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How pet food manufacturers are hoping to erase the stigma attached to pet foods made in Asia
Made in China. Three words I don’t like to see associated with my pet’s food or treats. After the 2007 massive and deadly pet food recall, I know many pet parents feel the same.
You can imagine my surprise when I received the following invitation to an upcoming pet food conference in Shanghai:
Say it ain’t so. Looks like at least some pet food companies are up to their old tricks again. In an effort to divert attention from current concerns over Chinese-made petfoods and treats, this seminar is designed to help manufacturers reshape their image and make “Made in China” pet food awesome again. Or at least make you comfortable buying it.
This seminar at the upcoming Petfood Forum China is offering pet food companies advice on how to “overcome a perception in the American marketplace that Asian-made consumer goods are poorly made.” Wonder where we got that crazy idea? Oh yeah, that whole melamine-poisoning thing and now these jerky treats the pesky FDA is warning us about. All those toys containing lead. Poisoned infant milk replacer. Fortunately we have someone who is pledging to teach pet food companies how to “move away from the stigma.” Thank goodness.
To be clear, Asia is a big place. I’m no geographer, but I believe Asia is the largest of our planet’s
seven continents. On that king of all continents, China is by far the largest country, with some 1.3 billion Chinese living inside its borders. Also in Asia is Thailand, nestled in-between India and China. The reason I mention this is that Thailand has reportedly some of the best food production standards for pets and people found anywhere in the world. China, not so much. This is important because most people, including myself, think “China” whenever they hear “Asia.” I’ve got no beef with Thailand. I have serious questions for China.
What I am concerned about is how pet food marketers are deliberately, strategically and quietly setting out to sway our perceptions of pet food made in Asia. Maybe this seminar is limiting its definition of “Asia” to “Thailand.” If so, we’re all good.
Somehow I doubt it. Regardless, the Chinese could certainly learn a thing or two from the Thai when it comes to pet food manufacturing standards. I’m not sure if the conference organizers in Shanghai, China would agree but at least Petfood Forum China has an out card to play. Sort of. It depends of what the definition of the word “is” is. Or “Asia” in this case. I seem to remember there’s a lot of Asia on the map.
Speaking of maps, why are we making pet food in a foreign country when we have a perfectly good country of own? Can’t we at least keep pet food production on the North American continent?
What really peeved me is that the seminar is designed to teach companies “ways to prove regulations, quality and safety practices are being followed.” Prove that regulations are being followed in Asia? Are they? At least it appears not in that largest of Asian countries, China. NBC News reported on August 22, 2012 that Chinese officials “have refused to allow U.S. inspectors to collect samples for independent analysis…” Sounds like someone’s not playing by the rules. Is that “Asia” or “China?” China, oops, Asia really is quite lovely.
When it comes to pet foods, I’m not sure how lovely China currently is. I’m not so eager to feed my pets and patients Chinese foods yet. I’m not even keen on importing and relying on foreign foods in general. With historically high unemployment in our country, are there not American ingredient sources for pet foods? Those are jobs we’re exporting to Asia. Every can or bag represents another lost American employment opportunity. It’s hard for me to defend that. I may not understand why iPods are made in Asia, but I do know farming and food production. Last time I checked American farmers were arguably the best on the planet. They don’t call us the “food basket of the world” for nothing. Sure, there are loads I’d like to see changed about my country and our agricultural system. No matter how mad I get at my legislators sometimes, I relish the fact that our food safety inspectors can inspect unfettered and unannounced. I can’t say the same for many other countries.
What I really want to alert American pet parents to is the fact that pet food manufacturers are actively plotting to remodel the debate on Asian (read “Chinese”) food, ingredients, and processing. I believe they’re largely doing this because it’s cheaper. Despite a massive nationwide pet food recall, lack of transparency by Chinese officials, and ongoing concerns over Chinese-made treats, it looks as though at least some pet food manufacturers are ignoring these facts in favor of making more money. Maybe this seminar can help.
And they can. The fact that you’re reading this is helping focus attention on how Asian-made pet foods can be made correctly. Thailand is apparently already doing it. I can only hope the conference organizers will use their influence to pressure the Chinese, er, Asian pet food manufacturers to allow the FDA to inspect certain pet food facilities and adopt our food handling and processing guidelines. There’s hope that one day veterinarians and pet owners like me will brag about the safety and quality of Chinese, sorry, Asian pet foods in general. That would be a great day, indeed. I hereby declare to Petfood Forum China this challenge: help clean up the Chinese, dang it, Asian pet food industry.
Consider yourself warned, American pet owners. With the upcoming Presidential election, we’ll be voting for who we think can best guide us through the current foreign relations, social policies, and economic messes we find ourselves in. Choose carefully.
You also vote for American jobs each time you make a purchase. I, for one, am not interested in new marketing and advertising strategies to try and convince me that everything’s fine with pet foods coming out of Asia. There are plenty of problems with all pet foods, American or foreign made. This was just one marketing maneuver I wasn’t expecting. You’re now officially notified. Let’s do something about it. Cast your vote with your purchases, find out where your favorite products are made, and stay vigilant about food safety. Together we can make pet food awesome again.