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FDA Testing Dog Treats Pulled from Wal-Mart Shelves

No contaminants found during early tests

By Lisa Wade McCormick
ConsumerAffairs.com

August 23, 2007

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is analyzing samples of the Chinese-made dog treats that Wal-Mart pulled off its shelves in July after the products tested positive for melamine.

The Associated Press reported late Wednesday that none of the FDA’s tests had detected any melamine or other contaminants in the products.

The tainted products -- Chicken Jerky Strips from Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky made by Shanghai Bestro Trading -- have not yet been recalled and there was no mention of them on the FDA’s Web site Wednesday night.

Wal-Mart announced this week that 17 tests of the dog treats revealed traces of melamine, the chemical that triggered the largest pet food recall in U.S. history.

In March, Menu Foods of Canada recalled more than 60 million containers of pet food after the FDA detected melamine in the products. Thousands of dogs and cats nationwide suffered kidney problems or died after eating the contaminated foods. The FDA traced the source of the melamine – imported wheat gluten and rice protein used to make pet food -- to two companies in China that are now closed.

Wal-Mart said it pulled the melamine-tainted dog treats in late July after receiving a “small number of complaints” from pet owners who said the products made their animals sick.

But WPVI-TV in Philadelphia reported last week that the company quietly removed the jerky strips from stores shelves after a Pennsylvania woman’s two-year-old Chihuahua died. The dog died in July after eating the pet treats. An autopsy revealed the Chihuahua died from an infection caused by toxic bacteria.

Wal-Mart said it will continue to test the imported pet treats.

“The latest advice from our testing laboratory shows trace levels of melamine,” according to a statement posted on the company’s Web site. “Because of the low levels that were found, our laboratory has recommended additional testing. Nevertheless, the product remains off shelves and we continue to take the extra precaution of placing a computerized block on the product at the cash register.”

Wal-Mart said it didn’t know how many stores carried the melamine-tainted treats.

“Generally, we won’t do a pull-and-hold unless most stores are impacted,” a spokeswoman said. “There’s a high likelihood many of our stores would have been impacted by this one.”

Wal-Mart said customers can return the Chicken Jerky Strips manufactured by Pingyang and the Chicken Jerky made by Shanghai Bestro Trading with UPC 0087784900006 and item number 839751 for a full refund.

ConsumerAffairs.com learned that in May, 2005, the FDA blocked Pingyang’s Chicken Jerky Strips from entering the U.S. because the products contained salmonella.

Pingyang is located in Zhejiang Province, China.

A spokeswoman for Wal-Mart said her company was not aware of the FDA’s previous concerns with Pingyang. She said her company is working with the FDA and its manufacturers on this melamine-related issue.

China has faced growing scrutiny worldwide about the safety of its products, including its defective tires, toys made with lead paint, contaminated toothpastes, and melamine-tainted wheat gluten and rice protein used to make pet food.

Earlier this year, Menu Foods of Canada recalled more than 60 million containers of pet food because the products contained melamine.

The FDA traced the source of that contamination to two now-defunct manufacturing plants in China.

Thousands of dogs and cats nationwide suffered kidney problems or died after eating the melamine-tainted foods.

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