A US Congressional committee has held a hearing to discuss threats posed by pet treats from China, following the death of 1,000 dogs allegedly caused by animal feed from that country.
"We have called this hearing to seek answers for American consumers, pet owners, farmers, and parents about the safety of pet treats, processed chicken, and animal feed from China. Americans want to know where their foods come from and want to make sure that everything is being done to keep it safe," said Senator Sherrod Brown, chairing a hearing of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).
The hearing held yesterday, followed an announcement last month by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it has received complaints claiming that 5,600 dogs have gotten sick-and 1,000 have died-as the potential result of "tainted pet treats from China."
Brown urged the FDA to take quick action to protect consumers and pet owners following an "increase in tainted pet treats from China" connected to animal deaths and illnesses.
Noting that 62 million households in this country have a pet and are raising 83 million dogs and 96 million cats just like members of their family, Brown said that's why it's so troubling that seven years on, the US still do not know what is causing the deaths and illnesses of thousands of dogs.
"Just last month, the FDA said that reports of illnesses had increased to 5,600 pets, including 1,000 dog deaths, and now three human illnesses. While no cause has been identified despite extensive study, the illnesses may be linked to pet treats from China," he alleged.
Last year, the USDA declared that China was eligible to export processed, cooked chicken to the US, paving the way for chicken sourced in the US to be shipped to China for processing and then sold back to American consumers, he said.
"While no such chicken has entered our shores yet, it's possible that very soon this processed chicken could end up on our dinner tables and in our school lunchrooms...Will the label clearly indicate that the chicken was processed in China, so Americans can make an informed choice?" Brown asked.
Noting that researchers are exploring a possible link between animal feed from China and the PEDv virus that has wiped out some 10 per cent of our pig population, he urged the Chinese government to fully cooperate with the US agencies, to grant visas to FDA inspectors, and to make significant improvements in their food safety system.
