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Mars recalls pet food because of potential link
with human illness 10-08-08
Franklin, Tennessee (September 12, 2008)—Today, Mars Petcare US announced a
voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility.
The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination
with Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only
affects the United States.
Salmonella can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, if
there is cross contamination caused by handling of the pet food, in people as
well, especially children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems.
Healthy people potentially infected with Salmonella should monitor
themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions,
Salmonella can result in more serious ailments, including arterial
infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary
tract symptoms. Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this
product should contact their healthcare providers.
Pets with Salmonella infections may be lethargic and have diarrhea
or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will have only decreased
appetite, fever and abdominal pain. Animals can be carriers with no visible
symptoms and can potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has
consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your
veterinarian.
The company stopped production at the Everson facility on July 29, 2008 when
it was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and
two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.
Even though no direct link between product produced at Everson and human or
pet illness has been made, Mars Petcare US is taking precautionary action to
protect pets and their owners by announcing a voluntary recall of all products
produced at the Everson facility beginning February 18, 2008 until July 29, 2008
when we stopped production.
The company is continuing to work collaboratively with the FDA to determine
the nature and source of Salmonella Schwarzengrund at the Everson
facility. Since it has not yet identified the source of the Salmonella
Schwarzengrund at the Everson facility, Mars Petcare US does not plan to resume
production out of a commitment to the safety of our pet owners and their pets,
customers, and associates.
The top priority of Mars Petcare US has always been and continues to be the
health and welfare of pets and their owners. Consumers can continue to have
confidence in the quality and safety of the products produced at other Mars
Petcare US facilities. Only those products which were produced at the Everson
facility are impacted by the voluntary recall.
Many of the brands involved in the recall are national brands produced at
multiple facilities. A chart for all products is below. For example, PEDIGREE®
is manufactured in numerous facilities throughout the country, and Everson
represents a very small portion of the manufacturing base - 2.7 percent of total
PEDIGREE® production.
Mars Petcare US will work with retail customers to ensure that the recalled
products are not on store shelves. These products should not be sold or fed to
pets. In the event that consumers believe they have purchased products affected
by this voluntary recall, they should return the product to the store where they
purchased it for a full refund. Specific product details and other information
can be found at
www.petcare.mars.com
In an effort to prevent the transmission of Salmonella from pets to family
members and care givers, the FDA recommends that everyone follow appropriate pet
food handling guidelines when feeding their pets. A list of safe pet food
handling tips can be found at:
www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html
Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or
visit www.petcare.mars.com.
Production Lot Code - (found on back of bag just after "Best
Before" date).
The products listed in the chart below are made at our Everson facility on
behalf of a variety of retailers. All production lot codes, with the exception
of PEDIGREE®, are listed in a similar format as noted below:
Consumers should look for "17" as the first two digits of the second line.
Sample:
Best By Feb 18 09
17 1445 1
For PEDIGREE® the Everson code date format is as follows:
Consumers should look for "PAE" on the bottom line - the sixth, seventh and
eighth digits. Sample:
PEDIGREE ® Small Crunchy Bites
Best Before 02/2009
808G1PAE01 12:00
Recalled Pet Food
Please find recalled pet food UPC information below. UPC code numbers can be
found directly underneath the bar code on the package.
IMPORTANT: If you see a product you purchased listed below, please review the
Production Lot Code information samples from above to confirm that
your product is included in the recall.
|
Product Name / Bag Size |
UPC |
|
Product Name / Bag Size |
UPC |
|
Country Acres Cat Food 40# |
16603
02181 |
|
Retriever Bites & Bones Dog Food 8# |
79818
96757 |
|
Country Acres Ration Dog Food 40# |
16603
02333 |
|
Retriever Bites & Bones Dog Food 20# |
79818
96634 |
|
Country Acres 18% Dog Food 40# |
16603
02331 |
|
Retriever Bites & Bones Dog Food 50# |
49394
05666 |
|
Country Acres Hi Pro Dog Food 50# |
16603
02021 |
|
Retriever Gravy Blend Dog Food 50# |
49394
05665 |
|
Doggy
Bag Dog Food 40# |
73893
40000 |
|
Retriever Gravy Blend Dog Food 8# |
79818
96756 |
|
Members Mark Complete Nutrition Premium Cat Food 20# |
81131
89881 |
|
Retriever Hi Protein Dog Food 8# |
79818
96755 |
|
Members Mark Complete Nutrition Premium Dog Food 50# |
05388
67055 |
|
Retriever Hi Protein Dog Food 25# |
49394
00002 |
|
Members Mark Crunchy Bites & Savory Bones Adult Dog Food
50# |
05388
67309 |
|
Retriever Hi Protein Dog Food 50# |
49394
00003 |
|
Members Mark High Performance Premium Dog Food 50# |
81131
75479 |
|
Retriever Mini Chunk Dog Food 8# |
79818
96754 |
|
Natural Cat Food (Sam's Club) 15# |
81131
89883 |
|
Retriever Mini Chunk Dog Food 25# |
49394
00006 |
|
Natural Dog Food (Sam's Club) 25# |
81131
89884 |
|
Retriever Mini Chunk Dog Food 50# |
49395
00005 |
|
Ol'
Roy Complete Nutrition 4.4# |
81131
69377 |
|
Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food 6# |
49394
56221 |
|
Ol'
Roy Complete Nutrition 8# |
05388
67144 |
|
Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food 8# |
79818
96758 |
|
Ol'
Roy Complete Nutrition 22# |
05388
60342 |
|
Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food 20# |
49394
00004 |
|
Ol'
Roy Complete Nutrition 50# |
78742
01022 |
|
Retriever Puppy Blend Dog Food 40# |
79818
96706 |
|
Ol'
Roy High Performance Nutrition Dog Food 20# |
05388
60345 |
|
Special Kitty Gourmet 3.5# |
81131
17546 |
|
Ol'
Roy High Performance Nutrition Dog Food 50# |
78742
05815 |
|
Special Kitty Gourmet 4# |
78742
53199 |
|
Ol'
Roy Meaty Chunks 'n Gravy Dog Food 8# |
81131
69629 |
|
Special Kitty Gourmet 7# |
81131
17547 |
|
Ol'
Roy Meaty Chunks 'n Gravy Dog Food 22# |
81131
69630 |
|
Special Kitty Gourmet 8# |
78742
53200 |
|
Ol'
Roy Meaty Chunks 'n Gravy Dog Food 50# |
81131
69631 |
|
Special Kitty Gourmet 18# |
81131
15748 |
|
Ol'
Roy Puppy Complete 4# |
81131
79078 |
|
Special Kitty Gourmet 20# |
78742
53201 |
|
Ol'
Roy Puppy Complete 8# |
81131
79079 |
|
Special Kitty Gourmet 25# |
78742
54314 |
|
Ol'
Roy Puppy Complete 20# |
81131
79080 |
|
Special Kitty Kitten 3.5# |
81131
17553 |
|
Paws &
Claws Delicious Mix Cat Food 8# |
79818
96632 |
|
Special Kitty Kitten 4# |
78742
53198 |
|
Paws &
Claws Delicious Mix Cat Food 20# |
49394
05746 |
|
Special Kitty Kitten 7# |
81131
17554 |
|
Paws &
Claws Delicious Mix Cat Food 40# |
79818
96676 |
|
Special Kitty Kitten 8# |
81131
24739 |
|
Paws &
Claws Premium Choice Cat Food 8# |
79818
96633 |
|
Special Kitty Original 3.5# |
81131
17557 |
|
Paws &
Claws Premium Choice Cat Food 20# |
49394
00008 |
|
Special Kitty Original 4# |
78742
04930 |
|
Paws &
Claws Premium Choice Cat Food 40# |
49394
05747 |
|
Special Kitty Original 7# |
81131
17562 |
|
Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition 20# |
23100
29158 |
|
Special Kitty Original 8# |
78742
05744 |
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Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition 30.1# |
23100
31484 |
|
Special Kitty Original 18# |
81131
17559 |
|
Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition 36.4# |
23100
31479 |
|
Special Kitty Original 20# |
78742
05794 |
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Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition 40# |
23100
29154 |
|
Special Kitty Original 25# |
81131
68869 |
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Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 4.4# |
23100
05104 |
|
Wegman's Bruiser Complete Nutrition Dog Food 4.4# |
77890
33654 |
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Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 8.8# |
23100
05103 |
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Wegman's Bruiser Complete Nutrition Dog Food 20# |
77890
32988 |
|
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 20# |
23100
14719 |
|
Wegman's Bruiser Complete Nutrition Dog Food 37.5# |
77890
32994 |
|
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 32# |
23100
31483 |
|
Wegman's Bruiser Puppy Dog Food 4.4# |
77890
33621 |
|
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 40# |
23100
31478 |
|
Wegman's Bruiser Puppy Dog Food 17.6# |
77890
32991 |
|
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 44# |
23100
05100 |
|
Wegman's Bruiser Small Crunchy Bites Dog Food 4.4# |
77890
33618 |
|
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 52# |
23100
05110 |
|
Wegman's Bruiser Small Crunchy Bites Dog Food 20# |
77890
32982 |
|
Pet
Pride Indoor Cat 3.5# |
11110
74584 |
|
Wegman's Buju & Ziggie Complete Cat Food 3.5# |
77890
10005 |
|
Pet
Pride Indoor Cat 18# |
11110
74585 |
|
Wegman's Buju & Ziggie Complete Cat Food 18# |
77890
10004 |
|
Pet
Pride Weight Management Dog Food 17.6# |
11110
74578 |
|
Wegman's Buju & Ziggie Indoor Cat Food 3.5# |
77890
12038 |
|
PMI
Nutrition Bites & Bones Dog Food 50# |
42869
00174 |
|
Wegman's Buju & Ziggie Indoor Cat Food 18# |
77890
12039 |
|
PMI
Nutrition Canine Advantage 50# |
42869
00172 |
|
Wegman's Buju & Ziggie Kitten 3.5# |
77890
12036 |
|
PMI
Nutrition Feline Medley 20# |
42869
00171 |
|
Wegman's Buju & Ziggie Original Medley Cat Food 3.5# |
77890
10006 |
|
PMI
Nutrition Gravy Crunches Dog Food 40# |
42869
00033 |
|
Wegman's Buju & Ziggie Original Medley Cat Food 18# |
77890
10003 |
|
Red
Flannel Active Formula Dog Food 40#
|
42869
00063 |
Also manufacture Nutro Foods |
|
Red
Flannel Adult Formula Dog Food 20# |
42869
00055 |
|
Red
Flannel Adult Formula Dog Food 40#
|
42869
00054 |
|
Red
Flannel Canine Select Dog Food 20# |
42869
00068 |
|
Red
Flannel Canine Select Dog Food 40# |
42869
00067 |
|
Red
Flannel Cat 10# |
42869
00059 |
|
Red
Flannel Cat 20# |
42869
00058 |
|
Red
Flannel Hi Pro Formula Dog Food 50#
|
42869
00065 |
|
Red
Flannel Prime Dog Food 25# |
42869
00052 |
|
Red
Flannel Prime Dog Food 50# |
42869
00053 |
|
Red
Flannel Puppy 40# |
42869
00056 |
Comment:
This current recall and the recall last year is a recurrent reason to not
feed cheap cereals to your pets. The only two brands I would feed my pets is
Wellness and Blue Buffalo / Blue Spa. Some customers have claimed that Blue
Buffalo is on the recalled list. This is true however it is due to a small
amount of rice protein in some foods. When the recall came out all foods with
grains were put on the list. There was only contaminants in wheat and Blue
Buffalo brands do not contain wheat except in treats.
Homemade food or raw food is still the healthiest diet, however if you must
feed commercial pet foods our
Ingredient List will show you how to measure up your current brand.
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