After a number of recalls and thousands of dogs getting sick, Petco has decided to pull the plug on all Chinese-made dog treats and is removing them from its shelves.
“We believe this is the right thing to do, and we’re proud to take this step in the best interest of pets,” Petco CEO Jim Myers said on the company’s website. “What we feed our pets matters.”
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This move comes after the FDA stated in June it received 4,800 complaints since 2007 pertaining to 5,600 dogs. Of those, there has been approximately 1,000 dog deaths, CNNMoney reports. The agency said many of the cases involved Chinese-made jerky products made of chicken, duck or sweet potato. There was an investigation into this matter but Tracey Forfa, the deputy director of the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine, told Congress the cause remains unknown.
“Getting to the bottom of this problem is a priority for FDA, and the agency is continuing its comprehensive investigation into the potential cause of the pet illnesses,” she said.
Last year, both Petco and PetSmart said they would stop carrying Chinese-made dog treats. Petco has said it will opt to carry alternative treat and chew items, with many made in the U.S. and some new products coming from New Zealand, South American and Australia. PetSmart is expected to fully complete its transition this spring.
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Image Credit: Flickr/Mike Mozart