I only use the Merrick brand, they have a proven track record, I don't really think they smell that bad either. Lots of dog products are being made in China, and I don't believe they have a very good track record for safely. It takes an awful lot of dogs to become sick over something before the public will hear about it, the bigger companies sometimes get more attention on recalls, but that because they sell so many more than the smaller companies. Some Bully sticks are made with preservatives, and some are made with an expiration date, the Merrick brand isn't made with preservatives and because of a drying process they don't need an expiration date.
Any chew toy should be supervised, so you could use the chew toy, and see if there was any type of problem with it, any vomiting or diarrhea, throw the stick away. The better sticks are really hard and meant to be chewed not eaten. A 6-inch stick usually lasts a week. Lots of different brands are strong smelling and the dogs don't seem to mind this part.
