Jerky treats made by Purina and Del Monte have been blamed for the deaths of hundreds of dogs, and illness in thousands of others. As a result, the treats were pulled from the shelves in 2013 in a nationwide recall. However, in spite of the fact that the cause is not known, Purina and Del Monte have decided to make the deadly treats available to dog owners once again.
From NBC News:
Two of the top-selling brands of jerky treats for pets will soon return to U.S. store shelves, a year after a nationwide recall and with government experts no closer to solving the mystery that has linked the products to hundreds of animal deaths and thousands of illnesses.
Nestle Purina Pet Care officials say they’ll reintroduce a line of Waggin’ Train treats for dogs starting next month, including products made from a single supplier in China and new products sourced entirely in the United States.
“We’ve worked hard to put in place the highest quality controls in the dog treat industry,” Waggin’ Train President Nina Leigh says in a promotional video.
And Del Monte Foods Corp. officials said they’ll resume selling Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky Strips and Chicken Grillers Recipe treats in March using U.S.-sourced meat.
Federal Food and Drug Administration officials told NBC News they know about Nestle Purina’s plans and have reviewed them, but they said the company doesn’t need special permission, known as pre-market approval, to reintroduce the treats. And they said they couldn’t discuss the review.
“As with all meetings that might include discussion of proprietary business information, the content of these meetings is confidential,” spokeswoman Juli Ann Putnam said. She couldn’t comment about Del Monte.
That’s despite repeated FDA warnings that consumers should avoid jerky pet treats after the agency received reports that since 2007, nearly 600 pets, mostly dogs, have died and 4,500 have been sickened after eating chicken, duck and sweet potato products made in China. That figure is up by 900 reports since October.
Read more here.
Because these treats are back on the market does not mean they are safe, so please heed the FDA warning and find an alternative treat for your pets.