Although purchasing chicken products for your canine appears as though it should be a really great natural treat for your pet, it seems like every time we turn around, more and more brands of the product are being recalled for one reason or another. Yesterday, Steve Grzanich of our local CBS News station reported on the Hartz Mountain Corporation announcing the voluntary recall of two of their treat brands.
Hartz Chicken Chews and Hartz Oinkie Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken were the two on the chopping block this time. The reason for the treats being taken off the retail shelves is due to a concern over trace amounts of an unapproved antibiotic residue that has been discovered in product samples. On the verge of this discovery, Hartz decided to voluntarily extract the products from retail shelves all across the country. This comes on the brink of the Milo’s Kitchen voluntary recall less than two weeks ago.
The government seems to be cracking down on the antibiotic residues; companies becoming overly cautious in response. Sean McNear, Senior Director of Quality and Regulatory at Hartz Mountain Corporation made the following statement, “Even though two-thirds of the products we tested did not contain antibiotic residues, we would rather be overly cautious by voluntarily withdrawing these products from the market.”
The reason that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and the New York State authorities have been so attentive is because they have received many reports about chicken products that have been causing pets to be sick; some even dying after ingesting the treats. According to one report that they received, approximately 360 pets have died and countless pets have fallen ill; symptoms including vomiting and diarrhea and at the opposite extreme, kidney failure.
The FDA is cracking down; issuing three warnings is about five years. Pet owners are being taken more seriously since dogs are in the limelight more these days thanks to social media and because dogs are so important to households.
Not only was Milo’s Kitchen contacted, but so was Nestle Purina PetCare for their Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch treats. The Hartz treats include:
· All Hartz® Chicken Chews™ Soft and Tenders:
3.5oz. package UPC Number 32700-11966
8oz. package UPC Number 32700-11967
16oz package UPC Number 32700-11953
24oz package UPC Number 32700-11954
20oz package UPC Number 32700-51694
· All Hartz® Chicken Chews™ Soft and Tender Bite Sized:
5.7oz package UPC Number 32700-12856
16oz package UPC Number 32700-12765
16oz package UPC Number 32700-12765
· All Hartz® Oinkies® Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken:
20 pack Pig Skin Twist Sticks UPC Number 32700-13472
7 pack Mini Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken UPC Number 32700-03330
15 pack Mini Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken UPC Number 32700-03331
5 pack Pig Skin Twists wrapped with Chicken UPC Number 32700-03354
Hartz, as with the other organizations, would like you to get in touch with them if you have any of these products or any further questions or concerns. You can phone them at 800.275.1414; logon to their website, or even go to their Facebook page.
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) also has information about all of the recent recalls of 2013.
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