Chagrin Falls, Ohio (September 16, 2008)—Mars Petcare US announced another recall of its pet food products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The pet food is being recalled because of contamination with a bacteria called Salmonella, which causes severs diarrhea and can be fatal. This recall only affects the United States. Salmonella bacteria can cause serious infections in dogs and cats, and, people are also at risk if they handle the contaminated food. People especially at risk are children, older individuals and those with compromised immune systems. Healthy people that may have touched the tainted food should monitor themselves for some or all of the following signs: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever. On rare occasions, Salmonella can result in more serious problems including artery infections, heart infections called endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary tract symptoms. Consumers showing these signs after having contact with the tainted pet food should contact their physician immediately.
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 signs and can potentially infect other animals and/or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian. 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. Many of the brands involved in the recall are national brands produced at multiple facilities. A chart for all products is listed on the mars web site.
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.com
looks like humans aren’t they only one who get affected by bacteria and germs in our food. Animals are also getting infected as well. Great article.
-Keith Webb, DVM
Hi Dr Webb,
I appreciate your comment!
Thank you
Dr Carol
BETTER FOODS TO FEED YOUR PETS AND WHY
If your dog has diarrhea mixing rice with their food and even some unflavored Metamucil helps to firm up stool. Pedigree is really not a very good food to begin with. Neither is IAMs Beneful Purina or any of the other foods you have usually heard of. The first several ingredients are usually corn (we know what happens when our body gets corn, we poop it out and don’t use it, same with dogs) meat by products (the take the meat off of whatever it is and you get the bones, feathers, coat, feet, beaks, etc) and white or brewers rice (no nutritional value, just a filler) because of this our dogs need to eat more to get the nutrients they need and poop a lot more too. Also…science diet and eukanuba are not very good foods either. They used to be but they were bought out by other companies who, to save money, changed the ingredients to fillers and by products. These foods cost about the same as the all naturals foods and you are getting pedigree quality food. You can check all the ingredients yourself. Stay away from the first 3 ingredients being corn, by products of any kind, and white or brewer’s rice. Go for foods with chicken, chicken meal, or any meats that don’t have by product after them, and BROWN rice. These are good foods. Try going to a specialty pet store and ask about a better food. Precise, Royal Canin, and Verus are all really good foods. When you look at the ingredients they will be along the lines of Chicken, brown rice (the only rice with nutritional value for dogs), and usually another protein source such as chicken meal (chicken meal is just dehydrated chicken, very good) your dogs will eat much less of the food so even though it cost a bit more you go through less food and it ends up saving you money. They also poop less, live longer, and are overall healthier. I have four shih tzus and I feed them Royal Canin dry food. 10lbs of that food last us over a month. 4 adults dogs eating only 10lbs of food between the 4 of them is pretty good! These foods are also all natural and organic so they are never involved in any recalls; you know your food is always safe. Go to your local pet store and ask about these brands (Precise, Royal Canin, Verus, Wellness, California Natural, Innova, Canidae, Merrik) many stores, such as Pets Plus, will even give you your money back for the dog food if your dog doesn’t like it and has programs such as buy 10 bags get your 11th free. It’s worth a try and trust me your dogs will love it.
Hi
We appreciate your comments. Prairie made by Natures Variety and Newmans Organics line of pet foods are also natural, have never been recalld and as a veterinarian I have used them for quite a while with successful results. Any premiuum pet food should always have a 100% money back guarantee.
No commercial pet food in a bag or a can can ever match the quality of a good home made diet, which if supplemented with a natural vitamin product like PAAWS or VitaLife provides pets with balanced excellant nutrition.
For a home made diet in general: 1/3 lean protein, sources include: chicken, turkey, lamb,duck, beef, salmon, eggs with 1/3 long acting carbohydrates including rice, pasta, potatoes or oatmeal and 1/3 veggies such as broccoli, green beans, peas, carrots, etc.
Mix them together and cook with a little extra virgin olive oil then spice it up so it smells and tastes good. The olive oil enhances both the smell and taste as well as providing an excellant source of essential omega 3,6 fatty acids. Many pets like barbecue sauce, pasta sauce and tamari for flavor.
I have several great recipes for pets and am available toll free at 1-866-372-2765.
Thank you
Dr Carol
I am concerned about the Pedigree dog food recall doese anyone on here Know if it also included the 15# bags?
I bought a bag and poured it into my dog food container and now I have no Information On the dog food but was informed that all other sizes were recalled but I have not herd anything on the 15# bags I am very scared to feed My baby poodle This food.
i would appreciate any information.
Thanks,
florence
Hi Florence
I would discard it or get a refund and would not feed it to your dog. Prairie by Natures Variety and Newmans organics are available at chagrinfallspetclinic.com. They are both natural and neither have ever been recalled. I am glad to talk to you and am available toll free at 1-866-372-2765
Thank you
Dr Carol