One More Time: Nothing Sourced From China!!!!!!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This a.m. on FB, I happened to see this list posted by a member of a group of dog owners for whom it is apparently a revelation that any type of pet food and treats using ingredients from China are dangerous for our companion animals. The woman has started a petition after supposedly losing a dog recently to Authority brand treats.

This information has been out there in the media for 8 years. It saddens me that there are still pet owners who aren't aware of it. 

(This discussion is really not meant for seasoned Food Groupies. You already know this stuff. But there may be newbies who don't or you may have friends & neighbors who would benefit from this info. Please feel free to share it. Nobody has to be a member of TFG or even DK to see the information here. Send a link to anyone you think might need it.)

I hope with all my heart that if there is a single thing anyone has learned in this group, it is that above anything else, you absolutely must check the sourcing of any edible product you give your pets. It is not enough that a product says "Made in USA" or has a North American address on the packaging. The ingredients might still come from China or other third world countries. 

I am also going to go out on a limb here and say that one way to avoid giving your dogs something that might kill or sicken them is to accept the fact that you cannot buy safe, wholesome food products for your pets at places like Costco, Walmart or Target. Don't even look at pet food products in these places. We all want to try to save money, but buying dog treats at a place like Walmart or at the Dollar Store is a dangerous way to do that. 

Here's the list I found on FB. I have not verified this information, and it is NOT inclusive by any means. But I wouldn't give any of these products to my pets anyway. 

Pet Treats Known To Contain Ingredients Sourced In China:

  

*Waggin Train (Nestle/Purina)

*Canyon Creek Ranch (Nestle/Purina)

*Nestle Purina

*Milo's Kitchen (BigHeart Co., formerly Del Monte) 

*Dogswell

*American Kennel Club

*Hartz

*Dingos

*Beefeaters

*Golden Rewards

*Westminster Pets (Wag-n-Tails)

*Pack N Pride

*Kirkland

*Royal Canin

*Redwood Pet

*PCI Chicken Tenders and Chicken Nibbles

*Dog Nip

*Cadet

*Meijer

*Pet Botanics

*DreamBones

*Ranch Rewards

*Good-n-tasty / Healthy-hide

*Sargents

*Ever Pet ($$ General)

*Home Pet 360

*Walgreen's brand - Simple

*Walgreen's brand - Nice

*Pet Shoppe

*Freebirds

*TheKingdomPets.com

*Sheps (Aldis)

*Pork Chomps

*VitaLife, Pet Authority & President's Choice 

*Target's Boots & Barkley

*Canine Carry Outs

*Smart bones

*Loving Pet Gourmet Duck

*Ruffin' It Healthfuls Sweet Potato Slices-Westminster

*PetWestern Family brand chicken jerky ( Price Smart Foods) 

*Booda Bones - Aspen Pet www.aspenpet.com, www.petmate.com

pet 'n shape: http://www.petnshape.com/products.html

Here are links to The Food Group's Recommended Brands for food and treats; nothing from China, no corn, no wheat, no by-products, no artificial preservatives or chemical additives :

Recommended Food Brands

Recommended Treat Brands

[F, Calla & Luca]

Good reminder! Isn't it sad that some of the names, like Canyon Creek, sound so lovely.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Just like the names of some of the puppy mills. "Almost Heaven", one of the worst puppy mills in doodle history, is a good example of that. Great marketing.

As Shakespeare said, "What's in a name?" :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I'm going to go out on another limb here and say that the responsibility for what you give your pets (and your family, for that matter) lies not with the stores who sell the products, or the government, or even the manufacturers; it lies with you, the consumer and the caretaker. The petition I saw today called for the removal of these products from Petsmart's shelves. The dog who  supposedly died from the treats was 10 years old. It has been widely publicized since 2007 that thousands of dogs and cats have been killed or made permanently ill by treats and food ingredients imported from China. I don't even understand how it is possible that anyone could own a dog or cat for 10 years and be involved in pet groups on social media and still not know this. I also don't understand how, knowing this, a responsible adult would then expect the stores to check the sourcing of the products she buys so she doesn't have to do it herself. Corporations are in business to make a profit. It would be nice if they all did that in an ethical manner, but until that happens (and I wouldn't hold my breath), it's up to us to be educated consumers.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's a copy of a public FDA report from October of 2013 about chicken jerky from China having caused illness and death in pets, and Authority is one of the brands listed. 

http://southriversource.com/2013/10/28/fda-dog-jerky-treats-causing...

There are warnings about this all over the internet. 

[Diane, Hurley and Sidney]

My mom's cat eventually died from the pet food scandal that was several years back. This was after she had put thousands of dollars into trying to save her cat. It was at the very beginning of awareness.

Flip forward to now and I cannot emphasize enough how fortunate I feel I am for this Doodlekisses web site and especially for the passion and caring of Karen to guide us all through the muddy world of pet foods.

I am fussy about where and what I buy in groceries for my hubby and myself and just as fussy about what I get for Hurley.

Hurley is a very discerning eater. I sometimes think he has a 6th sense as to what to accept from strangers. He just won't take any treats from anyone but me. So when out and about and someone wants to offer him a treat he turns his head away even before I can say he doesn't accept treats.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I am so sorry about your mom's cat, Diane. It was the 2007 recalls and deaths of thousands of pets that inspired me to start this group. A friend's Standard Poodle died from the melamine in Iams. :(

Taquito, TFG co-administrator Allyson's little chihuahua, has permanent kidney damage from Waggin' Train chicken jerky.

We so often hear people say "My dog eats better than I do." Well, to me, that's as it should be, lol. We have the ability to choose whether we want to eat healthy food, or crap. Our dogs don't, they depend on us to provide them with the best nourishment we can. I know that if Hurley were in charge of feeding you, he would do as well for you as you are doing for him. :)

[Amy and Annabelle]

My husband's sister works for Purina. It does cause some hostility because I refuse to support where she works. But I stand my ground. Luckily my husband is on board with my decision. He knew that Purina was crap, but he was down for going with Costco puppy at first because the thought it being made by Diamond made it good.  He even surprised me with a big bag of the stuff before we brought Annabelle home. I just about cried. I was still researching food and hadn't made a decision yet. But I knew Costco brand wasn't it. It was bad enough that I had to feed her the Purina crap for awhile since that is what the breeder had her on. I ended up donating the Costco stuff to the local animal shelter and going with Orijen puppy.  Now at 7 months old she has been on the adult Orijen for a couple of months. I get Annabelle's food and treats at a local pet health food store. Surprisingly they are even cheaper than Chewy's on their food.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I too have been surprised by the prices at some of the smaller privately owned pet supply boutiques. I found their prices on many brands including Orijen to be a dollar or two cheaper than some of the bigger chain-type pet supply stores. 

These smaller privately owned stores also often do carry only better quality products that are not sourced in China. But even then, you still have to do your research. I have found brands at these stores that do import ingredients from China for some of their lines; the store may not carry those particular lines, but i refuse to purchase or recommend any pet food product made by a company that thinks it's okay to put crap in some of their products but not others, and charge accordingly.

I am so glad your DH is on board with your decision. Annabelle is a lucky girl to have parents who are willing to stand their ground about what's best for her even if it causes some friction with relatives. :)  

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

I think consumers in general are duped into this idea that if it says "Made in USA" then it must mean that it is made with American ingredients. I know I was! Companies are even tricky with their use of the words "American made." I was looking at chews not too long ago and came across one that proudly stated "American made." It was made in Paraguay, so I guess technically that is true- South America. Ugh!

Karen, just curious if you know... if all of these tainted foods are coming from China, what is happening to the poor dogs and cats that live in China? Do they feed their animals better quality foods than what they sell to the USA?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Back when the melamine found its way into the pet foods, it also found its way into Chinese baby formula. 6 babies died, many others were very ill. That should tell you something about the poor dogs and cats in China. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Chinese_milk_scandal

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Thanks for the post Karen. I think it is important to repeat, repeat and repeat this information because as you indicated there are still many people not  hearing about it or not understanding it.

Last year I got a call from a local pet resort. My neighbors were on vacation and had given the resort my number in case an emergency arose while their dog was in their care. The treats my neighbors had given the resort for Tootsie had shown up on a recall list and they were asking if it would be okay if they tossed them and gave her something else. When I talked with my neighbor about it later she was really upset and said that she made sure that it said "Made in USA" on the label. So she thought she was doing the right thing. It's hard for people to know what they are buying and I think that is intentional on the part of these companies. 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I agree that it is intentional, along with the picture of the American flag that so many companies use on the packaging. :(