Jerky Treats From China Still Causing Illnesses and Deaths to Pets

UPDATE 6/2/2014: Nestle Purina and Waggin’ Train have agreed to settle three class action lawsuits alleging their jerky treats made in China have caused pets to get sick and/or die. The companies have agreed to create a $6.5 million settlement fund to compensate Class Members who believe their pets were harmed by the jerky treats. Click here for more information: http://www.topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/29223-waggin-train-purina-settle-jerky-treat-class-action-lawsuits/

U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman of Chicago may have made the right decision in refusing to dismiss a class action lawsuit filed by dog owners against Nestle Purina who alleged that their pets got sick, and for some died, from eating the Chinese-made Waggin’ Train jerky treats.

News reports are saying that “nearly 600 pets have died and more than 3,600 have been sickened in an ongoing, mysterious outbreak of illnesses tied to jerky treats made in China.” These figures are are higher than the previous 500 deaths and 3,200 illnesses reported in January.

Most of the cases involved dogs of all breeds, ages and sizes though 10 cats were reportedly sickened, too. This has prompted the federal Food and Drug Administration officials to seek for help from both pet owners and veterinarians.

“To date, testing for contaminants in jerky treats has not revealed a cause for the illnesses. We still are extensively testing treats for a number of things,” Martine Hartogensis, deputy director for the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine, said.

In an open letter from the FDA, the agency is urging US veterinarians to track and send detailed information about any animals sickened by jerky treats. Information may include results of blood and urine tests. The FDA is also circulating a fact sheet that can be posted at veterinary hospitals, pet supply stores and other sites.

According to the FDA’s website, the illness affects the kidneys, and symptoms include decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea and increased water consumption and urination. Following the warning, multiple class action lawsuits were filed against numerous manufacturers of Chinese-made dog treats, including Milo’s Kitchen.

The Food and Drug Administration has been investigating a possible link between dog illnesses and chicken jerky treats made in China since 2007, and has urged pet owners to use caution when feeding dogs these products. The FDA even came up with an agency warning last November 2011 warning that some pet owners and veterinarians have reported cases involving dogs falling ill after eating Chinese-made chicken jerky treats.

In his refusal to dismiss the class action lawsuit said that the plaintiffs have provided sufficient facts to make a claim that the jerky treats were defective.

We have extensively covered jerky treats class action lawsuits here: Purina Waggin’ Train Dog Treat Class Action lawsuit to Proceed, Waggin’ Train Dog Treat Class Action Lawsuit, Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Class Action Lawsuit, Second Milo’s Kitchen Chicken Jerky Dog Treats Class Action Lawsuit Filed, Dog Died From Waggin’ Train Dog Treats, Class Action Says

The Purina Waggin’ Train Chicken Dog Treat Class Action Lawsuit is Adkins v. Nestle Purina Petcare Co., Case No. 12-cv-2871, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, Chicago.