U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) applauded an announcement by Petco animal supply company that it plans to stop its sale of dog and cat treats made in China by the end of the year. Brown has repeatedly urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (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.
“Today’s announcement by Petco is great news for consumers and the well-being of our pets,” Brown said on May 20. “With hundreds of pets around Ohio falling sick or being killed by tainted pet treats from China, it’s time that these products are removed from the shelf. I encourage other companies to following Petco’s lead.”
Following a January 2014 report by the Dayton Daily News showing that more than 100 dogs in Ohio have been sickened and more than 22 killed by tainted pet treats, Brown urged FDA to take additional measures to ensure that no tainted products are currently on the shelves of local pet stores and supermarkets. Brown also encouraged the FDA to protect animals and consumers from future product contaminations by strengthening and finalizing its proposed rules on the manufacturing and health standards of pet treats sold in the U.S.
The letter follows action’s Brown took in 2012 to protect Ohio’s pets from tainted treats imported from China. In February 2012, Brown urged the FDA take quick action to protect consumers and pet owners after an increase in tainted pet treats from China were found to cause animal deaths and illnesses. Brown joined Kevin Thaxton, whose 10 year-old pug, Chancey, passed away unexpectedly after eating chicken jerky pet treats imported from China. In April 2012, Brown pressed FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg to take more aggressive action on pet treat safety, and to continue all efforts to find the root cause of the contaminant.
Brown has been a strong advocate in the Senate for food safety, and was instrumental in passing the Food and Drug Administration Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010. As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, he passed legislation to give the FDA new authority to recall dangerous foods, improve the safety of imported products, and establish a comprehensive traceability system to quickly and accurately trace the source of tainted food in the event of a food-borne illness outbreak.
