Statement on Chicken Jerky Strips
Last Updated: Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Pet food safety is a top priority at Wal-Mart, as we understand the important role that pets play in the lives of our customers. We proactively removed Chicken Jerky Strips manufactured by Import-Pingyang Pet Product Co and Chicken Jerky manufactured by Shanghai Bestro Trading with UPC 0087784900006 and item number 839751 from our stores on July 26, 2007.

Since then, the product has remained off shelves while we have carried out seventeen different tests to determine the cause of the small number of complaints we received. The latest advice from our testing laboratory shows trace levels of melamine. Because of the low levels that were found, our laboratory has recommended additional testing. Nevertheless, the product remains off shelves and we continue to take the extra precaution of placing a computerized block on the product at the cash register. Moreover, we encourage customers who may have purchased this product to return it for a full refund.

We will continue to work with the FDA and the manufacturer to assure that the highest safety standards are met – our customers expect nothing less from Wal-Mart. We encourage customers with questions to contact 1-800-WALMART.

I guess they are still buying their products from China!!!!!!!

To be fair, how many "non-China" suppliers of things are left these days? I don't know the pet food industry to be sure, but its pretty tough to find appliances made outside of China.

I guess they are still buying their products from China!!!!!!!

Saddly they (and most everyone else too) will most likely continue to buy the stuff from china.

Economics 101... it really is sad, but I don't see it changing, once the 'jeanie' is out of the bottle, it's hard to put her back in so to speak.

Too much reliance on imported goods cannot be good for any country, much less the US. Chinese products have killed or endangered our pets, our kids, and our livelihood... and yet it's still hard to find stuff that isn't made in china... it really is sad.

parrot, what have they not learned? They are doing exactly what should be done. They are blocking the sale of the items incase the items are still inadvertently store shelves. They told customers to return the products for a full refund. I can't see what more you want for them to do.

If your issue is with them purchasing and using Chinese suppliers they are far from the only company doing so. Chinese suppliers/manufacturers have been used for decades and don't see that stopping any time in the near or distant future unless something changes.

People want low prices and unfortunately the only way to get the prices low is to go with these types of manufacturing facilities. These are risks that companies are willing to take unfortunately.

I agree that WalMart did the right thing by taking the product off of their shelves,,,,,,but only after complaints...

I guess I live in a dream world, but I would like to think that a responsible company would test any pet food products from China BEFORE they sell it to an unsupecting public.......SIGH!!!!!!!

You think that all pet food should be tested before being sold? What about people food, should that also be tested? Do you realize the costs that would add up to? I think it's unrealistic to expect every company to test the food supplied by all of their suppliers.

I think it's unrealistic to expect every company to test the food supplied by all of their suppliers.


...actually all imported food and food contact products are tested at the prototype and sample level. Furthermore the factories used have to pass certain certifications and are subject to random spot checks of the complete supply chain. Melamine was such an unusual additive that the labs just don't test for it hence the SNAFU...some more info here (http://www.fsis.usda.gov/regulations_&_policies/Import_Information/index.asp)

You think that all pet food should be tested before being sold? What about people food, should that also be tested? Do you realize the costs that would add up to? I think it's unrealistic to expect every company to test the food supplied by all of their suppliers.

If I expect that things that I buy for myself or my pets to eat will not kill us; then yes, I am being unrealistic.

If I expect that things that I buy for myself or my pets to eat will not kill us; then yes, I am being unrealistic.

...hmmm..what you imply is that Walmart supply you with a personal "poison tester" of each and every sample which is unrealistic. However, as others have posted, if you're willing to pay more $$$ for your goods than it can be done...

To be fair, how many "non-China" suppliers of things are left these days? I don't know the pet food industry to be sure, but its pretty tough to find appliances made outside of China.

I think it's probably tough to find much of anything that China doesn't have a hand in. I highly recommend a recent documentary called Manufactured Landscapes - it is a documentary about the photography of Edward Burtynsky ( www.edwardburtynsky.com ), mostly his photographs of China.

What I enjoyed most about the film is that it leaves the viewer to draw their own conclusions. Personally, it was eye opening to see hundreds of people assembling floor fans piece by piece (who doesn't think that kind of thing is done by robots these days? seriously), or the dozen people assembling the cap to your hairspray bottles, even hand-testing every piece. It is scary to see the sheer scale of China's 'industrial revolution.' At the same time, you can't chastize them for going through the same things our more advanced nations did over the last couple centuries to get to where we are now. It is a struggle to consumer less to me, I still shop at walmart for groceries - the alternative is to spend more, and all the other big chains are probably just as bad with a bigger price tag (end rant).

if you enjoy photography, this documentary is highly recommended!

If I expect that things that I buy for myself or my pets to eat will not kill us; then yes, I am being unrealistic.

I honestly don't think this is being unrealistic. hopefully China will make some efforts to prevent this from happening in the future.

As I said earlier, I don't see a major about face with our dependence on importing, but when you have such flagrant violations as we have seen lately come out of China who knows?

A few years ago I read an astonishing article that stated (I think the numbers are right, but very close anyway) that WalMart buys 81% of their products from China, and 54% of chinese exports to the U.S. are bought by WalMart. The numbers have probably changed, but amazing nontheless.

In my household we do not buy groceries at WalMart at all, I simply will not do it, but you can't beat the prices on many of their products. I buy all of my dog food products from U.S. suppliers and pay a hefty premium to get the top rated brands (Innova, Chicken Soup For the Dog Lover's Soul, etc.).

I buy some things from WalMart, but nothing that I would put in my mouth.

Wal Mart has learned very well.
They financed and help set up many of their suppliers in China.
They have close business and political connections in China.
As a result a large flow of investment and capital has moved to China.
China turns around and finances the US debt.
Walmart can influence Chinas handling of the debt. Who do you think is in the drivers seat?
Sam is still directing things from the grave.:rolleyes:

For the record I don't shop at Wal Mart. But thats because there is not a decent one convenient to my location. I have never been in one. There currently is under construction a Super Walmart 3 miles down the highway. I don't know yet if I will shop there or not. I definitely will check it out to find out why so many people shop there.

Wal Mart has learned very well.
They financed and help set up many of their suppliers in China.
They have close business and political connections in China.
As a result a large flow of investment and capital has moved to China.
China turns around and finances the US debt.
Walmart can influence Chinas handling of the debt. Who do you think is in the drivers seat?
Sam is still directing things from the grave.:rolleyes:

For the record I don't shop at Wal Mart. But thats because there is not a decent one convenient to my location. I have never been in one. There currently is under construction a Super Walmart 3 miles down the highway. I don't know yet if I will shop there or not. I definitely will check it out to find out why so many people shop there.

3 miles is about how far our super walmart is. we also have a super target that is 1/4 of a mile (just down on the corner!). i'll go to target midweek if we need a few things, but walmart for the once-a-week grocery shopping. to me, i just cant justify 3.89 for a gallon of milk over 3.09, or 3.29 for lunch meat over 2.69, or 4.73 for ice cream sandwiches over 2.79 (really!). so, walmart gets the money when it comes to groceries, and probably when that new LCD TV purchase is coming up on the horizon too.

I'm thinking that Sam would be rolling over...a lot.
Sad thing is, it's hard to not let them supply me as needed.

I'm thinking that Sam would be rolling over...a lot.
Sad thing is, it's hard to not let them supply me as needed.

I agree, Sam would most likely be rolling over in his grave due to the new CEO's aggressive tactics. I've been in teh back rooms of many Wal Marts (I used to do some contract computer work for them) and the slogans that are up back there are frightening. The new CEO has pictures of himself put up in all the break rooms and most of the slogans are about aggressively expanding their market into other areas, aggressive this, and aggressive that. Sounds more like an empire than a corporation!:???:

That being said, I still do shop there because, like other people, I need to save money. Non-consumables only though!!

The question that will never be answered for me is:

When is big enough, big enough? Why do companies feel compelled to dominate globally? Was life that much tougher when your choices to shop in were locally owned?

It is sad that you could be plunked down in pretty much every town in America and see the exact same stores and restaurants in each.

and even though I feel like this, I still patronize the Megas.

Maybe some of you young folks don't remember or ever knew-Sam Walton's big thing was that EVERYTHING in the store was American made. It changed when he died, and the demon children took over.

The question that will never be answered for me is:

When is big enough, big enough? Why do companies feel compelled to dominate globally? Was life that much tougher when your choices to shop in were locally owned?

It is sad that you could be plunked down in pretty much every town in America and see the exact same stores and restaurants in each.

and even though I feel like this, I still patronize the Megas.

How much money is enough?

Just a little bit more... :shock:

Regards,

The question that will never be answered for me is:

When is big enough, big enough? Why do companies feel compelled to dominate globally? Was life that much tougher when your choices to shop in were locally owned?

It is sad that you could be plunked down in pretty much every town in America and see the exact same stores and restaurants in each.

and even though I feel like this, I still patronize the Megas.

It is the American way. If not Walmart, then someone else would fill the void. It is the story of survival of the fittest.

People want everything for 10 cents less than it sold for last week!
Bag of Dads made in the USA dog food $5.00, then bag of Dads made Canada dog food, $4.90. Not good enough. Bag of Dads made in Mexico dog food $4.80. Wait, that still is not good for our true value hunter consumer. Bad of Dads made with poisonous melamine in China only $4.75. WOW!!! lets all buy twenty. Our pets health be damned. If it saves us money- screw it- it must be OK.

WE must S T O P the fixation with "cheapest is best". When did quality become an afterthought???? Wait until people start being poisoned by products from China. ( Oh' wait--- our children already are being poisoned by lead paint on their toys.)

We Americans and Canadians need to wake up and put a stop to this dangerous
trend in production and marketing. BEFORE it is much too late.

It is the American way. If not Walmart, then someone else would fill the void. It is the story of survival of the fittest.

I really don't think it is the American way. Sounds to me as more of the Human way.

I really hate to bring up the 1960's and the quality of those "cheap" Japanese cars being sold in the US. They were pieces of poo for a long time but in the late 1970's things started to get better. And what are we driving now?

Regards,