As I was reading the news off the internet, I came across this story. In one of my earlier posts, you’ll see where I talk about the recalls of dog food (and toys) made in China. Well, here we go again (not that there have been any recalls). Canyon Creek Ranch and Waggin’ Train brands produced under the parent company Nestle Purina PetCare Co., and Milo’s Kitchen Home-Style Dog Treats produced under the parent company of Del Monte Corp., have been linked to 900 dogs deaths since 2007. Yet there hasn’t been a recall done regarding these products.
According to Waggin’ Trains website:
“Waggin' Train Chicken Jerky Tenders are a wholesome, healthy treat for your dog. They are made with premium chicken breast filets and have only two main ingredients: natural chicken filets, and glycerin (a natural preservative to retain moisture and texture). These high-protein, low-fat treats are slow-baked to seal in the natural flavors for a healthy and wholesome snack. Chicken jerky treats are popular because they are a high-quality, great-tasting treat that dogs love.”
And:
“These treats are made in China at facilities that are modeled after U.S. Department of Agriculture standards for quality and safety. In China, dark meat chicken is more popular with consumers than white meat chicken, and so the supply of quality, white meat chicken used in our products is more readily available for dog treats. The factories are under stringent safety and sanitary guidelines and monitored by a dedicated team of quality control inspectors, who are in the plants where the products are being produced. The benefit to our consumers is a premium dog treat at an affordable price.”
Petitions have been started by these heartbroken and outraged pet parents (Please sign below, started by Terry on Change.org). A Facebook page has been created Animal Parents Against Pet Treats and Food Made in China with more and more pet parents sharing their heartbreaking stories, but all of this still doesn’t bring back their lost family members and friends.
As a pet parent myself, I can only speak for me, and never pass judgment. When Made In China has had a proven track record of toxic products and our USDA has deemed “Pink Slime” safe to consume; I make it a point to check out the products I’m purchasing. We as consumers must ask the questions and not give the companies our money, if we don’t get the right answers. Make the time to make your treats for our four legged furry babies. IT does take time, but you have the control over the ingredients, and the treats become Made With Love instead of the scary Made In China. My heart goes out to all of the pet parents and families that have lost a loved one due to the negligence of corporations out to make money for them and their stock holders instead of making quality products for consumers.
A question I ask myself is: If this is a wholesome treat with simple ingredients, why does it need to be made in China?
RecipesUS
Showing posts with label Treats. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Treats. Show all posts
Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Sweet Potato Dog Chew
Sweet Potato Dog Chew
I found this recipe through Care2.com last year and it comes from dogtreatkitchen.com
Fortune and Choxie LOVE sweet potatoes, along with the other veggies that escape from the kitchen counter while cooking. This a recipe that you can make in batches.
Ingredients:
•1 Large Sweet Potato, washed & dried
Recommended Equipment:
•Food dehydrator
Instructions:
1.Preheat oven to 250° F
2.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3.Cut off one side of the sweet potato lengthwise, as close to the edge as possible. Cutting the side of the potato first allows you to then turn the potato onto this flat surface that you have just created. Having a stable area to rest the potato will make it easier to cut the potato into slices. Don't discard that first piece, it comes out just as yummy as the rest!
4.Cut the rest of the potato into 1/3" slices, no smaller than 1/4".
5.Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
6.Bake for 3 hours, turning half way through.
7.Cool completely on a wire rack.
Storing - Although these treats are dried, you will want to keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. You can freeze them for up to 4 months.
Tips & Techniques
•Choosing a Sweet Potato - You want to find a potato that is as uniform in shape as possible. This will aid in the drying process as the pieces will be similar in shape and will cook through at the same time. Also, try to find one that has fewer blemishes or bruises. While you're picking one to make a sweet potato dog chew, go ahead and pick some for the family, too!
•Cutting Even Pieces - One way to ensure your pieces are as even as possible, is to first rest your knife where you would like to cut. Then press down gently across the entire length of the knife. Make a slight cut, then press firmly on your knife from one end to the other, and cut all the way through.
•Degree of Chewiness - Baking for 3 hours results in a soft, but chewy dog treat. If your dog prefers more of a crunch, then bake for an additional 20-30 minutes. When you take the sweet potatoes out of the oven, they may at first appear to be too soft. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before you decide whether or not to bake them longer. This is because they will continue to dry or harden while cooling.
I found this recipe through Care2.com last year and it comes from dogtreatkitchen.com
Fortune and Choxie LOVE sweet potatoes, along with the other veggies that escape from the kitchen counter while cooking. This a recipe that you can make in batches.
Ingredients:
•1 Large Sweet Potato, washed & dried
Recommended Equipment:
•Food dehydrator
Instructions:
1.Preheat oven to 250° F
2.Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3.Cut off one side of the sweet potato lengthwise, as close to the edge as possible. Cutting the side of the potato first allows you to then turn the potato onto this flat surface that you have just created. Having a stable area to rest the potato will make it easier to cut the potato into slices. Don't discard that first piece, it comes out just as yummy as the rest!
4.Cut the rest of the potato into 1/3" slices, no smaller than 1/4".
5.Place them on the prepared baking sheet.
6.Bake for 3 hours, turning half way through.
7.Cool completely on a wire rack.
Storing - Although these treats are dried, you will want to keep them in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. You can freeze them for up to 4 months.
Tips & Techniques
•Choosing a Sweet Potato - You want to find a potato that is as uniform in shape as possible. This will aid in the drying process as the pieces will be similar in shape and will cook through at the same time. Also, try to find one that has fewer blemishes or bruises. While you're picking one to make a sweet potato dog chew, go ahead and pick some for the family, too!
•Cutting Even Pieces - One way to ensure your pieces are as even as possible, is to first rest your knife where you would like to cut. Then press down gently across the entire length of the knife. Make a slight cut, then press firmly on your knife from one end to the other, and cut all the way through.
•Degree of Chewiness - Baking for 3 hours results in a soft, but chewy dog treat. If your dog prefers more of a crunch, then bake for an additional 20-30 minutes. When you take the sweet potatoes out of the oven, they may at first appear to be too soft. Let them cool completely on a wire rack before you decide whether or not to bake them longer. This is because they will continue to dry or harden while cooling.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
For the Love of Fortune and Choxie
Most people ask me what I feed my dogs since I'm vegan. When I tell them that they are on a vegetarian diet-I'm usually told that I'm a horrible pet owner. They are dogs, they're supposed to eat meat! My response to this is, actually owner implies that they are disposable property, and I'm a responsible pet parent. It's my commitment to them, that they have a smaller carbon footprint and be healthier, here is why...
When I took them off of the crap food (just like mankind) their coats and skin got healthier, and I had less problems with the ear infections. According to Bruce, they don't look or act their age. Fortune is 6 and Choxie is 8, they both still are active (they keep up with us on our hikes). It's only now, in their "old age" that they've gotten that funky breath and need to have their teeth brushed. I feed them Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food (Vegan Recipe) and I make them homemade dog biscuits, again not wanting them to be eating fillers and junk (like beaks and feathers). Below are some recipes.
Veggie Cookies
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp dried basil (I’ve used fresh, too-it’s whatever I have on hand)
1 tsp dried cilantro
1 tsp dried oregano
¾ cup water (always end up needing more-see step 2)
2/3 cup chopped carrot (I use a cheese grater-instead of chopping)
¼ cup green beans, cut 1 inch, thawed if frozen (I pick up the frozen that are already cut)
2 Tbs tomato paste
2 Tbs canola oil
1.) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour, basil, cilantro and oregano. In a blender (it says a food processor-but the liquid comes out) combine water, carrot, green beans, tomato paste and oil. Puree until smooth and pour over dry ingredients.
2.) In the bowl and using hands, knead until the dough holds together (you’ll need to add more water-a little at a time). Transfer to lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. (I make mine slightly thicker.)
3.) With a fork, poke holes all over surface. (This keeps the cookies from getting “puffy”.) Using a pizza cutter or cookie cutter, cut dough into bite size cookies or squares. Place about ½ inch apart on baking sheets.
4.) Bake in oven for 20 minutes until firm (I have to do batches). Place on racks to cool (I use a large plate). Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes longer. (This makes them really crunchy-good for cleaning teeth.) Store in an airtight container, they’ll remain fresh for 1 month.
Follow the steps above for making Carrot Cinnamon Cookies
4 cups whole wheat flour
½ cup cornmeal
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped carrot (I use a cheese grater)
½ cup water
2 Tbs canola oil
2 Tbs liquid honey (I use agave nectar)
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
**In the wild, coyotes have been studied to be more omnivores then carnivores.... They have been seen to eat berries and roots, and in Chicago (yes, due to human sprawl-they are in the cities) they will catch rodents for their protein and will scavenge in the trash eating veggies. Wolves have been known to eat earthworms, berries and grasshoppers.**
When I took them off of the crap food (just like mankind) their coats and skin got healthier, and I had less problems with the ear infections. According to Bruce, they don't look or act their age. Fortune is 6 and Choxie is 8, they both still are active (they keep up with us on our hikes). It's only now, in their "old age" that they've gotten that funky breath and need to have their teeth brushed. I feed them Natural Balance Vegetarian Dog Food (Vegan Recipe) and I make them homemade dog biscuits, again not wanting them to be eating fillers and junk (like beaks and feathers). Below are some recipes.
Veggie Cookies
4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp dried basil (I’ve used fresh, too-it’s whatever I have on hand)
1 tsp dried cilantro
1 tsp dried oregano
¾ cup water (always end up needing more-see step 2)
2/3 cup chopped carrot (I use a cheese grater-instead of chopping)
¼ cup green beans, cut 1 inch, thawed if frozen (I pick up the frozen that are already cut)
2 Tbs tomato paste
2 Tbs canola oil
1.) Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine flour, basil, cilantro and oregano. In a blender (it says a food processor-but the liquid comes out) combine water, carrot, green beans, tomato paste and oil. Puree until smooth and pour over dry ingredients.
2.) In the bowl and using hands, knead until the dough holds together (you’ll need to add more water-a little at a time). Transfer to lightly floured surface. Using a rolling pin, roll out dough to about 1/8-inch thickness. (I make mine slightly thicker.)
3.) With a fork, poke holes all over surface. (This keeps the cookies from getting “puffy”.) Using a pizza cutter or cookie cutter, cut dough into bite size cookies or squares. Place about ½ inch apart on baking sheets.
4.) Bake in oven for 20 minutes until firm (I have to do batches). Place on racks to cool (I use a large plate). Reduce oven temperature to 300 degrees F and bake for 30 minutes longer. (This makes them really crunchy-good for cleaning teeth.) Store in an airtight container, they’ll remain fresh for 1 month.
Follow the steps above for making Carrot Cinnamon Cookies
4 cups whole wheat flour
½ cup cornmeal
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 cup chopped carrot (I use a cheese grater)
½ cup water
2 Tbs canola oil
2 Tbs liquid honey (I use agave nectar)
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
**In the wild, coyotes have been studied to be more omnivores then carnivores.... They have been seen to eat berries and roots, and in Chicago (yes, due to human sprawl-they are in the cities) they will catch rodents for their protein and will scavenge in the trash eating veggies. Wolves have been known to eat earthworms, berries and grasshoppers.**
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