Did you know that according to the FDA, more than 1,000 dogs have died as a result of consuming products that were made and manufactured in China since December 2015? While many pet products are imported from China and other countries, it’s more often than not that you’ll find these products in the news. Although it is FDA approved, products from foreign-made brands like Hartz have been known to severely maim and injure pets.
Our government is able to decide what goes up for sale, but it can’t control the way other countries manufacture their goods. When importing foods from places like Canada and China, generally, the FDA judges the product by the label and decides whether or not it’s safe to consume. In the U.S., government agencies such as the FDA and the USDA are able to thoroughly inspect facilities and make sure that standards and proper procedures are being followed. While foreign companies are able to produce a label that meets protocol, there’s no telling whether or not it’s true. You don’t really know what’s in it, or whether the place it was made is safe or clean.
This is not only important for the purpose of ensuring the food has healthy ingredients, but also to prevent harmful things like glass and pieces of metal from getting mixed in as well.
Since dogs need a certain amount of fats, proteins, and carbohydrates to keep their organs functioning properly, companies can’t just throw a handful of this and a handful of that into their pet food. It’s not just about what goes into food, it’s about the quantity, too! The Association of American Feed Control Officials require all pet feed to reach specific percentages depending on the animal, whether it be a puppy, a senior dog, an adult cat, and so on.
For example, a canine that consumes too much protein may begin to have issues with their kidneys later down the line.
When the U.S. buys pet foods and other products from foreign competitors, it hurts our economic standing in several ways. In the last 10 years, the United States has lost over $2 trillion dollars in trade costs! Buying from companies that are Made In the USA helps to produce jobs, reduces the amount of taxes the consumers have to pay, and keeps employees safe from unfair and unsafe working conditions.
Even if you purchased a bag of dog food in your local pet supply store, anything being shipped from overseas has the potential to bring unexpected “gifts” with it. Mice are well-known for hiding in boats and making their way across oceans, they did bring the Plague after all. Not much has changed for ocean cargo since the 1800’s other than the boats; if a mouse decides to get comfortable with a bag of rice, or a bag of dog food, his saliva, urine, and other bodily waste ends up in the bag.
Add dragging it across rough surfaces, the possibility of unknown liquid being spilled, and other likely hazards to that, and you’ve got more than enough reasons to switch to USA made pet food!
