U.S. pet food manufacturers, in the interest of profits, play Russian Roulette (In this case "Chinese Roulette") with the lives of our pets.

The Chinese have had a history of not giving a Tinker's Damn about poisoning animals or children in the search for profits.  I guess that many American food manufacturers are sailing on the same tack."

Close quotes:  It is the Chinese additives that have caused problems resulting in the deaths of many dogs here in the USA as well as those additives to infant formulas having caused deaths of Chinese babies.

Additionally: I am seriously disturbed that the Dick Van Patten Company has sold the rights to manufacture their Natural Balance dog food to Del Monte.  I have contacted the Del Monte company and asked if they use ANY Chinese ingredients in their Natural Balance kibble or canned foods. I am awaiting a reply

Does anyone know of a SAFE kibble?  I'd like to try it and see if it works for Holly's tummy....

 

 

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Richard, this is disturbing but unfortunately, not surprising. Some time ago I posted this article from the Seattle Times:

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2003732744_vitamins03.html

As you can see, China is manufacturing the bulk of the world's vitamin C, E, B12 and A as well as aspirin, penicillin, etc.  The vitamins in dog food are just the tip of a huge ugly iceberg. We need to be asking about the source of the items WE are taking as well.  

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Exactly. 

[Ann Kendig]

I will be interested to read their response as my dogs are on Natural Balance. Thanks for posting!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Ann, we stopped recommending N.B after the sale was announced. As I said below, regardless of what their answer may be, that is going to change anyway. 

There are lots of other options for limited ingredient foods, most of them much better anyway. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unfortunately, 90% of all the vitamins and vitamin/mineral supplements sold in this country, both those added to foods and those you buy separately, are imported from China. The mutlivitamins that we humans take are imported from China (or India) too. Ditto for the vitamin C added to juices, vitamin D added to milk, etc. 

We have discussed these issues in depth here in TFG over the past several years. 

The problem with the Chinese baby formula was melamine, the same issue that caused the deaths of thousands of pets and resulted in the massive recalls of 2007. For the best information on this topic, read Marion's Nestle's "Pet Food Politics." 

For information on the use of imported ingredients in human food, Nestle's bestseller "Food Politics" is highly recommended.

We have also discussed the sale of Natural Balance to Del Monte in great depth here. The problem with this is that it doesn't matter what they are putting in the food right now, that is going to change within the year, as happened with the Natura products (EVO, Innova, and Calif. Naturals) after their sale to P & G. There is absolutely no question that Del Monte, P & G, and all of the major multinational corporations use third party food brokers who import the ingredients from the lowest bidders, almost always the Chinese. This is also detailed in "Pet Food Politics". 

We have researched the ingredient sources in all of the brands recommended on our list. However, it is very likely that the vitamins in most of them come from China, just as ours do. 

You might try writing to Champion Foods of Canada, makers of Orijen and Acana. If anyone is not using Chinese vitamins in their kibbles, they would be the ones.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

http://www.foodpolitics.com/pet-food-politics-the-chihuahua-in-the-...

I cannot recommend this book too strongly for anyone who is truly concerned about these issues. As I have said before, it's a slim, easy to read and well-written book, widely available.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here you go. From Champion's website: 

http://www.championpetfoods.com/faq/#ingredients

Q: 100 % CHINA-FREE – Do ACANA and ORIJEN dog and cat food formulas contain any ingredients from China?

A |

There are no ingredients from China used in the preparation of our dog and cat food formulas, including vitamins — we are 100% China-free. Our production focus is on FRESH INGREDIENTS supplied regionally and all of our products are made exclusively within our own award-winning factory here in Alberta, Canada. And rest assured, our products are biologically appropriate, the way Mother Nature intended. For more detailed information on the ingredients contained in our product lines, click on the Ingredients & Preservatives link.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Maybe we should start eating Champion kibble too!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I know, F! 

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

If only the cost of Origen would stop going up. My dogs eat better than I do!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, and we have also discussed here many times that "made in USA" does not mean that the ingredients are sourced from the USA.

[Bill Burkhart]

Richard: I dumped Natural Balance the minute I read (here) about Del Monte buying the company. I switched to Acana Ranchlands. I'd be interested to know I what anyone hears out the source of Acana stuff. Thanks!