As FDA Investigates Pet Treats, Companies Should Review Recall Plans
11-30-2011
By Mike Rozembajgier
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) this month warned consumers that some chicken jerky products meant for dogs could be associated with about 70 reports of pets that became ill or died. While the FDA has not yet determined whether the jerky is responsible, the agency is conducting tests on a number of potential sources. While there have been no pet product recalls announced, the agency wants dog owners to monitor the health of their pets. And with consumers’ fears at a heightened level, manufacturers should dust off their recall plans in case their recall management capabilities are put to the test.
The agency’s warning noted that the “FDA, in addition to several animal health diagnostic laboratories in the U.S., is working to determine why these products are associated with illness in dogs,” and that the agency’s Veterinary Laboratory Response Network is available to support these animal health diagnostic laboratories. In the event that the FDA does identify a source of contamination, manufacturers, distributors, retailers and consumers should all be prepared to properly notify consumers, manage the product retrieval, and safely dispose of the goods as a wide-spread product recall will likely be in order.
Chicken jerky products for pets originally came under scrutiny in 2007 after 156 dogs became ill, causing the FDA to issue a preliminary warning. According to that initial FDA warning, the jerky products could be the cause of a reported Fanconi-like syndrome in dogs – a disease of the proximal renal tubules of the kidney, causing key nutrients to be passed through the urine system rather than being reabsorbed by the body.
An ABC News article explained that although there has been an increase in the number of reported cases, officials note that the upswing is “probably due to increasing publicity after Canada issued a similar warning earlier this year since dog owners and veterinarians are more likely to report illnesses after information becomes public.” But in extreme caution, the FDA is advising anyone who wants to report a jerky-related illness to visit http://www.fda.gov/petfoodcomplaints, where they can learn how to file a consumer complaint that the agency can then incorporate in their investigation.
As the FDA continues to investigate the source of the reported pet illnesses, as well as what potential product contaminations exist, consumers should be well advised to refrain from using similar jerky treats. In the event a contamination is identified, all those involved in the product’s manufacturing and distribution should be ready with a comprehensive recall management strategy to mitigate any further harm caused by these products.
Stericycle ExpertRECALL™ is the industry leader in recall logistics and regulatory compliance for consumer product, pharmaceutical, medical device, juvenile product, and food and beverage recalls. ExpertRECALL’s professionals are experts in recall management who can help you streamline the entire product recall process.
My parents lost their small chihuahua “Tiny” 3 wks ago after a severe bout with bloddy stool and vomitting. She, along with the other 2 chihuahuas, love the jerky treats. We did not know that their waggin train treats were going to kill them. I want justice! My 2 chihuahuas also have ate this product, and Cinnabun has had blood stool and vomiting, but she is okay now.