On January 5, 2024, Purina Pet Foods issued the following statement (bold added):
“Please beware of online rumors claiming there are issues with Purina products – these false statements may be creating unnecessary stress for pet parents. There are no health or safety issues with any of our products, and they can continue to be fed with confidence.”
Purina also states (bold added): “If you read something online that worries you, or you have any questions about your pet’s diet, please don’t hesitate to contact our team. We also recommend researching the source of these posts. Some are well-intentioned pet parents who are genuinely concerned and trying to help, while others may be trying to create confusion and distrust of certain brands as an opportunity to sell their own products.”
Personal opinion: I know many individuals who work long hours behind the scenes – NONE OF THEM try to ‘create a stir’ or use this situation ‘as an opportunity to sell their own products.’ It is concerning that Purina made this statement – chose those words – about veterinarians, advocates, and pet owners who are ONLY trying to help their fellow pet owners.
How does Purina handle “online rumors” of the past?
Since 2007, there have been ‘rumors’ of sick and dead pets linked to Purina’s Waggin Train chicken jerky treat. At the time, the FDA said:
“Since 2007, the FDA has received reports of illnesses in pets associated with the consumption of jerky pet treats. As of December 31, 2015, the FDA received approximately 5,200 complaints of illnesses associated with the consumption of chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats, many of which involved products imported from China, which manufactures of most jerky pet treats on the market. The reports involved more than 6,200 dogs, 26 cats, three people, and included more than 1,140 dog deaths..”
(Purina Waggin Train jerky treats are one of the products linked to pet illnesses and deaths.)
In 2012, Purina published a website – “Chicken Jerky Dog Treats: The Facts” (www.chickenjerkyfacts.com) which provides pet owners with “Myth“and (their)”Truth” information about chicken jerky treats. Purina’s website tells pet owners that this is a “Myth“that”thousands of dogs get sick or die from eating jerky food.”
The Purina website also tells pet owners that this is a “Myth” that “the FDA advises pet owners not to feed chicken jerky treats.”
Actually, before Purina’s ChickenJerkyFacts.com website – the FDA issued two warnings about the treats. In 2007 the FDA posted “FDA Warns Consumers About Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs“saying”The Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers of a potential association between the development of the disease in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats.”
A second warning came from the FDA in 2008 – “Preliminary Animal Health Notice – Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs”. This warning states that “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to warn consumers of a potential association between the development of disease in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats..”
Finally, in January 2013 several brands of jerky treats imported from China were pulled from store shelves. NY Department of Agriculture testing found illegal antibiotics in Purina’s Waggin Train and many other brands. Other spicy foods at the time – such as Milo’s Kitchen, which was also implicated in pet illness and death – issued recalls.
Purina did not. Instead, Purina released a “voluntary withdrawal“telling pet owners that the problem is “due to regulatory inconsistency” and the Waggin Train jerky treats “is safe to feed as directed.”
The year following the removal of the Purina Waggin Train jerky treat – in 2014, Purina initiated a lawsuit against competitor Blue Buffalo and published the website www.PetFoodHonesty.com.
Purina told this website: “At Purina, we believe that honesty is the most important ingredient in the relationship between pet owners and their pet food company. That’s why we took our lawsuit, and it’s why we established a website, www.petfoodhonesty.com, where pet owners can learn the truth. (May 14, 2014)“The”honesty” What Purina is referring to on this website is with competitor Blue Buffalo.
Yet just a year ago, Purina was less than forthcoming with the FDA and pet owners about the many reports of sick and dying pets linked to its Beneful dog food.
During an FDA investigation of three Purina Beneful manufacturing plants, testing revealed the six samples tested above “permissible level for cyanuric acid and ammelide (melamine)” and “six samples collected contained ethoxyquin, however, the additive was not indicated on the product label.” In both inspections, and Purina refused to provide the FDA with what “routine contamination“company tested on pet foods, refused”to provide the actual content or weights of the individual substances that went into the implicated lots”. FDA inspections at the time also found a plant – in Edmond, OK – “has no written protocol for handling complaints”.
When a lawsuit was filed against Purina regarding sick and dead pets believed to be linked to their Beneful pet food, the company gave this statement to CBS News: “We want to assure you that there are no quality issues with Beneful. Like other pet foods, Beneful is occasionally the subject of social media-driven misinformation. Beneful is a high quality wholesome food, enjoyed by millions of happy and healthy dogs every year. You can continue feeding Beneful with complete confidence.”
In 2015 Purina called reports of sick pets associated with their pet as “misinformation caused by social media”.
In 2024, Purina called reports of sick and dead pets associated with their pet as “false statements“”trying to create chaos and distrust”.
My how things have changed…or have they?
If you have a sick pet that you believe is linked to their pet food, please report that issue to the FDA and/or your state feed official. More information can be found HERE.
Unfortunately, we cannot tell pet owners which brands of pet foods are involved in the current situation, we can share that the volunteer Facebook group Saving Pets One Pet @ A Time does their best in documenting many consumer complaints. Reports of sick or dead pets have been associated with dry and wet pet foods, and have involved both cats and dogs.
We have asked the FDA (twice) to provide pet owners with an update on this current situation surrounding many Purina pet foods. So far the agency has ignored our requests. We also filed a Freedom of Information Act request for all pet food adverse event reports received by the FDA since 11/1/23.
Pet owners and veterinarians are encouraged to email the FDA asking them to notify us. [email protected]. We really deserve the FDA to update the public.
