Food & Water Watch has responded to the latest information released by the FDA about their investigation into the pet deaths and illnesses linked to jerky treats imported from China. Wenonah Hauter, executive director of the agency said in a statement, “this ongoing health threat to American pets illustrates how trade policy is trumping regulations to protect our health. When is the Obama administration going to show some backbone and stop the importation of these deadly products until we have some concrete answers?”
At least 4,800 pets have been sickened by these imported products. At least 1,000 dogs have died as a result of their illness. The FDA does n0t have any answers, despite a lengthy investigation.
The jerky treats are made from chicken, duck, or sweet potato. Some companies did issue a recall in January 2013, but there has been no overall forced recall by the U.S. government or any equivalent action by the Chinese government.
Hauter continues, “when is USDA going to stop its nonsensical attempts to declare the Chinese food safety system equivalent to that of the United States? Ultimately, China’s claims regarding the safety of its products are nothing more than an attempt to pave the way for poisonous poultry imports. Food & Water Watch has repeatedly called on USDA to stop the equivalency process that would allow the import of processed poultry products for human consumption from China. This latest report on continuing pet illnesses and deaths is just the latest attempt of why it is far too soon to allow more dangerous imports into the United States.”
