Dogswell Recalls Chicken and Duck Jerky Treats Made in China

Heads-up, dog people: The treats contain residue of an antibiotic that's not approved for use in the United States.

Dogswell is voluntarily withdrawing certain Dogswell and Catswell jerky treats made with chicken or duck with a “Best Before” date of Jan. 28, 2015, or any earlier date. 

The culprit is one we've seen before: trace amounts of an antibiotic residue that has not been approved for use in the United States, though it is important to note that this antibiotic is accepted for use in other countries, including the European Union.

The New York State Department of Agriculture & Markets discovered the residue during routine testing of a sample of Dogswell Happy Hips Chicken Breast Jerky. The department notified the company during the week of July 22, and the company voluntarily recalled Chicken Breast and Duck Breast jerky under the following brands: Breathies, Happy Heart, Happy Hips, Mellow Mut, Shape Up, Veggie Life, Vitality, and Vitakitty. 

This recall covers brands that are labeled with a “Best Before” date of Jan. 28, 2015, or any earlier date. The company says the jerky treats were made in China.

The company stresses that the rest of its products are safe, that no animals have become sick, and that there is no evidence that products containing trace amounts of this antibiotic pose a health risk for pets.

  Interestingly, the company explains why it uses products made in China, which is ground zero in the ongoing chicken jerky treat debacle. It says that most Dogswell products are made in the U.S., but "some" are made in China. Why? The company explains:

"China is a country where dark meat is more popular due to its inherent fat and flavor. Dogswell believes it is less wasteful to obtain our white meat in China where it is abundant, rather than sourcing it domestically, where white meat is less available and held at a premium. Not only do we care about your pet's health by sourcing only the healthiest meat available, we also practice sustainability by reducing as much waste as possible."

The company also explains its treatment of chickens: "Cage-free chickens are kept in barns where they can roam, scratch and perch as they please. Our chickens eat a natural diet, have plenty of room to roam, and live and grow free of stress."

For more information, and to received a full refund for an affected product, you can call Dogswell at 1-888-559-8833. Visit the website here.

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