Ten years after the first reports of pet and people illnesses linked to jerky treats, the FDA’s efforts have not established a single cause of pet illnesses linked to jerky pet treats. The investigations revealed several issues resulting in recalls or import alerts for various problems, including:
- Salmonella contamination
- Residues of antibiotic and antiviral agents
- Mislabeling
- Melamine traces
- Excessive levels of glycerin
Source: Food Safety News, December 20, 2018. Link.
Although a single root cause of the treat-related illnesses was never found, the analytical and tracking tools developed during the treat investigation have helped CVM to more quickly identify and respond to several other pet food issues in recent years.
INSIGHTS: So, we learned that chicken jerky treats are likely a risky choice. And, the researchers found better ways to identify issues in other pet food sources.