Chicken Jerky Treat recall, finally! As I've written about in many blog posts, newspaper stories and have spoken about on TV and radio, pets are being sickened (some dying) as a result of tainted chicken jerky treats from China. Sadly, the pet stores still stock this stuff, and those who?manufacture?have pretty much continued business as usual.
The FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine has investigated, but the Chinese sometimes have not cooperated, and when they have experts (including?independent?experts) have't been able to determine the problem. Without that determination there can only be a voluntary recall. Now, such a recall comes. But it's unclear as to whether the explanation for the recall,?trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky products, correlates to the sickening and even death in pets.
This is the notice, word per word from the Nestl? Purina PetCare Company??Waggin' Train site:
St. Louis, Missouri, January 9, 2013 . . . Nestl? Purina PetCare Company and its wholly owned subsidiary Waggin' Train, LLC today announced it is voluntarily withdrawing its Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch brand dog treats sold in the United States until further notice.
The Company is taking this action after learning this week that the New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets (NYSDAM) found trace amounts of antibiotic residue in samples of Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky products. These antibiotics are approved for use in poultry in China and other major countries, including European Union member states, but are not among those approved in the U.S. Antibiotics are commonly used globally, including in the United States, when raising animals fit for human consumption. Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch products are safe to feed as directed. However, due to regulatory inconsistencies among countries, the presence of antibiotic residue is technically considered an adulteration in the United States. This finding does not pose a safety risk to pets.
New York State authorities initially requested that the Company remove Waggin' Train and Canyon Creek Ranch chicken jerky treats from retail locations in the state of New York, which we have agreed to do. In addition, because of the differences in U.S. and Chinese regulations, Nestl? Purina decided to conduct a nationwide voluntary withdrawal.
"All of us at Waggin' Train care deeply about pets and their owners, and the quality of our products is of the utmost importance," said Nina Leigh Krueger, President, Waggin' Train LLC. "Waggin' Train has served millions of pets and their owners very well. In the final analysis, our Company and our loyal consumers must have total confidence in the products we sell and feed our pets. Once we understand and determine how to comply with the technicalities of different regulatory frameworks, we will work with all appropriate parties to define the best way to supply the market."
Nestl? Purina contacted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding NYSDAM's findings. There is no indication that the trace amounts of antibiotic residue are linked to the FDA's ongoing investigation of chicken jerky products. The trace amounts of antibiotic residue (in the parts-per-billion range) do not pose a health or pet safety risk.
No other Purina treats or pet food products are affected by this withdrawal. In addition, Canyon Creek Ranch dog and cat foods, which are manufactured in the United States, are not included in this withdrawal.
For product refund or more information call our Office of Consumer Affairs at 1-800-982-0704.
Filed under: dogs, Pet food recall, veterinary health
Tags: chicken jerky treats, Nestl? Purina PetCare Company, New York State Department of Agriculture, recall jerky treats, Steve Dale, Steve Dale archives, tainted chicken jerky treats, tainted pet treat, Waggin' Train
Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/steve-dales-pet-world/2013/01/chicken-jerky-treats-recall-waggin-train/
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