China treats, how to tell!

[Michelle Motorola]

Hello! i just wanted to ask if anyone had a way of telling if dog treats were made in china, Ive read something about bar codes but can no longer find it. Thanks!

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Here is the link to the discussion:

http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/thefoodgroup/forum/topics/treats-...

What I try to remember is that, if the first digits are 00 through 09, that means the item was manufactured in the U.S. or Canada.

[Michelle Motorola]

does the first digit include that one far left thats off to the side a bit?

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Here is a link to an article explaining how to read barcodes:

http://www.wikihow.com/Read-12-Digit-UPC-Barcodes

It seems that the very first digit, that appears outside the bars, doesn't count.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I don't think the common barcodes in the US tell you the country of origin. That's a code called EAN. IT gets really complicated and doesn't tell you if a product has ingredients from elsewhere I think.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Article_Number_%28EAN%29

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

Yes, that's true. The 12-digit codes are registered in the U.S. and Canada and don't contain country of origin information.

Information on the 13-digit European Article Numbers is included at the very bottom of the wikihow article. Your link is much better!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's why I think it's important for all of us to learn how to read labels, educate ourselves, and become familiar with the brands that are reliable. We are all intelligent adults and we all know how to read. The information is out there. You really can't rely on some formula or ratings chart, or numbers in a barcode.

 

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

I think that familiarity with the brand is key.

In reality, I don't rely on barcodes or even "Made in . . ." labeling to make the final decision--I rely on what I know of the trustworthiness of the company and the quality of the product when deciding what to buy. As a result, I buy from only a very small set of brands: Sam's Yams, Zuke's, Mother Hubbard, and Biscuits with Benefits.

As you mention below, the treat list in the Food Group is an invaluable resource!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Plato's treats, Pure Bites, Jones Naturals, True Chews from Tyson,and  Pet Pals are also reliable, And there are lots more.

[F, Calla & Luca]

BTW, the dogs adore the Pure Bites liver treats and using them just once a day I just finished the small bag today. Much better than Craisins for them, at least I hope so.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Jack's been getting the chicken Pure Bites, it's the only treat he can have right now, besides pieces of plain boiled chicken. He likes them, too!

[F, Calla & Luca]

I'm glad you found him something that is good for him and that he likes.

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

We have never tried Pure Bites, but sounds like it would be a nice choice!