Job opportunity at FDA: Nutritional analysis of chicken jerky pet treats? Huh?
Looking for a job? Do you own a private lab? Do you know how to perform basic nutritional analysis? Then you’re in luck.
The Federal government has a job for you.
The FDA is soliciting for bids on a job, a very special job. Testing chicken jerky treats, not just any treats — but treats from grief-stricken pet parents whose dogs became ill or died as a result of being fed chicken jerky treats.
What does the FDA expect to find in those treats? Nephrotoxins? Carcinogens? No.
Is the FDA looking for toxins that might point to the reason why those chicken jerky treats are causing acute renal failure in dogs? No.
So, what does the FDA want to find out about the toxic treats? Absolutely nothing.
Unless, of course the FDA believes acute renal failure can be caused by fatty-acids, fiber, glycerol, protein, ash or moisture. Because that is the only thing those chicken jerky treat samples will be tested for: their basic nutritional composition. Period.
A notice on a Federal business opportunities website, FedBizOpps.gov, the FDA placed a notice on March 30, 2012 seeking solicitations for bids to perform the Analysis of Nutritional Composition of 30 Animal Food Products (Chicken Jerky Treats):
Due to an increase in the number of consumer complaints regarding an animal food product related pet illness, the FDA has a requirement to test nutritional composition of 30 animal food products (chicken jerky treats) to investigate cause of reported toxicity.
The contractor will analyze a subset of randomly sampled and a subset of case related animal food products (chicken jerky treats). The contractor will analyze a total of 30 animal food products (chicken jerky treats) for the following:
Total Fatty Acids
Crude Fiber
Glycerol (an absolute requirement)
Protein
Ash
MoistureThe Contractor must be able to complete all tests with a small amount of samples (10 grams). FDA will provide the samples to the Contractor.
The Contractor shall conduit testing and provide the analysis back to the FDA in 10 business days of receiving the samples.
For the pet parents whose precious samples were given to the FDA in good faith, their samples might only be tested for their nutritional content, not for toxins; those consumers might be robbed of the one chance of ever finding out the truth.
For the pet parents who have been waiting anxiously, counting the days, the hours, until the FDA makes the announcement that they hope will bring an end to their nightmare, can stop hoping. They can stop waiting.
Today a woman will say goodbye to her beloved pet Yorkie, who, at this moment is dying of acute renal failure after eating chicken jerky treats. What hope will she have that the Federal government will help her find the reason for the death of her one true friend?
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23 Comments
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Rich Weaver
My Beloved LOLA is on her way to the animal hospital right now because of these treats. PLEASE don’t let it happen to your dog!!! The supermarkets, pet stores and other retailers are refusing to remove this product from their shelves because it is the number one selling treat on the market. VOICE YOUR OPINION TO THESE PEOPLE NOW!!! Google Waggin Train Jerkey treats as well as Milo’s Kitchen and read for yourself.
Mollie Morrissette
I will pray for her speedy recovery.
Rich Weaver
Thank you so very much. Just brought her home from the vet. We will have the results from the blood work tomorrow.
Mollie Morrissette
Yay!!!! Prayers answered!!!!
nelly
we should just get rided of the FDA since they are not doing the job that us the consumer are paying them to do
why paid a organization who don’t care about peoples or animals food sources .the treats from china should have been taking off the the store right a way
those jerky are still on the shelf and a lot of consumer are still uneware
of the probleme or if they ask the manager in the store they will be told that the FDA said it fine that what the manager in pet smart told me
i am very thankfull that i don’t buy anything made in china
DancingPlatypus
Good news that should help curb the hysteria (unless hysteria was the goal):
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You say: “Is the FDA looking for toxins that might point to the reason why those chicken jerky treats are causing acute renal failure in dogs? No.”
FDA says: “Product samples were tested for Salmonella, metals, furans, pesticides, antibiotics, mycotoxins, rodenticides, nephrotoxins (such as aristolochic acid, maleic acid, paraquat, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, toxic hydrocarbons, melamine and related triazines) and were screened for other chemicals and poisonous compounds. DNA verification was conducted on these samples to confirm the presence of poultry in the treats. Samples have also been submitted for nutritional composition (which includes glycerol concentrations), vitamin D excess and enterotoxin analysis. Some samples from recent cases (2011-2012) have been submitted for multiple tests and we are awaiting results. More samples are in the process of being collected for testing.”
You say: “Unless, of course the FDA believes acute renal failure can be caused by fatty-acids, fiber, glycerol, protein, ash or moisture. Because that is the only thing those chicken jerky treat samples will be tested for: their basic nutritional composition. Period.”
FDA says: “the FDA is not limiting their testing to one laboratory analysis (nutritional composition). We are submitting samples to multiple laboratories and testing for multiple things including potential toxins.”
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The bids for independent verification seems reasonable. It has no obligation to accept a bid from unqualified labs. I suspect that if the FDA was only using its personal staff, conspiracy theorists would believe it was secretly allowing chicken treats through as a way to legally poison dogs.
Mollie Morrissette
Oh honey. You couldn’t be more mistaken. You picked the wrong person to argue with, because there is no one that knows more about this issue than I do.
I have the FDA’s actual record of what they have tested for and what they have tests pending on and I can tell you that they are NOT testing for atypical toxins. Read my other articles.
This article is only about the bid requests on NA of 30 treats by the FDA. I suggest you read all the other articles I have written on the subject before you come to the defense of the FDA.
I have the FDAs job offer asking for bids to test 30 treats, of which some are from victims, for nutritional analysis ONLY. Show me where the FDA solicited for bids to test for “potential toxins”. You can’t because it doesn’t exist.
The FDAs explanation as to why they are using victims treats to test for the moisture, fiber, protein, amino acids, etc. – is utter rubbish. Independent verification of what? Moisture and fiber contents? Who cares.
A standard nutritional analysis will tell them nothing. It is a joke. And their explanation/justification for doing so is absolutely illogical.
Independent labs may also have a conflict of interest if their clients are any members of the pet food industry. The AAFCO has a roster of “independent” labs they recommend. But since they are testing for nothing of consequence it doesn’t really matter anyway.
This is not a conspiracy nor is it hysteria. It is a WARNING. I have volumes of records backing up everything I write about. Records of vets who, on record, have said they are dangerous and to “throw them out”. I have records of members of the Federal government expressing the same concerns.
To suggest that what I am doing this as a plot to create consumer mass hysteria, is patently absurd. Is that what Senator Brown is doing? Representative Kuchinich? The president of the American Humane Society of Ohio? I could go on and on.
Do your research. I have.
If you want to challenge me on this I can provide you with evidence that the concern about these treats is based on fact, not fantasy.
Judy in Philly
I have been informed this week by the FDA collector that nothing was found in my dried chicken and veggie treats sample. Now, I must wait about two months and go to the “Freedom of Information” link on the FDA site to find out what they tested for.
Those “treats” made my dog very ill for about a month and required a water infusion, prescription food from the vet, pepcid pills, as well as pain pills. I was trying to think of what else could have caused the episode until I read your article. Thank you for all your help in this matter.
Tammy Long-Carter
What the he*l ? Is this NOT important to the public and their pets? What are u telling us, they are not checking this out? Or do I misunderstand?
Susan Rhodes
Seems to me that the big corporations win again. Wonder how much it cost them this time around. Incredibly sad news!
But I do like the idea Maria had of hiring our own investigators.
Pam
What is wrong with the FDA. The woman who runs it is lacking in something. They are not worth the tax dollars we give them. They need to be investigated and any congress person who gets lobby money from the big companies who own them. When a child eats some poison pet food treats and dies they will be responsible.
naomithedog
Obviously, once again, some “influence” has exchanged hands with our wonderful FDA.
Teri
Can you spell M-O-N-S-A-N-T-O? …the creator of our dis-ease with their global infiltration of GMO technology…they own the FDA… why would they care about our animals? They are killing us and they don’t care.
Cyrus
I have more. More jerky treats and blood work and a lot of vet bills. So if they need some more. Holler!!!
Kaly White
What about testing for arsenic or diethylene glycol (antifreeze)…? They are missing the important targets… so sad.