Mars Petcare US Announces Nationwide Voluntary Recall
 -Mars PetCare Press Release
______________________________________________

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.


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

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