Salix Voluntarily Recalls Dog Treat Due to Possible Health Risk
January 28, 2009 by Editor
Filed under ANIMAL NEWZ, CONSUMER REPORTS, Health Warnings, Pet Food Recalls, Pet Product Recalls
Contact:
Adda Sarrano
954-425-0001
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Deerfield Beach, Florida – Jan. 23, 2009 – Salix, a manufacturer of rawhide dog chew products, is voluntarily recalling its Healthy-hide Deli-wrap 3-Pack 5” Peanut Butter-Filled Rawhide dog treats that contain peanut butter made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste.
The voluntarily recalled peanut butter-filled rawhide treats are sold at PetSmart, Target and Wegmans Food Stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. Although Salix is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has issued this voluntary recall as a precautionary measure. The UPC of the voluntarily recalled product is 09109333354.
The product comes in a clear plastic bag with attached header card and the name Deli Wraps on the front. The package is a 3-count of 5” chew treats and the Universal Product Code is 0-91093-33354-0. All packages are marked with one of the following lot codes: A 08 208, A 08 212, A 08 232, A 08 234, A 08 263, A 08 264, A 08 268, A 08 275, A 08 276 or A 08 277. This code can be found on the backside of the header card.
Customers who purchased the recalled dog treats should discontinue use immediately and can return the product to the retail store where it was purchased for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can contact individual retailers with questions:
PetSmart: 1-888-839-9638
Target: 1-800-440-0680
Wegmans: 1-800-934-WEGMANS ext. 4760
No other products or flavors are included in this recall.
For more information on pet product recalls please visit the PetSmart Press Room.
PetSmart Voluntarily Recalls Grreat Choice® Dog Biscuits
January 20, 2009 by Editor
Filed under ANIMAL NEWZ, CONSUMER REPORTS, Health Warnings, Pet Food Recalls, Pet Product Recalls
PetSmart Voluntarily Recalls Grreat Choice® Dog Biscuits
Contact:
PetSmart Customer Service
1-888-839-9638
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — PHOENIX, AZ, January 20, 2009 — PetSmart is voluntarily recalling seven of its Grreat Choice® Dog Biscuit products that contain peanut paste made by Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is the focus of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigation into potential salmonella contamination of peanut butter and paste made at its Blakely, Georgia facility.
Although PetSmart is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has removed these products from its store shelves and website and is conducting the recall as a precautionary measure.
The recalled products include only the following types of Grreat Choice Dog Biscuits sold between Aug. 21, 2008 and Jan. 19, 2009:
- Small Assorted 32 oz., UPC 73725702900
- Small/Medium Assorted 4 lb., UPC 73725700601
- Small/Medium Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700605
- Small/Medium Assorted 10 lb., UPC 73725702755
- Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700638
- Extra Large Assorted 8 lb., UPC 73725700779
- Peanut Butter 4 lb., UPC 73725700766
Customers who purchased the recalled dog biscuit products should discontinue use immediately and can return the product to any PetSmart store for a complete refund or exchange. Customers can visit www.petsmartfacts.com for more information or contact PetSmart Customer Service at 1-888-839-9638.
No other products or flavors are included in this recall.
Hundreds of Dogs Hit in Poison Scare
December 9, 2008 by Editor
Filed under ANIMAL NEWZ, CONSUMER REPORTS, Health Warnings, Unsafe Pet Food, featured
Hundreds of Dogs Hit in Pet Food Poison Scare
This just in from Australia!
The Australian Veterinary Association is warning Australians that the source of a recent upsurge in kidney damage in small dogs is tied to contaminated pet food meat. Furthermore the meat’s origin source is suspected as China.
The AVA is encouraging all veterinarians to report cases of serious kidney damage to them immediately. Mark Lawrie the AVA national president stated yesterday that, “We have only become aware of this in the last three or four weeks, and we need to make people aware there are some clear indications there is a problem out there.”
According to Lawrie the kidney failure cases have been traced to a well-known Australian pet-food supplier. This manufacturer is using tainted meat that is imported from China. Lawrie is withholding the name of the company, citing legal reasons. Earlier this month the University of Sydney issued a national alert about this kidney-destroying pet food. But the university was ordered under legal threat, from the pet food manufacturer, to desist from any further comments. One university researcher (who refused to be named) stated that there is enough evidence against this company to recall the entire product line.
It appears that Australia’s legal system provides corporations a strangle-hold power, prohibiting the mention of a specific product in connection with anything scandalous — even if this means perpetrating the death of innocent pets. This leaves the Australian pet owner stabbing in the dark when it comes to selecting a safe pet food for their dog.
Despite being hampered by threats from the company the AVA has done its best to alert veterinarians about the problem. While at the same time, the AVA admonishes the vets to not make any comments to the media about the case. Due to all the legal haranguing the AVA has only been made aware of a few dozen cases. Yet, they suspect that the true numbers are more likely into the hundreds.
The AVA holds to the position that all pet owners need to be concerned, particularly if they have a small breed dog. Both vets and dog owners alike are advised of these warning signs:
- INCREASED thirst and urination.
- REDUCED appetite and lethargy.
- VOMITING and weakness.
Please be aware that American pet food companies also use Chinese imports to manufacture pet food. Despite China’s poor track record this practice persists, particularly when it comes to gluten and grain products (this includes rice). In 2007 contaminated ingredients from China resulted in the deaths of hundreds of pets due to kidney failure. Although imported ingredients are still used to manufacture dog and cat food consumers can not determine from the label the ingredient’s country of origin. And there is no method of knowing if imported ingredients include meat. This is a huge concern to the pet owner because pet food labels are not required to list the ingredient’s country of origin. Therefore ANY ingredient on the label can come from foreign sources, including China. After all, it is not illegal to import products from oversees sources.
So what is a pet parent to do? For one thing, avoid pet food that lists gluten as an ingredient. Gluten, besides being bad for your pet’s health, can ultimately be a source of contamination. Avoid feeding your pet manufactured food loaded with grains, since grain can also be source of contamination. Next, find manufacturers that assure the consumer that their products are not only manufactured in the U.S.A. but are produced with American ingredients.
Small dogs such as Stella are particularly vulnerable to pet food contamination.
