New Concerns with Stella & Chewys

[LindaM]

So while picking up some FDR items in the local pet store I got to today, I saw something new and rather unexpected in the freezer section. Stella & Chewys "Wild Boar" Frozen Patties. This was definitely a new protein for them, so I took to their Facebook to see what was going on.

Apparently Wild Boar was released earlier this month, and so far Stella & Chewys have been unable/or even avoiding to answer people's concerns about the product due to everyone being wary of Trichinella Spiralis and Pseudorabies when it comes to wild boar. S&C has claimed that the wild boar is indeed wild/feral boar hunted in the wild in the US and then frozen by their supplier, delivered to them still frozen, and remains frozen in their facilities.

While I do generally support Stella & Chewys products since my ferrets enjoy their FDR, I've been seeing more and more concerning things about the company these days. Starting with the synthetic Vitamin K added to the feline products, which you can usually avoid by instead doing the higher percentage (preferably 95%, but never lower than 90%) meat varieties of the dog products and just supplementing more heart to make up for the really low taurine level.

But it's kinda shocking to see the company really beat around the bush when it comes to a matter that makes people worried about their products being safe for their pets. I have emailed S&C to ask how they are addressing these concerns and hope to hear back from them about the matter.

For those who feed Stella & Chewys and are interested in taking a look, you can view the comments and responses on Facebook here:
www.facebook.com/stellaandchewys/videos/10154148167370518/

[Sherry]

I know red dog/blue kat pet food here uses "wild boar", but it is boar that is raised. Same species, just different backgrounds. I am wondering if S & C are using the same type of thing, but let people for whatever reason think it is actually wild for what ever reason. Mainly because a company would not be able to get a steady enough supply of hunted. It would have to be raised.

[LindaM]

That's one thing I have been wondering, but they've decided to only make limited SKUs of this particular protein, and it sounds like it will only remain brought out as the 6lbs Raw Frozen dog bags, and Frozen Morsels dog bag. The part that's bugging me is that they're not showing any transparency when it comes to who supplies them or how they go about that process at all other than "wild/feral boar hunted wild in the US". At least with Orijen (Orijen's Wild Boar Treats) they tell you that the boar comes from free-range farms and give an example of where from. This can end up being damaging for S&C so I don't see why they want to lie about something that concerns people so much.

And I'm still waiting to hear back from S&C about how they plan to address those concerns or how they go about getting their "wild boar".

[Sherry]

Valid point. I have to wonder if there has been a change up in management somewhere.

[LindaM]

I received an e-mail back from S&C, it seems like they are not willing to discuss or even consider the dangers of this matter and that it's only worth a very likely copy-paste reply. This was their only response to the real concerns of Trichinella and Pseudorabies in the wild hunted, wild/feral boar (according to them) used in their product:

"Good afternoon,

Thank you for your feedback. We are confident in our food safety process, but do understand your concern. Our research and experts indicate that freezing the meat in tandem with our HPP (High Pressure Processing) is effective in ensuring the safety of our products.

Thank you,

Stella & Chewy’s"

[Sherry]

That is a copy/paste reply. And doesn't address the issue. I am going to try writing them as well.

[LindaM]

Exactly as I suspected. Perhaps if they get enough emails showing concern they might start being more transparent about the process or enforce some chances to make sure it's safe and set people's minds at ease.

Though I am worried, S&C has always come across a bit on the closed-mouthed side of things. For example, I've emailed plenty a company to check if their raw products might be balanced enough for ferrets and they've always happily given me percentages and info, but not S&C no, too concerned that someone might compete with them.

[Sherry]

Well, we'll see what happens. I listed it as an "ethical concern" about hunting for commercial purposes.

[Sherry]

Good afternoon Sherry,

Thank you for your email.  The Wild Boar in our products is indeed commercially  hunted boar.  Our wild boar supplier is a USDA inspected facility and we ensure a quality source.

Stella & Chewy’s is committed to using safe ingredients that meet our highest standards.  We are most focused on delivering safe, best-in-class nutrition that will allow all pets to thrive.  All of our ingredients come from farmers, ranchers, and suppliers we know and trust and all our meats come from USDA inspected facilities (or similar inspection agencies outside the United States) that do not allow floor waste, sick or euthanatized animals.  All of our animal proteins are grass fed, cage free, farm raised, or wild caught.  The fruits and vegetables we use in our raw food are all certified organic and provide strong vitamin and mineral nutrition.  You can continue to feel confident that Stella & Chewy’s is providing your pets with the high-end nutrition you’ve come to love and expect.

Thank you,

Stella & Chewy's

[raynebc]

This document gives some guidelines for how much pressure treatment or deep freezing are considered necessary to kill Trichinella larvae:
www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/2ca75475-3efd-4fa7-8f34-7393c245a1df/Trichinella-Compliance-Guide-03162016.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

It sounds like they know what they're doing. If the meat is inspected, pressure treated and freeze dried, I'd think it makes it hard for Trichinella to slip through alive.

[bitbyter]

I'd be more concerned with Pseudorabies. It is definitely present in wild/feral hogs in the U.S. Freezing does nothing to viruses. This is really odd as well as I thought it was illegal for hunters to sell what they hunt? I'd see if they are willing to define what "wild caught" means.

hmmm, just did some more research and apparently, in the U.S. it is legal to commercially sell wild hunted meat as long as it is inspected by a USDA facility. I'm not sure how easily Pseudorabies is detected after death.

[LindaM]

Those were all my concerns as well, if they truly are jumping all the hoops they are supposed to and get it all checked and the proper procedures followed to a T, that's great then. Like I said, I do like the company, and my babies definitely eat some of their products. BUT, what was really disconcerting is how the company played "beat around the bush" with concerned customers and kept telling them to ask support for more info and support just giving copy-paste responses or just reiterating info from their OTHER products.

[Sherry]

I think it helped when I explained we have a group of a few thousand wanting to know the answer  All in all it does sound like it must be safe.