In 2007, the FDA received a flood of reports that would eventually number in the thousands. Dogs across the United States were falling ill after eating jerky treats. Many died. The treats had one thing in common: they were imported from China.
Over the following decade, the FDA investigated more than 5,000 complaints involving more than 1,000 dog deaths linked to Chinese-made chicken, duck, sweet potato, and jerky treats. Despite extensive investigation, the FDA was never able to definitively identify the specific contaminant. The treats continued to be sold. The reports continued to come in.
That history is why country of manufacture matters for dog treats, and why it should factor into every purchasing decision.
What the 2007 Recall Actually Revealed
The Chinese jerky treat crisis exposed a structural problem, not an isolated incident. The FDA does not have the authority or resources to inspect every facility producing food for import into the United States. Foreign manufacturers operate under different standards, different inspection regimes, and different regulatory frameworks than domestic producers.
The 2007 incident was the highest-profile example, but concerns about imported pet treats predated it and continued after it. In 2014, the FDA issued updated warnings noting the ongoing complaints despite extensive investigation. Treats associated with illness included jerky tenders, strips, and treats primarily from China.
This does not mean all imported treats are unsafe. But it does mean that the chain of oversight is meaningfully weaker for imported products than for those manufactured domestically under USDA inspection.
What "Made in the USA" Actually Means
The FTC requires that "Made in the USA" claims on non-food products mean that all or virtually all of the product was made in the United States. For food products regulated by the FDA and USDA, the standards overlap but the key distinction is where the product was manufactured and processed.
There are important nuances to understand:
- Manufactured in the USA using imported ingredients: A treat can be legitimately labeled "Made in the USA" if it is processed domestically, even if some ingredients come from elsewhere. This is common in pet food manufacturing. The processing facility and its inspection status are what matter most for safety.
- Manufactured in the USA using US-sourced ingredients: The highest standard. Every input comes from domestic sources. For meat treats, this means the animal was raised in the United States, processed in a USDA-inspected facility, and the finished product was manufactured domestically.
- Assembled in the USA: Means components from elsewhere were assembled in the US. This is the weakest version of a USA claim.
When buying treats, look beyond the flag on the front of the bag and read the manufacturing disclosure. It is typically found in small print near the ingredient panel and reads something like: "Manufactured in USA" or "Product of USA."
USDA Inspection and Human-Grade Manufacturing
Domestic pet food manufacturers operate under FDA oversight. Manufacturers that produce human-grade products operate under USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) oversight, which is more stringent. Facilities that produce treats certified as human grade must meet the same standards as facilities producing food for human consumption.
This matters because USDA-inspected human-grade facilities are subject to:
- On-site USDA inspectors during processing
- Documented HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) food safety plans
- Mandatory testing and traceability requirements
- Facility standards equivalent to grocery-grade food production
The combination of "human grade" and "made in USA" represents the highest achievable standard for pet treat manufacturing. Both claims together mean the treat was made from food-quality ingredients in a facility held to human food standards.
How to Verify Country of Manufacture
Here is a practical checklist for evaluating treats at the store or online:
- Read the small print: Every pet food product sold in the United States must disclose the country of manufacture. Look for it near the ingredient list or near the brand address. Phrases like "Distributed by [Company Name], [City, State]" without a manufacturing disclosure may indicate the product is imported.
- Check for a specific city: Legitimate domestic manufacturers typically disclose the city and state of manufacturing. Vague disclosures are worth questioning.
- Look up the brand: A quick search for the brand name plus "where is it made" often surfaces reliable information. Brands that manufacture in the USA typically feature this prominently in their marketing.
- Contact the company: Any responsible manufacturer should be able to tell you where their products are made and the inspection status of their facility.
Single Ingredient Treats and Country of Origin
For single ingredient meat treats, the country of origin of the meat itself is as important as the country of manufacture. USDA inspection applies to the processing facility, but the animal itself may have been raised in another country and imported for processing. Beef, chicken, and pork all have country-of-origin labeling requirements for whole cuts at retail, but processed products have more latitude.
The most traceable supply chain is: animal raised in USA, processed in USDA-inspected US facility, finished product manufactured in USA. Brands that can speak to all three points of this chain are operating at the highest level of transparency.
The Bottom Line
The 2007 treat crisis happened because supply chains were opaque and regulatory oversight was insufficient. It can happen again with any product where the manufacturing location is unknown or unverifiable. Buying treats manufactured in the United States by brands willing to disclose their sourcing is the most reliable way to reduce that risk.
Fed by Nature's treats are made in Springtown, Texas. The beef is ranch-raised in North Texas. The chicken and pork are sourced from US suppliers. Every bag is produced in small batches in a licensed human-food facility. We can tell you where every ingredient comes from because we built the supply chain that way on purpose.