On Friday a recall was issued by TDBBS LLC on 3551 bags of green tripe dog treats.
The recall was issued because of the possible presence of foreign metal objects in the treats. It is one of an increased number of such recalls in recent years.
Barkworthies and Best Bully Sticks
The recalled treats were sold under the brand names Barkworthies and Best Bully Sticks.
It is unclear how the foreign metal objects may have got into the dog treats, although no incidents have been reported as yet and this was a voluntary recall by TDBBS as a precaution.
What to do with your Dog Treats
If you have any of the Barkworthy or Best Bully green tripe dog treats, stop using them immediately.
Throw them away and for any questions contact TDBBS by phone 877-483-5853 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday Eastern time or by emailing [email protected].
Other Pet Food Recalls
This news comes a month after Mars Petcare issued a recall for Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor Dry Dog Food.
Their recall was for the same reason – suspected loose metal pieces in the dry dog food.
How Does Metal Get into Dog Food?
One explanation is that it can come from cargo containers that ingredients get shipped in, if they were used for something else before.
Another explanation is that the production process itself may involve metail equipment, for example chopping ingredients with a metal blade or not cleaning the production area well enough.
Possible Symptoms of Metal Consumption
If your dog has had some of the affected treats, you should monitor them for symptoms.
Symptoms of metal consumption can include nausea, vomiting, refusal to eat, lethargy or a change in toileting habits. If any of these occur, consult a vet immediately. For some instances, though, all that will be needed is a high fiber diet to coat the object as it passes through the dog’s system. Other instances require more serious treatment.
Pet Food Quality Standards
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitors the production processes of pet food as it does for human food.
The FDA requires that all pet food should be safe to eat and produced under safe conditions, with no harmful substances and be truthfully labelled. All ingredients must have an appropriate function in the pet food.
Barkworthy Naturally Sourced Products
The Barkworthy dog food website advertises their products as naturally sourced.
They also say that they include no preservatives or chemicals. Best Bully Sticks are advertised on the website as hygienic and durable.
What is Green Tripe?
Green tripe is the lining from the stomachs of vaarious animals including cattle, sheep and buffalo.
The green colour comes from the grass the animal has eaten. The raw form of this food is very good for dogs. It includes probiotics and enzymes for digestion as well as fatty acids that are good for immunity.
Find out More
Food recalls, pet or human, are always advertised on the FDA’s website.
Any food recalls will always be publicly available on the FDA’s website for three years before they are archived. It is also possible to search the archive for older food recalls.
