Comments on: Bestros Announces Wal-Mart Chicken Jerky Strips For Dogs Free Of Melamine

By: Jim Bryan

Jim Bryan — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 18:31:09 +0000

I am attempting to purchase the Rawhide Chews which you manufacture. Our dog has been enjoying them for many years with no problems. They are the 5″ Beef flavored munchy twister, 12 to a pack. They have Unit Price Code 8 77849 00401 4. Could you please provide information if you can ship them to this address and what is the cost per bag for shipping. I had a lot of trouble even getting in touch with your company. Thank you for any help you can give. Jim Bryan

By: Gerri

Gerri — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:38:08 +0000

How convenient it is for the Chinese testing company to clear themselves from any responsibility or liability from killing our dear sweet babies. And WalMart shame one you for not taking any responsib ility at all. American Company, yeah right…..you’re only concern is how much money you make! As far as the testing goes that’s a crock……something in the Jerky Strips killed and is still killing our dogs. It isn’t just a coincidence that all these dogs have dies after eating your tainted Chicken Jerky treats. You screwed up as you usually do. Why don’t thel big companies here in America come to the realization that we don’t need China’s slave labor to manufacture our products. I for one would be willing to pay more for something that is made in American! And I will still persue my fight with Bestro’s company…….clear their name, that’s a joke. They are as guilty as sin and I will never forgive them for taking my baby from me. To Hell with you.

By: Gene and Gerri Richards

Gene and Gerri Richards — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:24:51 +0000

There are too many puppies dying out there and your saying it’s just a coincidence! Give me a break!!!
DON’T BUY CHINESE JUNK PET TREATS, FOOD, TOYS…THEIR KILLING OUR BABIES!!!! THE BOTTOM LINE IS MONEY!!!
What is Wal Mart and china more concern of Money or people and their pets????? You got that right, M-O-N-E-Y!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wal Mart is just to blame as china. You have one guy making the drugs(opium, cocaine) he sells it to another guy and he sells it to your son…your son dies…OK who’s to blame?????
So don’t tell me Wal Mart is not to blame too.
WE NEED A CLASS ACTION SUIT!!!! HELP US!!! TOO MANY PUPPIES ARE DYING.

By: Gene and Gerri Richards

Gene and Gerri Richards — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 16:11:53 +0000

This is BS!!!!!! That chinese Bestro’s Jerky Chicken strips is junk!
Here’s what it did to my little puppy..her website is here:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/614878 ..here’s her story
Our pet Rosie, a 3 year old Chihuahua was poisoned from Chinese made Bestro’s Jerky Chicken Strips #77849 00006 1 We have this contaminated bag. We have three Chihuahuas and one of them died one month ago. She started with vomiting and dehydration (she was drinking lots of water) and then we were told she may either have an obstruction or have been poisioned. Since our dogs are inside dogs and we are with them at all times outside we thought it was an obstruction. Finally the doctor at Elwood Animal Clinic in Glendora, California said he was almost positive it was some kind of poisoning. They were going to scope her but before that could happen she died July 21, at VCA in Fountain Valley, California.
We gave our dogs Waggin train and Bestro’s Jerky Chicken Strips. Our Sweet Rosie (our chihuahua that passed) loved them and and she would eat all the treats we put down for the other dogs too. Up until today we never had any idea what happened but now with Wal Mart pulling this quietly from their shelves. (I brought my treats at Wal Mart, Glendora, California) I truly believe that is why she died. Rosie wants all dog owners to be aware of this and a Total Recall of this chinese junk pet treats so other puppies don’t slowly suffer is she did. How many other puppies must die before a total recall is called? We are totally heartbroken and will never forget Our Sweet Gypsy Rose! Since Wal Mart had this problem before, why didn’t they pull all that Chinese junk off the first time? Our Rosie will still be alive! Is Wal Mart concerned about people and their Pets or Money? You figured it out.
Gene and Gerri Richards San Dimas, California
Rosie’s website:
http://www.dogster.com/dogs/614878

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 20:40:21 +0000

Oh, Walmart…. Are you there? We’re not very concerned about the melamine hype. We know that melamine DID NOT kill the pets. Why don’t you get to the bottom of this and test for heavy metals, drugs, chemicals, and viruses.

By: Don Earl

Don Earl — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 19:21:10 +0000

RE: “Melamine, a nitrogen-rich additive behind recent pet food scares, fakes a high protein count but can lead to kidney failure in high doses (over 1,000 parts per million of the chemical).”

Who writes this hogwash?

Pull up the “Animal Toxicity Studies” at the below link:

http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/cgi-.....a+Melamine

From the above:

“CHRONIC FEEDING TESTS HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT ON DOGS FOR 1 YR AT A LEVEL OF 30,000 PPM. THROUGHOUT THE STUDY, THE GENERAL HEALTH WAS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT FROM THAT OF THE CONTROLS. AT THESE LEVELS AT AUTOPSY, GROSS AND MICROSCOPIC EXAMINATION OF THE TISSUES REVEALED NO ABNORMALITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE FEEDING OF MELAMINE.”

It really would be nice if journalists would quit perpetuating the melamine hoax and spreading bogus information. If they aren’t going to get their facts straight, they should stick to writing articles about Elvis in the Weekly World News.

By: Denise

Denise — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 14:47:26 +0000

I have an unopened bag of Bestro’s I bought at K-Mart approx.2 months ago and did not open after hearing about it(Bestro’s) being tainted.

If itchmo wants it contact me via my unpublished email addy.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:40:27 +0000

Additional- scroll to 6.8-2

http://compepid.tuskegee.edu/s.....pter6.html

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 07:20:16 +0000

This page does not address toxin induced Fanconi-like illness. The chemistry and physiological symptoms are worth nothing, though.

http://www.basenjicompanions.o.....l2003.html

By: SabrinaD

SabrinaD — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 03:11:24 +0000

I had some and returned the bag because after feeding my 5 chihuahuas these, one or more of them threw up or had urgent potty needs (all are well house-trained and one or more of eliminated in the house which is highly unusual). Once I stopped giving the treats, the potty problem and vomiting MAGICALLY disappeared. HMMM. how does that happen?

By: menusux

menusux — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 02:18:14 +0000

It seems like Pingyang Pet Products/Shanghai Bestro is pulling out all the stops trying to tap dance around the fact that one of its major customers, WalMart, did indeed find traces of melamine in these products and has not gone on record to say the results of their tests were wrong:

http://www.rttnews.com/sp/brea.....mp;item=48

Wal-Mart Reveals Traces Of Melamine In Chicken Jerky Strips Manufactured By Two Chinese Firms [WMT]

“8/22/2007 12:51:38 AM Retail giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) in a statement on Tuesday revealed that Chicken Jerky Strips manufactured by two Chinese firms and sold in Wal-Mart stores shows trace levels of melamine, and encouraged its customers to return the product for a full refund. The company added that it will continue to work with the FDA and the manufacturer to assure that the highest safety standards are met.

“Wal-Mart said it received small number of customer complaints regarding the product, and on July 26, 2007 the company proactively removed pet food 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 its stores.

“The company said it has carried out seventeen different tests since then to find out the cause of complaints. The melamine traces were in low levels, and the laboratory has recommended additional testing.”

http://blogs.usatoday.com/onde.....ests-.html

Wal-Mart: Tests show dog treats tainted with melamine

“Tests show that two brands of dog treats made in China and sold at Wal-Mart contained melamine, according to a statement the company sent out late last night.

“”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,” the statement says. “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.”

“The manufacturer’s website, http://www.dogchews.com, disappeared overnight.

“Update at 8:55 a.m. ET: On Deadline has been trying to reach Shangwu Liu, an executive at Shanghai Bestro Enterprises, but the person who answers his telephone says he’s traveling in the USA. An e-mail requesting comment from the company prompted a telephone call from Thomas Lee at the company’s office in China.

“”We are very surprised to hear about the melamine issues,” Lee says. “The chicken jerky was made from chicken breast and there’s no wheat glutens, no proteins and no starch” in the product.

“In previous recalls, manufacturers have been accused of using melamine to artificially inflate the protein content in their products.

“Lee, who works in the sales department, says every shipment was tested before it was exported to the United States. He doesn’t know if they tested for melamine contamination, but says the company plans to conduct its own investigation into the source of any problems with the pet-food products.

“Lee says they received “very few complaints” before July. He didn’t provide any information about the number of complaints his company has received since its products were pulled from the shelves at Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retailer.

“Lee says Bestro has product liability insurance, but he wasn’t able to answer questions about whether they’ve compensated any customers for pets that became sick or died after eating the jerky treats.”

By: menusux

menusux — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 01:44:53 +0000

A little background on the Pingyang Pet Products/Shanghai Bestro spokesperson:

http://www.walkersands.com/Com.....attner.htm

“Craig Schattner has been a media relations specialist and assistant account executive for Walker Sands since November 2006.”

http://www.walkersands.com/default.htm

“At Walker Sands, recognized as one of the leading Chicago PR agencies and as one of the leading Chicago marketing firms, we help you create, protect, and enhance your reputation.”

Sort of a cross between the C-N tag team of Crisis Captains Stern & Bernstein and Duane-o’s Grabowski from Levick.

Why hire someone like this to spead the word about the product?

http://www.wattnet.com/newslet.....212006.htm

Petfood Industry Electronic Newsletter Feburary 2006:

“Total US rawhide dog chew sales in food, drug and mass merchandisers (excluding Wal-Mart) combined for the 52 weeks ending May 15, 2005.

Source: IRI

Vendor US$ sales
Ping Yang Pet Product Co. $8.9 million
% chg vs. 2004 Unit sales % chg vs. 2004
165.4% 1.8 million 134.4%

These are the most current figures I could easily find–you certainly can see Pingyang Pet Products/Shanghai Bestro has a lot riding on this because they export a lot to the US.

What’s ironic is that we are looking at 2005 sales figures here

http://www2.ziq.gov.cn/departs.....al/may.htm

Pingyang Pet Product Co
Zhejiang , CN LOS-DO 718-1610208-2/4/1
72BGY99 100% RAWHIDE NATURAL 5â€³ MUNCHY STICKS
20-MAY-2002 SALMONELLA

A May 2002 OASIS refusal for salmonella contamination here

http://www.fda.gov/ora/fiars/o.....a7203.html

CHINA (CN)

â€œPingyang Pet Product Co. (Factory) 5/6/05 Chicken Jerky Strips
Xiazhai Rd., Xiaojiang 70Y[][]99
Pingyang, Zhejaing ***71A[][]01
Zhejiang (Province), China ***71A[][]05
FEI# 3004331518 ***71E[][]02
***71E[][]99
AND ***71Y[][]99
72B[][]02
Headquarters for the above factory: 72B[][]99

â€œShanghai Bestro Enterprises Inc. 8/29/07 Chicken Jerky Strips
258 Gaozianghuan Road 70Y[][]99
Gaodong Industrial Zone, Pudong ***71A[][]01
Shanghai, China ***71A[][]05
FEI# 3005299066 ***71E[][]02
FEI# 3006238093 ***71E[][]99
***71Y[][]99
72B[][]02
72B[][]99

And a pretty permanent place on the 2007 FIARS FDA Import Alert Dentention without Inspection List for previous salmonella violations.

By: L.B.

L.B. — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 23:23:18 +0000

This situation with pet treats, pet foods, etc. just continues to be appalling, every time I think I can’t get more disgusted at the companies who manufacture the garbage, the brands who put their name on it, the stores that sell it, the gov’t who is supposed to be protective, more spin-spin-spin is all that seems to come out… as more pets get sick and die. Thank God for you guys who are able to seek & find the truth and share it.
If the company is so concerned about the pets and doing everything to ensure their safety, they would be testing the product, and testing it thoroughly, before it’s put on the shelves.

By: sylvia

sylvia — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:21:03 +0000

Anyone who buys and feeds this junk to a pet should be forced to chew on it themselves for long periods of time. Hello, the word boycott mean anything in the “good ol’ USA ” anymore?

By: menusux

menusux — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 22:12:23 +0000

FWIW, let’s dig back even further into the Pingyang Pet Product/Shanghai Bestro pile of dirty laundry. While the US-FDA keeps only one year’s worth of OASIS Refusals online for internet viewing, the People’s Republic of China has gone one better–blowing the whistle on Pingyang Pet Factory/Shangahi Bestro in the process.

http://www2.ziq.gov.cn/departs.....al/may.htm

Chinese government website–recognizable by the “gov.cn” in the URL. Title which shows up at upper left of your browser when clicking the page is this:

“Refusal Actions by FDA as Recorded in OASIS”; the year 2002 is able to be recognized in at the top of the page mixed with the Chinese characters. The number 5 for May is likewise able to be picked out by non-Chinese readers.

“Pingyang Pet Product Co
Zhejiang , CN LOS-DO 718-1610208-2/4/1
72BGY99 100% RAWHIDE NATURAL 5″ MUNCHY STICKS
20-MAY-2002 SALMONELLA”

BINGO! There’s Pingyang Pet Product/Shanghai Bestro with a shipment refused entry via Los Angeles May 20, 2002–the reason was the same as it is on the current FIARS FDA Import Alert Detention List: Salmonella.

OK–that’s more than 5 years ago–the act has never been cleaned up but the potentially contaminated products keep working their way to the US and into the stores.

The Chinese government has still kept the plug pulled on the Pingyang Pet Products/Shanghai Bestro website–so maybe they’re not satisifed that all’s well there either:

http://www.dogchews.com/

“Thank You For Visiting

“This site has been temporarily deactivated”

I’m hoping for permanently…….