Petco and PetSmart pulling foods from China

In response to consumer outcry over tainted pet food and treats made in China, two mega pet store chains are clearing their inventory of all Chinese-made treats.  Petco issued a statement that all such products will be off its shelves by the end of the year, while PetSmart has vowed to rid its stores of such products by March 2015. 

Recent reports of dogs becoming seriously ill or dying after consuming jerky treats made in China have made pet guardians across the nation increasingly vigilant about what they feed their dogs and cats.  The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not officially made any specific recalls as of presstime, but the agency has been cautioning dog owners about purchasing chicken jerky products sourced in China.  In a press release in May, the FDA reported it had received approximately 4,800 reports of pet illnesses possibly related to jerky treats, including more than 1,000 canine deaths.  The FDA has begun a joint study with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to further investigate the issue.  Learn more at fda.gov.