Pet Food Ingredients - H - Harmful - Jerky Treats

I was trying to find an ingredient that started with H that was found in at least a few cat foods... 
The ideas I had were - Herbs, Holistic, Hairball, and Herring. 
None of those peeked my curiosity.

I could have done something like 'Red Herring Ingredients' and talk about things added to distract you from all the other crap that is being added. 
That's actually not a bad idea.. But I like my current train of thought which is - Harmful Pet Treats
When you think of harmful pet treats, the first thing that comes to mind??
Other than toxic foods...
Jerky Treats. 
This is still an issue.



H -(kinda, sorta)

Harmful

Jerky - Talk about a killer treat! There have been so many poor dogs and even cats reported to have died or become seriously ill due to damn Jerky Treats! 


These companies are two of the major players in this fiasco:
 
***Nestle Purina’s:   
Waggin’ Train Jerky Treats or Tenders
Canyon Creek Ranch Jerky Treats or Tenders

***Del Monte Corp’s: (Now called - Big Heart Pet Brands)
Milo’s Kitchen Home-Style Dog Treats
Chicken Griller Home-Style Dog Treats

STOP GIVING YOUR PETS JERKY TREATS MADE IN CHINA - JUST STOP IT - STOP IT RIGHT NOW!

Seriously, wtf is wrong with some people?
These are treats - they are not necessary! 

I do not in any way shape or form care if your pet likes them!
They like being alive better!

A few interesting facts - 

• Big Heart Pet Brands is no longer sourcing their meat from China. They are sourced 100% from the USA now. 

They also reformulated their products - which may be helpful since the FDA still does not know what actually caused the animals to become sick or die. 

• Nestle Purina on the other hand has decided to continue to support the Chinese meat market. 

They are only using one supplier and one manufacture - That is a part of a USA based company 

That irks me. Pets are dying, people are scared to buy your product - people are afraid of meat from China...but your (what I consider) money grubbing company will still not source directly from the USA. 

FDA information as of May 1st 2014

FDA information as of May 16th 2014

Possible culprit? 
Amantadine


First thing that came to my mind..
How in the hell did Amantadine get into Jerky?

Put your hand up if you thought of Bird Flu...In Chickens.

Read this.



Notice the date?
2005!

It was illegal even before they used it in 2005, but the Chinese Agriculture Ministry approved production and sale for its use in Chickens.

And their Government was aware...
And their Veterinarians were also aware...


Regardless of its role in the current jerky issue - They are just telling people know that they again found it in chickens from China! 
In 2014!



The FDA does not believe Amantadine is the culprit. 
They say that the illnesses the animals had or died from did not correlate with anything Amantadine would do. 

I wish I knew more about this kinda stuff. 

When dogs die of kidney failure... and Amantadine is removed from the body by the kidneys ...I oddly want to connect the 2.




A Deal with the Devil

6.5 Million Dollars is the price to shut up a Nation. 


6.5 Million Dollars, and that is without actually taking blame for anything.

How much do these companies save by sourcing out to China?




We live in a world that cares more about money then it does life. 

A world where even when people know that a company is willing to put your pets life in danger...you still buy their product. 


Will we ever learn?

I find it interesting that people get stopped at the border and charged for trying to bring in meat from China - people - not companies. 

Companies are magic! 
They make everything safe.



There are many fantastic products made in North America.

There are many fantastic products made in Canada

There are many fantastic products made locally. 



Read. 
If you see Made in China.. put it back. 
Your pets will thank you for it.