Southlooper
02-23-2006, 03:56 PM
This was in today's Chicago Tribune. There are some supporting articles. If you want to read more you can do so on chicagotribune.com:
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From the Baltimore Sun
Dog-treat maker to clarify directions
Critics say Greenies are unsafe for pets, even fatal
By Laura Smitherman
Sun reporter
Published February 23, 2006
The maker of Greenies, the nation's best-selling dog treat that has been blamed by consumers in several pet deaths, plans to clarify feeding instructions and increase the print size on packaging, which included a small-print warning that gulping any item can be harmful and even fatal.
S&M NuTec, the Kansas City. Mo.-based manufacturer of Greenies, announced the plans yesterday during a news conference that company officials called to allay mounting concerns. Media reports and Internet postings about the product have described dogs becoming sick and undergoing surgery to remove chunks of the treat from the esophagus and digestive tract.
A number of dogs have reportedly died after eating Greenies. A New York couple has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the company over the death of their miniature dachshund, Burt. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine is investigating nearly 30 complaints about the product.
"Greenies are safe if they are fed properly and chewed by the dog," said Joe Roetheli, founder and chief executive officer of S&M NuTec. "We really want people to read the directions and follow them."
About 730 million Greenies have been sold since the company began in 1998, generating $340 million in revenue last year. Despite reported problems with the product, Roetheli said that while sales are down slightly in certain areas, overall sales are up.
Roetheli said adverse incidents are rare, and when they do happen the company has offered to compensate pet owners for medical bills and other costs.
Payments have been made in fewer than 20 fatalities and in fewer than 100 cases, according to Chris Brandt, general counsel at S&M NuTec. The company has received one complaint about the version of Greenies for cats and is investigating that case, he said. "We have compensated some customers just because we value the customer's goodwill," he said.
Greenies, which get their green color from chlorophyll and are shaped like a toothbrush on one end and a bone on the other, are marketed as a way for pets to clean teeth and freshen breath. Roetheli said Greenies have saved dog's lives through better oral health, and added that periodontal disease, which can be prevented by teeth cleaning, can take years off a dog's life span.
The potential danger of Greenies has split the veterinarian community. Some vets say that they are reluctant to discourage pet owners from using a product that's so effective in cleaning teeth, and that other products, including bones and toys, could be harmful if large pieces are swallowed. Others vets, such as Dr. David Tayman at the Columbia Animal Hospital in Howard County, are pulling Greenies from their shelves.
Tayman said he became disillusioned with Greenies after removing an undigested piece from a Labrador retriever's small intestine in January. The dog, Zoe, survived, but Tayman no longer sells the product, which he says never was a cure-all for dental disease. Rather than change the packaging, he said, the manufacturer needs to alter the formulation of Greenies so that it crumbles more easily when chewed.
"If they did this with kids, they would be out of business," Tayman said. "Consumers need to be aware, just like they need to be aware of the dangers associated with a lot of other treats."
Greenies are completely edible and 85 percent digestible, a higher percentage than many premium dog foods, according to S&M NuTec.
The directions tell owners which size Greenie is right for their pets' weight and instruct them to watch pets to ensure they chew the treat adequately. In the new packaging, company officials plan to use larger print, and Roetheli said he would consider changing the wording to address any confusion over edibility versus digestibility.
The company has launched a new Web site, www.smarttreater.com. Visitors to the site can get a free sample of Greenies.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
From the Baltimore Sun
Dog-treat maker to clarify directions
Critics say Greenies are unsafe for pets, even fatal
By Laura Smitherman
Sun reporter
Published February 23, 2006
The maker of Greenies, the nation's best-selling dog treat that has been blamed by consumers in several pet deaths, plans to clarify feeding instructions and increase the print size on packaging, which included a small-print warning that gulping any item can be harmful and even fatal.
S&M NuTec, the Kansas City. Mo.-based manufacturer of Greenies, announced the plans yesterday during a news conference that company officials called to allay mounting concerns. Media reports and Internet postings about the product have described dogs becoming sick and undergoing surgery to remove chunks of the treat from the esophagus and digestive tract.
A number of dogs have reportedly died after eating Greenies. A New York couple has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the company over the death of their miniature dachshund, Burt. Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Administration's Center for Veterinary Medicine is investigating nearly 30 complaints about the product.
"Greenies are safe if they are fed properly and chewed by the dog," said Joe Roetheli, founder and chief executive officer of S&M NuTec. "We really want people to read the directions and follow them."
About 730 million Greenies have been sold since the company began in 1998, generating $340 million in revenue last year. Despite reported problems with the product, Roetheli said that while sales are down slightly in certain areas, overall sales are up.
Roetheli said adverse incidents are rare, and when they do happen the company has offered to compensate pet owners for medical bills and other costs.
Payments have been made in fewer than 20 fatalities and in fewer than 100 cases, according to Chris Brandt, general counsel at S&M NuTec. The company has received one complaint about the version of Greenies for cats and is investigating that case, he said. "We have compensated some customers just because we value the customer's goodwill," he said.
Greenies, which get their green color from chlorophyll and are shaped like a toothbrush on one end and a bone on the other, are marketed as a way for pets to clean teeth and freshen breath. Roetheli said Greenies have saved dog's lives through better oral health, and added that periodontal disease, which can be prevented by teeth cleaning, can take years off a dog's life span.
The potential danger of Greenies has split the veterinarian community. Some vets say that they are reluctant to discourage pet owners from using a product that's so effective in cleaning teeth, and that other products, including bones and toys, could be harmful if large pieces are swallowed. Others vets, such as Dr. David Tayman at the Columbia Animal Hospital in Howard County, are pulling Greenies from their shelves.
Tayman said he became disillusioned with Greenies after removing an undigested piece from a Labrador retriever's small intestine in January. The dog, Zoe, survived, but Tayman no longer sells the product, which he says never was a cure-all for dental disease. Rather than change the packaging, he said, the manufacturer needs to alter the formulation of Greenies so that it crumbles more easily when chewed.
"If they did this with kids, they would be out of business," Tayman said. "Consumers need to be aware, just like they need to be aware of the dangers associated with a lot of other treats."
Greenies are completely edible and 85 percent digestible, a higher percentage than many premium dog foods, according to S&M NuTec.
The directions tell owners which size Greenie is right for their pets' weight and instruct them to watch pets to ensure they chew the treat adequately. In the new packaging, company officials plan to use larger print, and Roetheli said he would consider changing the wording to address any confusion over edibility versus digestibility.
The company has launched a new Web site, www.smarttreater.com. Visitors to the site can get a free sample of Greenies.