Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination

Recall -- Firm Press Release
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Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Contact:Debra Fair(973) 691-3536
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- Fanklin, 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 serotypeSchwarzengrund. 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 0917 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 BitesBest Before 02/2009808G1PAE01 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.
Recalled Pet Food Note: If you see a product you purchased listed below, please review the code date 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
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
Pedigree Large Breed Adult Nutrition 40#
23100 29154

Special Kitty Original 25#
81131 68869
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 4.4#
23100 05104

Wegman's Bruiser Complete Nutrition Dog Food 4.4#
77890 33654
Pedigree Small Crunchy Bites Adult Nutrition 8.8#
23100 05103

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

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

#
Mars Petcare Release (August 8, 2008)
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