Wal-Mart quietly pulls dog treats

Retailer blocks sales after customers complained that animals falling sick
The Associated Press
Updated: 11:46 a.m. ET Aug 21, 2007

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Wal-Mart Stores Inc. quietly stopped selling two brands of dog treats in July, after customers voiced concerns that the Chinese products may have caused their pets to fall ill, but no recall has been announced, a company spokeswoman confirmed.

The world’s largest retailer started pulling Chicken Jerky Strips from Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co. and Chicken Jerky from Shanghai Bestro Trading on July 26, spokeswoman Deisha Galberth said late Monday.

Wal-Mart also placed a computerized block on all cash registers to prevent workers from selling the products, Galberth said.

'Testing process'
“When we took it off shelves at the end of July, we pulled it based on the customer feedback so we could do testing prior to announcing anything publicly,” Galberth said. “That’s why did not make a public announcement — it was still going through the testing process.”

Wal-Mart’s action follows a massive pet food recall in March, when retailers began pulling products made in China that included the chemical melamine — a contaminant that’s a byproduct of several pesticides.

Galberth said she did not know what the specific customer complaints were about the dog treats, nor when the testing would be complete.

Galberth said she did not immediately know if the treats were sold at every Wal-Mart store.

“We are diligently testing this product,” she said.

Philadelphia television station WPVI reported last week that a woman claimed her 2-year-old Chihuahua died after eating Bestro Chicken Jerky Strips. The station reported that an autopsy found the dog died of an infection caused by toxic bacteria.

© 2007 The Associated Press.
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Please read the labels and don't give your pet anything that comes from China. Their products aren't safe for us, our children, or our pets! A huge percentage of Wal-Mart's products of all categories are imported from China. Edited to add: Recent statistics estimate around 70%!

I started making their soft food. I buy Milkbone brand biscuits but now I am not sure about anything any more, yikes! I am going to start called the company that makes our dry food and milkbones to find out where they get or make the food from. I am boycotting China. Even if I have to pay more money, even if it is significantly more, I don't care.

I saw this in the paper yesterday. Another item from China that is causing problems. Such a shame. We went to the new Trader Joe(?) store here in Charlotte and they have vacummed sealed fish in the freezor section. I picked up one nice piece of white fish and it said it was imported from China. That one was dropped back into the cooler.

We have a dehydrater and was going to try and make our own chicken jerky strips. Saw an ad for dried sweet potatoes, thought I would try that too.

Thanks for posting this info Cynthia!