US pet owners seek alternatives to Chinese-made animal treats

Global Business

Concern about allegedly tainted Chinese dog and cat treats has American pet owners looking for safer alternatives. CCTV America’s May Lee reported this story from Los Angeles.

US pet owners seek alternatives to Chinese-made animal treats

Concern about allegedly tainted Chinese dog and cat treats has American pet owners looking for safer alternatives. CCTV America's May Lee reported this story from Los Angeles.

In January, America’s second largest chain, Petco, removed Chinese-made jerky treats from its stores and website out of fears the products were making pets sick. The treats are made from chicken, duck, and sweet potatoes.

“As a trusted partner for pet parents, we believe this is the right thing to do, and we’re proud to take this step in the best interest of pets,” Petco CEO Jim Myers said in a written statement.

The largest U.S. pet store chain, PetSmart, says it will stop selling Chinese-made treats in March, shutting out many Chinese suppliers from the $22.6 billion pet food market in the United States.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said that since 2007, it’s received 4,800 complaints that could be linked to the treats, including 1,000 canine deaths. But after years of testing, the U.S. government has found no definitive link between the Chinese treats and pet illnesses.

Perception of a link has fueled demand for gourmet pet food. Oscar Chavez oversees nutrition for a southern California company that makes dog food that some say is good enough for humans to eat.

“The food is really good, it’s gourmet quality. They love it. My bank account doesn’t love it as much, but they do so,” dog owner David Rosario said.