SERIES: What's Really in Your Dog's Treats: Made in the USA

Welcome to Our New Series: What’s Really in Your Dog’s Treats

What you may not know about your dog’s treats could actually put them in harm’s way. In this post, we’re going to discuss what you really need to know about some of the “Made in the USA” treats for your family K9.

IT STARTED MORE THAN 10 YEARS AGO

It’s been over a decade since 2007 when the horrific stories about contaminated treats made in China began to leak out. The treats killed more than a thousand dogs (and many cats) and left countless others sick and fighting for their lives. Sadly, it took authorities more than seven years to issue recalls to alert and warn consumers about these contaminated and potentially deadly treats.

Eventually, the primary culprit was identified as a contaminated additive called melamine; a potentially toxic industrial chemical. (In addition, testing also found traces of six different drugs in some of these contaminated Chinese pet treats.)

Unfortunately, product recalls still continue to haunt many of the commercial dog foods and treats on the market today. So what can pet owners do?  Become an educated advocate on behalf of your beloved family companions. Keep reading to learn more.

THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS WHAT THEY SEEM

After the recalls of 2007 came to light, many consumers began to lose confidence in pet foods and treats made outside the USA. To appease consumers (and retain their market share), pet food/treat companies began prominently displaying “Made in the USA” and even the American flag on their labels. It was an attempt to provide a sense of security that “someone” was watching out for our pets with safe products. But as they say, the devil is in the details.

"MADE IN THE USA" DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN "SOURCED IN THE USA"

A label that declares “Made in the USA” does not mean the individual ingredients were sourced in the USA. Many ingredients including fillers, vitamins, minerals and supplements (even in trace amounts) are commonly sourced outside the United States (because of lower costs) where regulations may be even laxer in protecting overall quality.

What you may not know is many of these ingredients are actually procured from countries including:

If our own FDA and USDA are not committed to the well-being of our pets (over profits), would you really be comfortable in trusting other countries with the health of your pets? It’s also important to know that U.S. law does not require manufacturers to state the country of origin for the ingredients in their products.

BE WARNED: RETAILERS STILL CARRY FOREIGN TREATS

Don’t assume the large commercial companies are looking out for your family pet. Even after all the publicity and heartbreaking stories of sick and dying pets, many imported treats from China are still being stocked and sold on many retailer shelves (including Walmart).

YOUR CHECKLIST TO PROTECTING YOUR PETS

• Read all labels thoroughly and carefully. Unsavory details are often buried in the fine print. 
• Use products with limited, human-grade ingredients you recognize.
• Learn all you can from real experts who are non-biased and not connected to - or paid by - the very corporations who stand to lose literally billions of dollars!
• Look for experts who are supported by actual consumers like us. Here are a few suggestions: