Petco to stop selling treats made in China

Petco officials announced the company will stop carrying dog and cat treats that are made in China. The mass retailer will discontinue selling China-made treats at all of its 1,300 store locations, including Unleashed by Petco stores and online at Petco.com, by the end of 2014.

       “We know some pet parents are wary of dog and cat treats made in China, especially Chicken Jerky products, and we’ve heard their concerns,” said Jim Myers, Petco CEO, in a statement. “As a leader in the industry and the trusted partner for our pet parents, we’re eager to make this transition and to expand our assortment of safe and healthy treats, the majority of which are made right here in the U.S. Very simply, we feel this decision is in the best interest of the pets we all love and, ultimately, for our business.”

       The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has cautioned consumers about a potential correlation between reported illnesses in dogs and the consumption of jerky products made in China, since 2007. The FDA hasn’t recommended a recall of jerky products, though, because the administration has been unable to find a direct link between the reported illnesses and the China-made treats.

       This transition is slated to be complete by the end of 2014, following a multi-year process of Petco partnering with vendors and suppliers to offer cat and dog treats that are not made in China.