Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA
Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella
Contamination
Contact:
Debra Fair
Public Relations Manager — Central Marketing
MARS PETCARE US
(973) 691-3536
For Immediate Release
Mars Petcare US Announces
Nationwide Voluntary Recall
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
Please find recalled pet food UPC information below.
The products listed below are made at our Everson facility on
behalf of a variety of retailers. All code dates, 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
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.
FOR A COMPLETE RECALL LIST VISIT http://www.petcare.mars.com/
Recalled Pet Food
Note: If you see a product you purchased listed below,
please review the code date information samples from
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