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The chicken jerky treat recalls are in the past, and we have a short memory. But when it comes to our dogs, it's important to understand why those recalls happened and why they can happen again.
Building a solid yet affordable product in the pet space isn't easy or cheap, which is why brands are sourcing ingredients from China. The fact that China exports many goods to America isn't a surprise, nor is it a bad thing. My books, my tea mug, and many other things in my home came from China.
After living through the tainted jerky treat recalls, I cannot take a chance. So, I make dog treats from organ and discounted meats.
Articles About Chicken Jerky Treats
Here are a few blog posts I've written about chicken jerky treats which convinced me never to buy anything sourced from China; it seems like the pet industry was too busy covering their butts and didn't seem to give a twig about the sick and dying pets.
- Why Did it Take So Long for the FDA to Recall Chicken Jerky Treats?
- Why Are Dogs Getting Sick from Jerky Treats?
- Why I Won't Promote Purina Waggin' Train Jerky Treats
12 Facts About Dog Food Made in China
This post isn't intended to shame a country. I won't front and pretend like 90% of the items in our home aren't from China. My issue is only with the chicken jerky treats that were killing dogs. I imagine some companies are processing an ingredient in a safe, high-quality in China, but when I try to find these companies online, the results are filled with warnings.
- China has no comprehensive laws regulating pet food manufacturing.
- China has no regulations for pet food manufacturing.
- China has no punishment for wrongdoers when it comes to pet food safety.
- China’s pet food has been under scrutiny for other things, too.
- China is the third largest pet food importer in the US.
- The FDA doesn't inspect China's pet food imports.
- China's pet foods always find another way back into US stores.
- “Made in the USA” doesn't mean that the ingredients were from the US; ingredients can be sourced from China.
- China isn't the only offender; US manufacturers aren't innocent, either.
- Always get the ingredients sourcing information from the manufacturer.
- Pet food companies aren't obligated to tell you where they source their ingredients.
- The only way to know that a brand sources its ingredients from the US is to only buy from brands known for their quality control and integrity.
Source: 12 Facts About Dog Food Made in China, Top Dog Tips
Finding Safe Dog Treats
Thankfully, there are many trusted brands on the market. Unfortunately for many of us, those brands are expensive, selling small bags of treats for $15. I can make several bags of treats for the cost of one purchased at my local pet store.
So, instead of buying dog treats, I make my own. And, to add variety, I subscribe to Real Dog Box, which offers a box filled with SIX BAGS of dog treats and chews (more than enough for a multi-dog home) for $40/month. If I were to buy these treats at the pet store, they would cost $90 or more.
Homemade Dog Treat Recipes
If you're interested in making dog treats at home, here are a couple of recipes I use:
I've upgraded to a LEM Dehydrator (purchased at Cabelas), and whenever I score meat at a great price, a freezer dump from friends, or free organ meat from a local butcher – I turn it all into dog treats. So far, I've made dog treats from:
- beef liver
- beef heart
- pork kidney
- pork liver
- pork heart
- pork chops (fat trimmed off)
- ground turkey
- ground beef
Stop by your local grocery store and look for marked-down proteins. You can save up to 50% on meat, occasionally more.
Final Thoughts on Dog Treats Made in China
As the views of pets in our lives change worldwide, the pet industry will continue to grow and explode. I also think our views about natural and fresh foods will continue to change. There are many opportunities for companies worldwide to raise the bar with processing. So I won't count China out.
I also don't know any statistics on the quality of dog treats in different areas. China stands out to me because I remember when this hit the news. After all, I used to buy those treats for my puppies.
