You’re gonna wanna watch this one. This is not an FDA — Food and Drug Administration — matter. This is an EPA — Environmental Protection Agency — matter. That ought to set off some alarms.
Txxx. [I use xxx's because, as I've written in an earlier post, I'd like to feel free to write according to my consience without hearing from someone's corporate attorney]. You can find their name in the KansasCity.com article below.
According to the article, Txxx is one of the “nation’s largest suppliers of natural dog treats”. Well, that’s what they say on their website. They tout that their treats are “natural”, as in, “without chemicals and preservatives”…. In the same breath they say they “efficiently use natural byproducts from USDA slaughter houses so there is no waste.” That’s probably “okay” since they’re talking about bones and other parts of the animal’s body that are technically considered “by-products” of the slaughtering process. They say they accept meat only from Kansas and Texas packing plants that have had “no-downer” policies since 2000, thus “assuring” that your treats are “the safest and highest quality”.
According to KansasCity.com:
The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies executed a federal search warrant Thursday at one of the nation’s largest suppliers of natural dog treats.
EPA spokesman Rich Hood said the agency is investigating environmental and other alleged federal crimes at Wichita-based TreatCo, 2300 N. Broadway.
”Alleged federal crimes”. Folks, this is an APHIS-certified facility, according to the manufacturer’s website. APHIS, as you know from reading my blog, is the highest in the land, certified to ship to exacting European standards (Europe has had mad cow incidents so their importation standards are quite strict).
I honestly never expected to see something like this from an APHIS-certified facility.
More from KansasCity.com
According to the EPA’s Web site, TreatCo has been in significant noncompliance with the handling of hazardous waste since Dec. 7, 2006.
Significant noncompliance is EPA’s most serious level of violation. The company has not been fined by the EPA.
The company’s Web site says TreatCo processes more than 2 million pounds of product monthly. It buys beef byproducts from Kansas and Texas slaughterhouses to make dog treats.
At this point in time, there is no FDA recall. The EPA says their complaint is only about “environmental concerns”, not about the dog treats, themselves.
According to KWCH, a Wichitia television company:
This isn’t the first time TreatCo has been in trouble with the EPA. Compliance records show the company didn’t meet standards in 2006 and 2008. Specifically, the EPA alleged TreatCo violated the Clean Air Act and mismanaged hazardous waste. The company uses slaughter house meat products to make dog treats but EPA officials say animal by-products are not considered hazardous waste. That classification includes chemicals that could do serious harm to humans and the environment.
The north branch of the Chisholm Creek runs near the plant. A former Wichita official tells us the city had problems with TreatCo because it wouldn’t allow workers on its property to inspect the creek. At this time, the EPA won’t say whether the creek has anything to do with the investigation.
TreatCo is not the only company located inside the 750,000 square foot building. It also houses a bio-diesel plant, a worm farm and a Spanish language newspaper.
As of April 17, no arrests had been made.
Holistic Pet Food Blog will keep you posted if this environmental infraction “spills” over into your dog treats.
Filed under: Holistic Pet Food | Tagged: dog treats, Dogs, Epa, Recalls
Better off taking your pet to a vet who is into alternative medicine and learn what foods to give to dogs/cats than to take a chance in buying those bags of dog/cat food in the store.