Purina Responds to “Online Rumors” – Truth about Pet Food

On January 5, 2024, Purina Pet Foods issued the following statement (bold added):

“Please beware of online rumors claiming there are issues with Purina products – these false statements may be creating unnecessary stress for pet parents. There are no health or safety issues with any of our products, and they can continue to be fed with confidence.”

Purina also states (bold added): “If you read something online that concerns you, or you have any questions about your pet food, please feel free to reach out to our team. We also recommend researching the source of these posts. Some are well-intentioned pet parents who are genuinely concerned and trying to be helpful, while others may be trying to create chaos and distrust of certain brands as an opportunity to sell their own products.”

Personal opinion: I am aware of many individuals that are working long hours behind the scenes – NOT ONE OF THEM is trying to ‘create chaos’ or using this concerning situation ‘as an opportunity to sell their own products.’ It is concerning that Purina made this statement – chose those words – about the veterinarians, advocates, and pet owners that are ONLY trying to help their fellow pet owners.

How has Purina handled “online rumors” of the past?

Starting in 2007, there were ‘rumors’ of sick and dead pets linked to Purina’s Waggin Train chicken jerky treats. At the time, the FDA stated:

“Since 2007, FDA has received reports of illnesses in pets associated with the consumption of jerky pet treats. As of December 31, 2015, FDA has received approximately 5,200 complaints of illnesses associated with consumption of chicken, duck, or sweet potato jerky treats, many of which involve products imported from China, which produces much of the jerky pet treats on the market. The reports involve more than 6,200 dogs, 26 cats, three people, and include more than 1,140 canine deaths.”

(Purina Waggin Train jerky treats were one of the products associated with pet illnesses and deaths.)

In 2012, Purina published a website – “Chicken Jerky Dog Treats: The Facts” (www.chickenjerkyfacts.com) providing pet owners with “Myth” and (their) “Fact” information about chicken jerky treats. Purina’s website told pet owners it was a “Myth” that “thousands of dogs have gotten sick or died from eating jerky treats.”

The Purina website also told pet owners it was a “Myth” that the “FDA advises pet owners not to feed chicken jerky treats.”

Actually, prior to Purina’s ChickenJerkyFacts.com website – the FDA had issued two warnings about the treats. In 2007 the FDA posted “FDA Cautions Consumers about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs” stating “The Food and Drug Administration is cautioning consumers of a potential association between development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats.”

The second warning came from FDA in 2008 – “Preliminary Animal Health Notification – Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs”. This warning stated “The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats.”

Finally, in January 2013 many brands of jerky treats imported from China were removed from store shelves. Testing by NY Department of Agriculture found illegal antibiotics in Purina’s Waggin Train and numerous other brands. Other jerky treats at the time – such as Milo’s Kitchen, also implicated in pet illness and deaths – issued a recall.

Purina did not.  Instead, Purina issued a “voluntary withdrawal” telling pet owners the problem was “due to regulatory inconsistencies” and the Waggin Train jerky treats “are safe to feed as directed.”

The year following the Purina Waggin Train jerky treat withdrawal – in 2014, Purina initiated a lawsuit against competitor Blue Buffalo and published the website www.PetFoodHonesty.com.

Purina stated on this website: “At Purina, we believe that honesty is the most important ingredient in the relationship between pet owners and their pet food company. That is why we have undertaken our lawsuit, and it is why we established a website, www.petfoodhonesty.com, where pet owners can learn the truth. (May 14, 2014)” The “honesty” Purina was referencing with this website was with competitor Blue Buffalo.

However just a year earlier, Purina was less than honest with FDA and pet owners regarding many reports of sick and dying pets linked to its Beneful dog food.

During FDA investigation of three Purina Beneful manufacturing plants, testing revealed six samples tested above “allowable level for cyanuric acid and ammelide (melamine)” and “six samples collected contained ethoxyquin, however, the additive was not indicated on the product labeling.” During the same inspections, and Purina refused to provide FDA what “routine contamination” testing the company performed on pet foods, refused “to provide the actual content or weights of individual ingredients that went into the implicated lots”. FDA inspections at the time also found one plant – in Edmond, OK – “does not have a written protocol for handling complaints”.

When lawsuits were filed against Purina regarding sick and dead pets believed to be linked to their Beneful pet food, the company provided CBS News this statement: “We would like to reassure you that there are no quality issues with Beneful. Like other pet foods, Beneful is occasionally the subject of social media driven misinformation. Beneful is a high quality nutritious food, enjoyed by millions of happy, healthy dogs each year. You can continue to feed Beneful with complete confidence.”

In 2015 Purina termed the reports of sick pets linked to their pet food as “social media driven misinformation”.

In 2024, Purina termed the reports of sick and dead pets linked to their pet food as “false statements” “trying to create chaos and distrust”.

My how things have changed…or have they?

If you have a sick pet you believe is linked to their pet food, please report that issue to FDA and/or your state feed official. More information can be found HERE.

We unfortunately cannot tell pet owners which brands of pet foods are involved in the current situation, we can share that the volunteer driven Facebook group Saving Pets One Pet @ A Time is doing their best at documenting the many consumer complaints. Reports of sick or dead pets are linked to dry and wet pet foods, and involve both cats and dogs.

We have asked FDA (twice) to provide pet owners with an update to this current situation surrounding multiple Purina pet foods. Thus far the agency has ignored our requests. We have also filed a Freedom of Information Act request for all pet food adverse event reports received by FDA dating back to 11/1/23.

Pet owners and veterinarians are encouraged to email FDA asking them to keep us informed. AskCVM@fda.hhs.gov. We absolutely deserve for FDA to update the public.