Milo’s Kitchen, Nestle Purina PetCare and IMS Pet Industries have all issued recalls on their chicken jerky dog treat products during January, 2013. All three recalls were initiated after the New York Department of Agriculture detected trace amounts of a poultry antibiotic that is illegal in the United States. The brands being recalled are as follows:
Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky and Chicken Grillers home-style dog treats
Nestle Purina’s Waggin’ Train and Canyon Creek Ranch dog treats
IMS Pet Industries Cadet Brand Chicken Jerky Treats
The treats were all manufactured in China, where the antibiotic in question is approved for use. It is also approved in other countries, including European Union member states, but it has not been approved for use in the US.
The use of antibiotics to keep chickens healthy is standard practice in poultry production for both human and pet food. However, the antibiotics found in the recalled products are unapproved and should not be present in the final food product.
The treats being recalled have not been linked to any specific pet or human illnesses. However, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been tracking pet illnesses and deaths related to chicken jerky pet treats manufactured in China since 2007. The FDA has received approximately 2,200 reports of pet illnesses which may be related to consumption of the jerky treats. The majority of complaints have involved dogs, but cats have also been affected. Reports received by the FDA contain information of 360 canine deaths and one feline death. Although the FDA has been actively investigating the reports of illnesses, no definitive cause has been determined.
At this time there is no direct link between the use of this antibiotic and any pet illness or health risk. The companies are issuing these recalls due to the antibiotic’s unapproved and illegal status in the United States.
For more information and refund policy please contact Milo’s Kitchen at 877-228-6493, Nestle Purina at 800-982-0704, and IMS Pet Industries at 800-394-4467.
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