Worries of imported products from China continue. The day before Valentines Day a small shard of metal was found in a child's valentine candy - thank goodness it was discovered before a child was hurt. This candy, like so many other recalled products recently - was made in China. I don't know how long it's going to take China to get their act together or if they ever will - but concerns of imported Chinese products and ingredients are real and on-going.
As a pet owner - you must be very diligent to avoid any pet food, treat, toy, anything that your pet could consume - that is made in or has an ingredient from China or other risky countriesor be ready to accept the consequences. It is not my intention to frighten you - but it is my intention to urge you to find out where every ingredient in every food or treat that you give your pet is from. Poisonous or dangerous imported products have been the leading news story for over a year now.
I subscribe to the FDA's recall email list. Just about every single day I get a new email announcing another recalled product (human and pet products). Worse yet, over 60% of all these recalled products are imported or an ingredient in them is imported. Please do not become complacent about your pet's food and treats. Please don't get too comfortable - and assume all is well with pet food.
All types of recalls are happening on a daily basis mostly due to imported ingredients. You don't want to be caught off guard and not know if your pet is eating food or treats that contain imported ingredients from some country with far less quality control than U.S.
products. I'm by no means 100% happy with the FDA or the CVM and their efforts to protect our pets (and our kids, and us!) - but we are head and shoulders above China.I think the FDA has a long way to go - and I am very hopeful they will continue to make changes to protect us and our pets. The one thing that is certain - for right now - the risk from Chinese imported products and ingredients is much higher than that of U.
S. ingredients. Please take the time to find out where each ingredient in every product your pet consumes comes from.
It should take no more than a ten minute phone call for each manufacturer. That ten minute phone call could be a life saver for your dog or cat. Take pro-active steps to protect the health of your pet.
Call the pet food or pet treat manufacturer and ask them specifically if they use any imported ingredients in their products. You might get an answer similar to'we use all U.S.
suppliers'. This is not the information you are looking for. A U.S. supplier of imported ingredients - tainted imported ingredients - was the cause of the pet food recall last year. Explicitly ask if any ingredient in the pet food comes from any country other than the U.
S. and then ask what those countries are. In my work for Petsumer Report which provides this information to subscribers, it is often times a real challenge to get the necessary information. With some manufacturers you have to take on the role of investigative reporter to discover the information you need and deserve to know. Above all, be persistent.
It's not that all Chinese imported ingredients or products are dangerous to your pet. It is that they have a history, a proven on-going history of exporting recalled, potentially dangerous products and there is no sign of improvement. Buyer beware. For your pet's sake, find out if you are feeding a food or treat that contains imported ingredients.
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