Abstract
In the midst of U.S. citizens’ growing concern of food quality, few issues have shocked the American conscience as the 2007 pet food crisis. The crisis, caused by the contamination of mainly pet food with ingredients imported from China, resulted in the largest recall in U.S. history. Poisonous chemicals such as “melamine,” “aminopterin,” and “cyanuric acid” were identified in pet food products imported from China. The pet food contamination was eventually extended to the feed for fish, pigs, and chicken, animals destined to be part of human food supply. This research showed that most American families own cats and dogs as pets, and pets are mainly treated as children and companion. Such humanification of pets increases American pet owners concern for their pets’ health and wellness. U.S. Media’s coverage on Chinese government actions on this issue was analyzed.
DOI
10.7885/1946-651X.1056