The Food and Drug Administration has released a special Consumer Update targeted toward pet owners warning them about dangers lurking in certain pet treats on the market. In the past six years, thousands of dogs have become ill due to bad jerky on the market, and vigilant attention to detail on food labels can help allay customer fears when they shop.
In the release, it is made clear that the type of treat eaten doesn’t seem to matter: chicken, duck, or vegetable all have led to medical complications in animals who consumed them. Even though the government has been testing for the source of these problems for years, there doesn’t seem to be a clear indicator of what is really causing these problems, though the nature of the supply chains used in production of “jerky” seems to be a key part of the investigation.
The director of the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Bernadette Dunham, described this rash of illnesses as “one of the most elusive and mysterious outbreaks we’ve encountered.” The long period of time through which these problems were known to have played out and the various types of symptoms that exist make this a high concern for those with pets. There are reportedly 580 instances of pet deaths linked to this tainted kind of snack.
Immediately after an outbreak, a company might be forgiven for not including warnings or consumer advice on their products, but after an extended period of time it should be evident when they become most necessary. You need to know how to make labels that are relevant and not ignorant of possible dangers that consumers may know about from the news.
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