Millions of Pounds of Pet Chews Continue to be Sourced from China

Take a guess…how many pounds of pet chews were imported into the U.S. from China in just six weeks?

Import records show, in just six weeks – from 4/1/20 through 5/15/20 – the US (and a few to Canada) received 7,072,807 lbs. of “pet chews” from China. That’s equal to the weight of the Brooklyn Bridge (14,680 tons)…times 235.

The import classification of ‘pet chews’ does not include raw hide treats. This category appears to be mainly jerky treats, with some jerky and rawhide combination treats.

The largest importers were (dates listed below are date the shipment was received):

Spectrum Brands

Wenzhou, China
4/30/20 – 49,500 lbs.
4/30/20 – 143,081 lbs.
4/21/20 – 64,150 lbs.
4/21/20 – 29,445 lbs.
4/21/20 – 27,049 lbs.
4/20/20 – 48,162 lbs.
4/14/20 – 50,655 lbs.
4/7/20 – 41,787 lbs.
4/7/20 – 51,005 lbs.
4/7/20 – 50,769 lbs.
4/1/20 – 25,241 lbs.
Shanghai, China
4/30/20 – 53,955 lbs.
4/30/20 – 33,328 lbs.
4/30/20 – 29,447 lbs.
4/30/20 – 129,798 lbs.
4/21/20 – 32,036 lbs.
4/21/20 – 21,067 lbs.
4/20/20 – 51,625 lbs.
4/12/20 – 37,169 lbs.
4/12/20 – 43,450 lbs.
4/7/20 – 53,669 lbs.
4/7/20 – 53,658 lbs.
4/7/20 – 56,960 lbs.
4/7/20 – 42,988 lbs.
4/7/20 – 43,450 lbs.
4/7/20 – 43,824 lbs.
4/7/20 – 34,791 lbs.
4/7/20 – 18,630 lbs.
4/7/20 – 53,988 lbs.
4/6/20 – 35,640 lbs.
4/6/20 – 19,360 lbs.
4/6/20 – 42,240 lbs.
4/6/20 – 39,160 lbs.
4/6/20 – 43,560 lbs.
4/6/20 – 37,400 lbs.
Qingdao, China
4/29/20 – 136,649 lbs.
4/29/20 – 323,312 lbs.
4/28/20 – 23,894 lbs.
4/28/20 – 31,359 lbs.
4/28/20 – 97,161 lbs.
4/28/20 – 43,560 lbs.
4/28/20 – 42,416 lbs.
4/28/20 – 40,590 lbs.
4/26/20 – 30,675 lbs.
4/26/20 – 27,980 lbs.
4/24/20 – 192,137 lbs.
4/24/20 – 176,367 lbs.
4/15/20 – 252,666 lbs.
4/15/20 – 296,672 lbs.
4/6/20 – 195,587 lbs.
4/6/20 – 220,312 lbs.
4/1/20 – 159,412 lbs.
Spectrum Brands Canada
Qingdao, China
4/19/20 – 29,938 lbs.

Spectrum Brands received 3,994,545 lbs. of pet chews from China between 4/1/20 through 5/15/20.

Pet chews from Spectrum Brands include Healthy Hide, Good n’ Fun, Dreambone, Smartbone, and Dingo. Import records did not disclose what brands of treats were imported. Searching product labels, many did not disclose country of origin/country of manufacture. We found ‘Made in China’ in fine print near the UPC code (back of package) on some Good n’ Fun chews.

Hartz Mountain

Shanghai, China
5/8/20 – 41,226 lbs.
5/8/20 – 34,210 lbs.
5/1/20 – 24,482 lbs.
5/1/20 – 30,624 lbs.
5/2/20 – 40,421 lbs.
4/24/20 – 28,769 lbs.
4/24/20 – 32,987 lbs.
4/24/20 – 29,484 lbs.
4/24/20 – 32,210 lbs.
4/24/20 – 42,068 lbs.
4/24/20 – 26,699 lbs.
4/24/20 – 30,978 lbs.
4/10/20 – 40,524 lbs.
4/10/20 – 27,601 lbs.
4/10/20 – 29,293 lbs.
Hartz Canada
4/24/20 – 12,197 lbs.
4/24/20 – 25,062 lbs.
4/10/20 – 23,351 lbs.
4/10/20 – 30,976 lbs.

Hartz Mountain received 583,162 lbs. of pet chews from China between 4/1/20 through 5/15/20.

Pet chews from Hartz Mountain include Chew n’ Clean, Oinkies, and Dentist’s Best. Import records did not disclose what brands of treats were imported. Searching product labels we found ‘Made in China’ disclosure in fine print at the bottom on the back of the package of Chew n’ Clean, and some Oinkies labels.

Smucker Manufacturing Inc.

Qingdao, China
5/15/20 – 47,454 lbs.
5/15/20 – 46,970 lbs.
5/8/20 – 74,386 lbs.
5/1/20 – 48,726 lbs.
5/1/20 – 60,223 lbs.
4/25/20 – 46,561 lbs.
4/25/20 – 57,039 lbs.
4/17/20 – 84,326 lbs.
4/11/20 – 66,924 lbs.
4/3/20 – 36,346 lbs.

Smucker Manufacturing received 568,955 lbs. of pet chews from China between 4/1/20 through 5/15/20.

Pet chews from Smucker Manufacturing include Milo’s Kitchen and Milk Bone. Import records did not disclose what brands of treats were imported. Searching product labels, some of the Milk Bone chew labels indicated in fine print on the back of the package ‘Made in China’ under “Distributed by” information. Milo’s Kitchen chews labels indicated they are produced in the U.S.

Walmart, Inc.

Shanghai, China
5/8/20 – 16,785 lbs.
5/8/20 – 9,823 lbs.
5/5/20 – 23,566 lbs.
5/5/20 – 12,716 lbs.
5/3/20 – 15,998 lbs.
5/3/20 – 15,976 lbs.
5/3/20 – 47,755 lbs.
5/3/20 – 44,011 lbs.
5/3/20 – 10,505 lbs.
4/30/20 – 13,438 lbs.
4/30/20 – 48,266 lbs.
4/24/20 – 8,805 lbs.
4/15/20 – 47,194 lbs.
4/11/20 – 47,450 lbs.
4/10/20 – 15,245 lbs.
4/5/20 – 6,489 lbs.
4/5/20 – 16,655 lbs.
4/3/20 – 24,919 lbs.
4/3/20 – 12,045 lbs.
4/3/20 – 23,844 lbs.
Qingdao, China
5/3/20 – 12,177 lbs.
Walmart Canada
4/19/20 – 18,854 lbs.

Walmart received 492,516 lbs. of pet chews from China between 4/1/20 through 5/15/20.

Pet chews from Walmart include Golden Rewards and Ol’ Roy. Import records did not disclose what brands of treats were imported. Searching product labels we found ‘Made in China’ disclosures in fine print on the back of packaging of both brands.

How many pet chews are imported each year?

Based on these recent 6 weeks of records, it is estimated that the U.S. and Canada imports 61 million pounds of pet chews from China each year (the largest majority to the U.S.).

Concerning history of pet chews from China.

In recent history, pet chews from China have been directly linked to thousands of pet illnesses and deaths. From the FDA website: “As of December 31, 2015, FDA has received approximately 5,200 complaints of illnesses associated with consumption of chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats, many of which involve products imported from China, which produces much of the jerky pet treats on the market. The reports involve more than 6,200 dogs, 26 cats, three people, and include more than 1,140 canine deaths.”

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Marketing tested the treats in 2013 and found illegal antibiotics which resulted in numerous recalls.

It is unknown if FDA continues to receive reports of pet illnesses and deaths linked to Chinese chews, we (TruthaboutPetFood.com) receive one consumer complaint regarding these treats about month (over the past several years, many more prior). The complaints we have received are identical to the years of complaints linked to these Chinese treats – gastrointestinal issues and kidney disease.

Opinion: Not every pet food product (treat or supplement or ingredient) sourced from China is a risk. But with certainty, pet owners must remember China’s pet food related past and be very aware of the potential risks of products sourced from this country. Not only have thousands of pets died linked to Chinese sourced jerky treats, potentially hundreds of thousands of pets died and suffered permanent kidney disease directly linked to adulterated ingredients sourced from China in 2007. While lack of enforcement of regulations in the US (allowed use of illegal, waste ingredients) is certainly responsible for more pet illnesses and deaths than anyone can image, Chinese ingredients and pet products hold an unfortunate record – the leader of all exporting countries (into North America) linked to the most pet illnesses and deaths.

If you provide your pet a food that includes a China sourced ingredient, ask the manufacturer what safety testing is performed on those ingredients – and how often those tests are performed. Proper testing of Chinese sourced ingredients (and any country of origin of ingredients) provides you assurances the food will not sicken your pet.

If you are giving your pet a chew treat manufactured in China, ask the manufacturer/importing company what safety testing is regularly performed on the product. Because illegal antibiotics were found in the past in these treats, specifically ask if the treats are tested for drugs – and how often.

All pet food manufacturers hold a responsibility to properly and regularly test all ingredients – no matter the country of origin. Because of recent history, manufacturers/importers of Chinese sourced ingredients/products hold a greater responsibility to properly and regularly test imports. Too many pets have died due to neglect of this responsibility. Pet owners can take an active role in holding manufacturers accountable to this responsibility by asking questions – and if responses are not adequate, finding another company that properly tests.

If you’d like to make a homemade chew for your dog, below is a recipe video from Rodney Habib:

More recipes for chews (and treats) from Dr. Karen Becker can be found here: https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2012/02/10/easy-to-make-pet-treats.aspx.

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton
Pet Food Safety Advocate
TruthaboutPetFood.com
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