“Wait, aren’t these for humans?” That’s the concerning question Amanda Wright (@amandawrighttt), a Long Island, New York fitness enthusiast, asked while recording a video as she stood in T.J. Maxx’s pet aisle. Dangling from a hook on the shelf were a package of Chomps beef sticks.
Puzzled and concerned, she asks her followers if the food is manufactured for human consumption. Because, as she explains, she purchases them in bulk when she shops at Costco.
So are Chomps actually made for animals? A representative from the company weighed in in the comments section of Wright’s clip. “Hi there! Chomps meat sticks are not produced with animal consumption in mind,” the company clarified.
So what happened? Several folks who replied to her video chalked the Chomps packaging placement to a stocking error. “An employee simply put them in the wrong section,” one wrote.
Someone else echoed that this was probably the case and shared a similar anecdote of their own. “It’s like that time I went to Aldi and they have frozen garlic bread just in the bread section.”
Can Dogs Eat Chomps Beef Sticks?
The whimsical name of the brand may make them seem like a pet-friendly snack. And as it turns out, there are other folks online who’ve wondered whether or not their canine companions can chow down on Chomps. This person asked a veterinarian on a DialaVet post if it would be a bad idea to do so. And sharing the snack wasn’t recommended due to several factors. The first being the high salt content of the beef sticks, which are fine for humans. However, as the response indicates, “high salt content could lead to sodium ion poisoning” in dogs.
Furthermore, there are particular spice blends used in manufacturing beef snack sticks that can be toxic to dogs, like garlic and onion. Foods with high fat content can also give pups pancreatitis and different digestive issues. Also, biting down on overly chewy food can lead to dogs biting off overly large chunks. Consequently, choking or gastrointestinal blockages may occur.
Chewy also states that while it may be tempting to hand over your dogs a beef stick or a piece of jerky, it’s “best to skip it.” Like the Dialavet pet expert, the online pet product retailer says that “most beef jerky made for people is too salty.” Additionally, copious amounts of seasoning and a tough texture make the food hazardous for animals.
The Meat Isn’t The Problem
If you have a dog and want to get them their own beef jerky, make sure you look for ones specifically manufactured for canine consumption, like these Farmland Traditions chicken jerky treats for dogs, which also come in different varieties including beef and pork. So what makes beef sticks/jerkies developed for dogs that much different? First, the texture is intended for pups to chew so that they don’t get stuff in their throats, and it’s easier on their tummies.
Also, less is more. The number of ingredients on the label is kept to a minimum. These treats are largely just made of meat. According to the Farmland Traditions packaging, the only other thing added to the food is vegetable glycerin, which is generally suitable for dogs to eat. CBD Dog Health writes that this component has been ruled by the FDA as safe for human consumption. And the same applies to dogs, depending on how it is eaten.
This ingredient is often found inside of supplements and is used in food products for a slew of purposes. Vegetable glycerin can “mask strong herbal flavors” and aids in preservation, as it inhibits microbial growth. Simultaneously it assists in retaining moisture and preserving texture “in liquid formulations,” according to the pet supplement company. But CBD Dog Health warns that if animals consume vegetable glycerin in high amounts at once, it could result in “loose stool or gas.”
Are Chomps Good?
While some folks who replied to Wright’s video didn’t seem to think so, others disagreed. Food outlet Sporked published a ranking of various beef sticks on the market. According to them, Chomps are the “best of the best.” As the author puts it, “I’m actually getting beef fat vibes. This is so beefy that it actually makes me think of a specific cut of beef.”
@amandawrighttt
Other notable mentions were Country Archer, Tillamook, and Lorissa’s, but the latter’s high price tag was called into question. BroBible has reached out to Chomp’s, T.J. Maxx, and Wright via email for further comment.