Showing 4 posts from January 2009
Salix Voluntarily Recalls Dog Treat Due to Possible Health Risk
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.
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.
Carolina Prime Pet Announces Nationwide Recall of Dog Treats
Contact:
Carolina Prime Pet
1-888-370-2360
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Murphy, North Carolina – Jan. 27, 2009 – Carolina Prime Pet, a manufacturer and distributor of dog treats, is voluntarily recalling four of its 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.
Salmonella is an organism that can potentially be transferred to people handling these pet treats, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The recalled treats are sold at various retail establishments in the U.S. and Canada. Although Carolina Prime Pet is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has issued this voluntary recall as a precautionary measure.
The recalled products include only the following types of Carolina Prime Pet treats in single unit packages with lot date codes between 081508 and 010909:
6" Beef Shank Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542007
2pk Hooves Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542000
4" Rawhide Bone Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542003
6" Rawhide Bone Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542005
6” Healthy Hide Beef Shank Peanut Butter, UPC 09109333479
Customers who purchased the recalled dog treats should discontinue use immediately, and return items to the purchase location for replacement or refund.
No other products or flavors are included in this recall.
Further information call Carolina Prime Pet at 1-888-370-2360.
Contact:
Carolina Prime Pet
1-888-370-2360
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Murphy, North Carolina – Jan. 27, 2009 – Carolina Prime Pet, a manufacturer and distributor of dog treats, is voluntarily recalling four of its 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.
Salmonella is an organism that can potentially be transferred to people handling these pet treats, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the products or any surfaces exposed to these products. Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.
The recalled treats are sold at various retail establishments in the U.S. and Canada. Although Carolina Prime Pet is not aware of any reported cases of illness related to these products, it has issued this voluntary recall as a precautionary measure.
The recalled products include only the following types of Carolina Prime Pet treats in single unit packages with lot date codes between 081508 and 010909:
6" Beef Shank Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542007
2pk Hooves Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542000
4" Rawhide Bone Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542003
6" Rawhide Bone Peanut Butter, UPC 063725542005
6” Healthy Hide Beef Shank Peanut Butter, UPC 09109333479
Customers who purchased the recalled dog treats should discontinue use immediately, and return items to the purchase location for replacement or refund.
No other products or flavors are included in this recall.
Further information call Carolina Prime Pet at 1-888-370-2360.
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.
Recently in a Dear Heloise article, a pet owner wrote she buys treats at a Dollar store for $1 that are "almost the same as $5 treats from the pet store." Unfortunately for this pet owner, discounted dog treats might cost her far more in the long run.
The old adage 'you get what you pay for' usually holds true with pet foods and treats. Discount store pet foods and treats are no exception. Typically, 'Dollar stores' purchase lots of soon to be outdated/expired goods for pennies on the dollar, and then sell cheap hoping to retail all before the expiration date. Some discount stores also purchase lots of imported 'look alike' goods. The red flag for pet owners would be Chinese imported look alike pet foods and treats. However, either way, the pet isn't being provided with much of a treat.
For explanation's sake, let's say that the $1 bag of dog treats is called Fido's Best Chicken Flavored Natural Dog Treats; the bag contains 20 small dog treat pieces, 20 ounces. Just as with pet foods, it is legal for the manufacturer to make "unqualified claims either directly or indirectly" on the pet treat label; Fido's Best Natural might not be 'best' and probably isn't all 'natural'. Let's assume that the discount store purchased the treats for $.50 per bag. If half of the price is manufacturer labor, packaging, and markup expense, each 20 ounce bag of treats contains $.25 worth of ingredients.
Now, if the ingredients cost only $.25 per 20 ounces or 1.2 cents per ounce (about $.19 per pound), how much quality nutrition can this treat actually provide your pet? According to AAFCO regulations, pet treats are only supplemental to the diet; very few labeling or ingredient rules apply to pet treats. So, if a pet food can contain chicken feet and cow intestines and be dubbed Natural Pet Food, just imagine what is allowed with pet treats and what quality of ingredients can be in them. At 1.2 cents per ounce cost for ingredients, you can safely assume the discount treats have only the cheapest left over, garbage ingredients and/or the cheapest of the cheap imported ingredients. Even purchasing bulk ingredients ($380.00 per ton) only the cheapest ingredients could be included in these treats. Either way, there is no actual nutrition provided to your pet and/or your pet's health could be at risk from consuming them.
The other concern of purchasing discount store pet foods and treats is pet owners purchasing expired products. Expired treats or foods can make your pet sick costing you far more in vet bills than the savings from the discounted prices.
If you're ever tempted, if you ever let the thought into your conscious that it's just treats, they won't hurt anything, even if they're cheap my dog or cat will eat them regardless, just consider for a moment what you are giving your pet. Cheap treats (and foods) can ONLY mean the cheapest of ingredients, the poorest quality of ingredients. Don't be tempted. One mistake from the manufacturer that makes foods or treats using the cheapest of ingredients could cost your pet's life and/or thousands in vet bills. If you need to save money on treats, give your pet green beans, carrot and apple slices, or spoonfuls of canned pumpkin. These are inexpensive and provide your pet with some nutrition.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
by: Susan Thixton
The old adage 'you get what you pay for' usually holds true with pet foods and treats. Discount store pet foods and treats are no exception. Typically, 'Dollar stores' purchase lots of soon to be outdated/expired goods for pennies on the dollar, and then sell cheap hoping to retail all before the expiration date. Some discount stores also purchase lots of imported 'look alike' goods. The red flag for pet owners would be Chinese imported look alike pet foods and treats. However, either way, the pet isn't being provided with much of a treat.
For explanation's sake, let's say that the $1 bag of dog treats is called Fido's Best Chicken Flavored Natural Dog Treats; the bag contains 20 small dog treat pieces, 20 ounces. Just as with pet foods, it is legal for the manufacturer to make "unqualified claims either directly or indirectly" on the pet treat label; Fido's Best Natural might not be 'best' and probably isn't all 'natural'. Let's assume that the discount store purchased the treats for $.50 per bag. If half of the price is manufacturer labor, packaging, and markup expense, each 20 ounce bag of treats contains $.25 worth of ingredients.
Now, if the ingredients cost only $.25 per 20 ounces or 1.2 cents per ounce (about $.19 per pound), how much quality nutrition can this treat actually provide your pet? According to AAFCO regulations, pet treats are only supplemental to the diet; very few labeling or ingredient rules apply to pet treats. So, if a pet food can contain chicken feet and cow intestines and be dubbed Natural Pet Food, just imagine what is allowed with pet treats and what quality of ingredients can be in them. At 1.2 cents per ounce cost for ingredients, you can safely assume the discount treats have only the cheapest left over, garbage ingredients and/or the cheapest of the cheap imported ingredients. Even purchasing bulk ingredients ($380.00 per ton) only the cheapest ingredients could be included in these treats. Either way, there is no actual nutrition provided to your pet and/or your pet's health could be at risk from consuming them.
The other concern of purchasing discount store pet foods and treats is pet owners purchasing expired products. Expired treats or foods can make your pet sick costing you far more in vet bills than the savings from the discounted prices.
If you're ever tempted, if you ever let the thought into your conscious that it's just treats, they won't hurt anything, even if they're cheap my dog or cat will eat them regardless, just consider for a moment what you are giving your pet. Cheap treats (and foods) can ONLY mean the cheapest of ingredients, the poorest quality of ingredients. Don't be tempted. One mistake from the manufacturer that makes foods or treats using the cheapest of ingredients could cost your pet's life and/or thousands in vet bills. If you need to save money on treats, give your pet green beans, carrot and apple slices, or spoonfuls of canned pumpkin. These are inexpensive and provide your pet with some nutrition.
Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,
by: Susan Thixton
