The University of California, Davis will be part of a new Sino-U.S. Joint Research Center for Food Safety in China. Researchers form the university will work with officials from China’s Northwest Agricultural and Forestry University in Shaanxi province on the new project. "We are incredibly pleased to join forces with Northwest A&F University and look forward to making discoveries and realizing solutions that will promote food safety in China and around the world,” said UC Davis Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi. "The food industry has become the largest industry in China; and food safety is a critical area for China and the U.S. to have creative cooperation and learn from each other," said Zhang Laiwu, China's vice minister of science and technology. "It not only involves technologies, … [Read more...]
Jerky Pet Treat Manufacturers Set up $6.5 Million Fund
According to NBC News, two of the largest pet jerky treat manufacturers have created a $6.5 million fund to compensate dog owners whose animals were killed or made sick by their products. Nestle Purina PetCAre Co. and Wsggin' Train LLC have reached an agreement with pet owners in a class action lawsuit announced May 30, 2014. The 158-page agreement is subject to approval by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. The companies do not accept blame in the settlement. A statement released by lawyers states, "Neither Waggin' Train, Nestle Purina nor any of the consumers concede that their claims or their defenses were not valid. All parties entered into the agreement only to bring the litigation to a prompt and certain resolution." The FDA has stated that jerky pet … [Read more...]
Petco, Petsmart Phasing Out Sales of Chinese Pet Treats
Petco and Petsmart have announced plans to stop carrying pet treats imported from China after last week's FDA announcement that they can't find the cause of 4,800 dog and cat illnesses. The government has been researching this issue for seven years and cannot figure out what is going wrong. Veterinarians and the government are reminding pet owners that these treats are not necessary to a pet's nutrition or health. Safety advocates have been asking the government to ban these imported treats for years, but nothing has been done. Food & Water Watch commends Petco and Petsmart for taking this step, but say that they should remove those products from their shelves immediately rather than simply phasing them out. More than 1,000 dogs have died after consuming these treats. Three … [Read more...]
Food & Water Watch Responds to FDA Pet Jerky Investigation
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 … [Read more...]
FDA Updates Jerky Pet Treat Investigation
The Food and Drug Administration has updated its investigation into pet illnesses and deaths in animals that ate jerky pet treats. FDA is collaborating with the CDC on a new case control study. The government has not been able to identify a specific cause for the reported illnesses and deaths. Since the last update on October 22, 2013, there have been 1,800 more reports of illness and death. As of May 1, 2014, they agencies have received more than 4,800 complaints of illness in pets that ate chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats, nearly all imported from China. Those reports include more than 5,600 dogs, 24 cats, and three people. More than 1,000 dogs have died. The symptoms break down as: 60% gastrointestinal/liver disease, 30% kidney or urinary disease, and the remaining 10% … [Read more...]
Food & Water Watch Delivers Petition on China Pet Treats
Food & Water Watch has delivered a petition on behalf of "animal parents" to the FDA against pet treats and food made in China. They want the agency to implement Section 211 of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) that would inform consumers about the dangers of these treats. Under that rule, grocery stores will have to post notices in conspicuous places telling consumers about contaminated food products, including pet food. Terry Safranek, a founding member of APAPTFMIC (Animal Parents Against Pet Treats & Food Made in China), said in a statement, "I lost my beloved dog Sampson in January 2012 to poisonous pet jerky treats made in China. Since 2007, FDA has reported that 600 dogs have died and over 4,600 have gotten sick and the common denominator is that all of these pets … [Read more...]
Six More Cases of H7N9 Bird Flu in China
According to the Shanghai Daily, six more human cases of laboratory confirmed H7N9 bird flu have been reported in China. Two cases are in Shanghai and two more are in southern China. It is not clear if the patients had contact with live poultry. Three of the patients are hospitalized in serious or critical condition. Last year, the government ordered 110 live poultry markets closed to try to prevent the spread of this illness. Now all live poultry markets in Shanghai are going to close at the end of January in response to this new outbreak. Two more cases of H7N9 have been confirmed in Guangdong Province. Both of those patients did have contact with live poultry. Two people have died in this new outbreak which started in August 2013. This strain of the bird flu emerged in China … [Read more...]
New Positive Test for H7N9 Bird Flu in China
According to reports from the Xinhua news agency, a new positive test of the H7N9 bird flu was taken as an environmental sample at a live poultry market in southern China. That country has banned the sale of live birds in 110 markets around the country. The sample was taken from the Nanchao Market in the Doumen District of Zhuhai City in Guangdong Province. Last month a woman tested positive for the H7N9 virus, also called avian influenza A. She also lived in Guangdong and died from her illness. That strain of bird flu is new in human beings. Six cases of the H7N9 virus in humans have been confirmed in that province since August 2013. Local agricultural, health, and forestry officials are being urged to test local markets and encourage daily disinfection of the poultry … [Read more...]
In China, Dirty Pond Water Injected into Lamb
The Guardian is reporting that seven people in China have been arrested because they allegedly injected dirty pond water into lamb to increase its weight and raise the price. Apparently, up to 100 sheep a day were slaughtered at an illegal warehouse. The lamb was sold at markets, restaurants, and food stalls in Foshan, Guangzhou and other markets. Public health officials raided the slaughterhouse. They found carcasses, live sheep, equipment to inject water into the meat, and forged Chinese inspection stamps. Food safety concerns have been a big problem in China for many years. Last week, donkey meat, which is prized as a delicacy in that country, was found to be tainted with fox meat, which is much cheaper. In 2008, six infants died after drinking melamine-tainted infant formula. The … [Read more...]
Don’t Want Chicken from China? Sign the Petition!
Food & Water Watch has been speaking out against the USDA's decision to allow poultry products processed in China to be sold in the U.S. The USDA has admitted that China's poultry slaughter program is not equivalent to the U.S. program, so chickens raised in China cannot be exported to the U.S. But the American government is considering letting the Chinese food industry process chickens raised elsewhere. The plan will save agribusiness money, since processing costs are lower in China. But since there will be no U.S. inspectors in China watching the processing process, there's no guarantee the Chinese companies won't use Chinese-raised chickens. The poultry that's cooked and processed in China will not be labeled as such, because of a loophole in the country of origin labeling rules. … [Read more...]
