Dogswell Recalls Catswell Chicken Jerky Cat Treats for Propylene Glycol Contamination

Catswell Cat Treats Withdrawn from Market

Dogswell sent a letter today announced a recall of all of their Catswell cat treat products made with chicken due to the possibility of the presence of propylene glycol.

The “voluntary” recall was initiated after testing by the company “and the FDA” revealed the presence of propylene glycol in the VitaKitty Chicken Breast Treats with Flaxseed and Vitamins.

Although Dogswell, famous for their “Quality Assurance” program by publishing test results of their products online, only has said they found a “limited amount” of propylene glycol in the cat treats. Whatever that means.

In the letter, Dogswell tells it’s retailers, that until they “can confirm they are FDA compliant”, the company “is proactively and voluntarily withdrawing from the market the following Catswell products due to the fact that they also may contain trace amounts of of propylene glycol” .

The Catswell brands Dogswell is withdrawing from the market are:

Catswell VitaKitty Chicken Breast Treats with Flaxseed and Vitamins
Catswell Happy Hips Chicken Treats with Glucosamine and Chondroiton
Catswell Breathies Chicken Breats Treats with Mint and Parsley
Catswell Shape-Up Chicken Breast Treats with L-Carnitine.

Dogswell, China & Poisoned Pets

It is important to remember that all of Dogswell’s and Catswell’s treat products, that contain chicken, duck or sweet potato, are imported from China.

Before the press release of the recall announcement, the recall has not yet been made public but Susan Thixton of TruthAboutPetFoods was kind enough to send me a copy of the letter Dogswell sent to retailers.

Poisoned Pets has had an acrimonious relationship with Dogswell over an article I wrote where veterinarians on VIN discussed the possibility that other treats, aside from chicken jerky treats for dogs, could pose a risk in pets as well. For example, cat treats and sweet potato treats, among others types of treats were discussed.

FDA Tells a Different Story

Dogswell’s press release published on the FDA’s website later today tells a different story, recalling only one of Catswell VitaKitty treats and not the other brands mentioned in the letter Dogswell sent to their distributors and retailers.

They announced that Dogswell are recalling 1051 cartons packed as either 10 or 50 packages per case of Catswell Brand VitaKitty Chicken Breast with Flaxseed and Vitamins because it “has the potential” to contain propylene glycol.

“High levels of propylene glycol in the treats could result in serious injury to cats. The adverse health impacts could be reducing red blood cell survival time (anemia) and making the cells more susceptible to oxidative damage.”

According to the FDA the recall affects only VitaKitty Chicken Breast with Flaxseed and Vitamins lot codes affected are as follows: SEW12CH032701/03c and SEW12CH032702/03c with a best before date of 09/10/13 and 09/11/13, respectively (UPC code 8 84244 00057 2).

Yet in the letter Dogswell sent to retailers, that in addition to the VitaKitty chicken treats, “the company is proactively and voluntarily withdrawing from the market the following Catswell products due to the fact that they also may contain trace amounts of of propylene glycol”. Respectively Catswell Happy Hips, VitaKitty, Breathies and Shape-Up treats made with chicken along with with their corresponding UPC codes and item numbers.

Just How Bad is Proylene Glycol?

Most cat food producers stopped using propylene glycol in 1992 when data indicated a unique sensitivity of cats to propylene glycol. Specifically, studies found that propylene glycol when fed to cats can produce an abnormality known as “Heinz body” in the cats’ red blood cells and causes D-lactic acidosis.

In a final rule in 1996, FDA declared propylene glycol in or on cat food not generally recognized as safe. Propylene glycol is used as a moistening agent in many animal food applications, but not in cat food. Although propylene glycol is not used in cat food, the FDA still considers it “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) for use in human food and all animal foods other than for cats.

Propylene glycol is not recognized as an approved ingredient for cats by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Specifically, the FDA has ruled propylene glycol in cat food to be “in violation of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. 21CFR589.1001”.