http://www.kansascity.com/657/story/1146954.html

Kansas City.com April 18, 2009

EPA executes warrant at dog treat plant

"The Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies executed a federal search warrant Thursday at one of the nation's largest suppliers of natural dog treats.

"EPA spokesman Rich Hood said the agency is investigating environmental and other alleged federal crimes at Wichita-based TreatCo, 2300 N. Broadway.

"Thursday's operation involved about a dozen people from the EPA's criminal investigative division and EPA technical experts along with agents from the state Health Department and Wichita police.

"Officials with the city of Wichita who were involved with the search referred calls to the EPA.

"Attempts to reach Hood for further comment after the search were unsuccessful.

"TreatCo's receptionist told the Associated Press she was too busy and could not refer a call to anyone else for comment.

"A woman who answered The Eagle's phone call later Thursday said: "It's just a witch hunt. That's all I've got to say."

"According to the EPA's Web site, TreatCo has been in significant noncompliance with the handling of hazardous waste since Dec. 7, 2006.

"Significant noncompliance is EPA's most serious level of violation. The company has not been fined by the EPA.

"The company's Web site says TreatCo processes more than 2 million pounds of product monthly. It buys beef byproducts from Kansas and Texas slaughterhouses to make dog treats.

"Attempts to reach Ken Thomas, who is vice president and plant manager of TreatCo, were unsuccessful."

---

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1148652.html

Kansas City.com April 18, 2009

EPA mostly mum on TreatCo case

"Officials with the Environmental Protection Agency on Friday revealed little about their search and collection of evidence at TreatCo, one of the nation's largest suppliers of natural dog treats.

"Thursday's operation at the TreatCo plant, 2300 N. Broadway, involved the EPA's criminal investigative division and EPA technical experts, along with agents from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Wichita police and numerous city officials and employees.

""It's too early on to determine whether we can confirm whether there were actually violations," said Michael Burnett, special agent in charge for the EPA's criminal investigation division.

""We had a lot of people there. We were doing all of our evidence gathering."

""EPA spokesman Rich Hood said, "This investigation has nothing to do with the product that is produced in the plant."

"He would not provide further details.

"TreatCo officials declined to comment. Employees of businesses near the plant said it appeared that employees who showed up to work there Friday morning were sent home."

So we need to know which PFC's have TreatCo as their co-packer.

Here's info from the TreatCo website:

http://www.treatco.com/

TreatCo Premium Biscuits

http://www.treatco.com/main.htm

"TreatCo. uses only USDA approved materials as the baseline for our product selection. To make our product even better, all operations, including preparation and cooking are done inside an air-conditioned facility. This allows us to maintain better control over infestation and bacteria growth.

"NOTICE: TreatCo. only purchases beef from Kansas and Texas packing plants, which have had a "no-downer" slaughter policy in place since 2000. Please know that you are buying the safest and highest quality products for your customer's pet."

http://www.treatco.com/catalog.pdf

Their full line catalog.

http://www.treatco.com/indexb.htm

Beef treats

http://www.treatco.com/indexp.htm

Pork treats

http://www.treatco.com/indexl.htm

Lamb treats

http://www.treatco.com/indexr.htm

Poppers, Moovers n' Beggars, Lamb Choppies, Beggars n' Chewsers, Chicken Filet, Biscotti with Chondroitin and Glucosamine, Soft and Chewies, Puppy Snaps, Beef Knackers, Fun Bully Six Treats, Natural Bones and Cow Hooves willed with Beef, Cheese, Peanut Butter or Pizza Mix, Premium Biscuits--Savory Steak, Peanut Butter, Lamb & Rice, Turkey & Potato.

http://www.treatco.com/index4.htm

The largest USDA - A.P.H.I.S. natural treat manufacturing plant in the United States - 750,000-sq. ft. with freezers and refrigeration.

Indisputably offers the best overall price, quality and service of any natural treat company in the United States.

TreatCo processes over 2 million pounds of product per month, and is still growing.

Products used only from USDA approved packing plants.

Experts at custom packaging, private label or co-packing.

Just-in-time programs for large use customers.

So on paper or online, this all looks so good--what's happening there with the hazardous waste which EPA says is of long-standing?

If you check out the website and download the pdf catalog, you might be able to see something similar that is co-packed by them.  Guess we need to ask a lot of questions once again about the treats! 

Private label/C0-packer-------wonder how many others they manufacture for...kind of like the "Menu Foods" of treats maybe?  But even though it says the product is not affected I too think how the plant is run in total is a reflection of the company so that statement does nothing to make me feel more at ease...Interesting to see if we hear more on this..

This certainly appears really, really ugly. The EPA wouldn't be issuing warrants in conjunction
with State authorities if the manufacturer hadn't refused to cooperate. Great work, menusux
and Offy, and definitely bears watching.

In regards to allegation by Pita_Purr_Parter about Back in 1999-2000, Sergeant's had a treat recall for Salmonella in which TreatCo was alleged to of be the manufacture.
 
TreatCo's product was sold in bulk for repackaging through a third party.  Then the third party mixed rather known as co-mingled TreatCo’s product with theirs & other's.  Once the product leaves TreatCo; we have no quality control over how the product is kept till package or after the product is packaged & kept.  There is NO proof and only allegations’ that it was TreatCo’s product.
 
During this Salmonella scared & recall by Sergeants’, TreatCo Facility was inspected by the FDA!  FDA did not find Salmonella in our facility nor in our products!  FDA concluded that the allegations were FALSE concerning TreatCo!
 
TreatCo has never had to do a RECALL & we pray that we never will!    

We are very selective with whom, where & how; we purchase our raw ingredients for our products’ that we produce!  We do extensive research to make sure we can produce a quality product, first & foremost down to the purchase of raw materials from suppliers….  

As shown is the recent Peanut Butter scare……  TreatCo choose to use extruded peanuts from Texas in our products.  For the simple reason is that extruded are sterilized at 320 F and 10,000 lbs of pressure thus reducing the chances of contamination.

TreatCo is always looking for ways of improving our role in the community and our World.  And one thing is finding ways to go GREEN!  TreatCo has gone GREEN with our boxes that we package our products in for shipping and in other materials we use in our facility.

We take the safety issues very seriously and strongly believe in
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Manufacturers of pet products who feel they have been treated unfairly by the FDA are certainly welcome to post here
their views. Consumers of FDA regulated foods sometimes have the same feeling regarding treatment by the FDA.
But I join menusux in requesting that if you make blanket statements that TreatCo was not the source of the Salmonella
contamination or was inspected for Salmonella contamination by the FDA during the relevant time period that you also
include documentation that would back up such a statement. It would be greatly appreciated and lend credibility to your statements
and point of view.

Here's local news with a rundown of what went on there:

http://www.kwch.com/global/story.asp?s=10197371

KWCH-TV

April 16, 2009

Original Coverage

"The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating a Wichita plant that makes dog treats.  Federal agents served a search warrant Thursday morning at TreatCo.  According to the plant's website, it uses by-products from slaughter houses to make dog treats.  It processes over 2 million pounds of products per month.  EPA officials say its investigation does not concern the dog treats themselves - only possible environmental violations by the company.

http://www.epa-echo.gov/cgi-bin/get1cReport.cgi?tool=echo&IDNumber=110017481553

"Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) Report on TreatCo at link.
KDHE and the City of Wichita are helping with the investigation.  On Thursday, investigators appeared to take samples and inspect the property.   EPA officials would not say what they were looking for. 

"The agency's criminal division is in charge of the investigation.  This unit of the EPA often deals with the most serious environmental violations as well as companies which intentionally, willfully or knowingly break the law.

"The plant is operated by Ken Thomas, who recently ran for Wichita City Council.  He was defeated in the primary. 

"According to The Associated Press, EPA spokesman Rich Hood said Thursday's operation involved about a dozen people from the EPA's criminal investigative division and EPA technical experts along with agents from the state Health Department and Wichita police.

"We do know that no arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing."

---

Update 4/17/09

"Eyewitness News has learned this isn't the first time TreatCo has been in trouble with the EPA.  Compliance records show the company didn't meet standards in 2006 and 2008.  Specifically, the EPA alleged TreatCo violated the Clean Air Act and mismanaged hazardous waste.  The company uses slaughter house meat products to make dog treats but EPA officials say animal by-products are not considered hazardous waste.  That classification includes chemicals that could do serious harm to humans and the environment. 

"The north branch of the Chisholm Creek runs near the plant.  A former Wichita official tells us the city had problems with TreatCo because it wouldn't allow workers on its property to inspect the creek.  At this time, the EPA won't say whether the creek has anything to do with the investigation. 

"TreatCo is not the only company located inside the 750,000 square foot building.  It also houses a bio-diesel plant, a worm farm and a Spanish language newspaper. 

"Neighbors says there's a lot of truck traffic in and out of the plant every day.  They wonder if it's related to what the EPA is investigating."

---

Update 4/23/09

"New information about what may have led to a federal investigation at a Wichita dog treat plant.  Federal agents served a search warrant at TreatCo one week ago.  The Environmental Protection Agency is investigating whether the plant violated environmental laws.

"Eyewitness News obtained compliance and licensing records from the City of Wichita and its dealings with TreatCo.  According to the reports, the city has issued TreatCo 30 separate violations dating back to 2001.  The majority of the violations are for breaking the Clean Water Act. 

"Besides making dog snacks, TreatCo had a city permit to be a centralized waste treatment facility for other companies.  A pipeline connects the plant to the city's sewer system.  But over the years, the city discovered TreatCo was processing wastewater for additional companies and putting it into the sewer.   

"In 2007, testing found abnormal "floating solids" and a "bright yellow substance" at a Wichita sewage treatment plant.  Officials traced it back to TreatCo.

"City documents also show TreatCo owner Margie Thomas and plant manager Ken Thomas refused to allow city inspectors into the facility at least twice. 

"In 2007, after years of violations and reports, TreatCo and the city reached a consent agreement.  TreatCo signed it yet still disputed the allegations.  The agreement states the company decided to enter into the agreement to save the time and cost of litigating the matter in court.  The agreement says TreatCo will pay nearly $13,000 in fines and will stop processing any outside wastewater.  In other words, the only substance it could send to the city's sewer plant is what is left from making dog treats.

"On the day the EPA warrant was served, Eyewitness News noticed a truck from a Clay Center, Kansas, company pulling into TreatCo.  When we contacted that company, the owner said federal investigators told him not to comment.  The EPA says this remains an open investigation.  Details of the investigation have been filed in federal court but remain under seal at this time."