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 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:
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/...ips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or
visit www.petcare.mars.com.

------------

Infection with the Salmonella bacteria produces an illness called
salmonellosis. According to the CDC, most infected people develop diarrhea,
fever, and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours. The illness typically
lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without treatment. But,
for some, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to be hospitalized.
In these patients, the infection can spread from the intestines to the blood
stream, and then to other parts of the body, leading to death unless
antibiotics are administered promptly. The elderly, infants, and those with
impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.

Because dog food has such a long shelf life, there might be some of this dog
food still on shelves or in people's homes. As a precaution, take the
following steps to avoid possible salmonella contamination:

a.. Wash your hands right after you handle any dry dog food, any other pet
food, pet treats, even supplements or vitamins
b.. Keep infants and other young children away from pet food. Kids tend to
want to see what their dogs are eating and grab at the pet food and play
with it or even put it in their mouth.

"Sharon Too" wrote in message
irkandfredoniatelephone...
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 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:
http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/...ips080307.html

Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463
or visit www.petcare.mars.com.

------------

Infection with the Salmonella bacteria produces an illness called
salmonellosis. According to the CDC, most infected people develop
diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 12 to 72 hours. The illness
typically lasts four to seven days, and most people recover without
treatment. But, for some, the diarrhea may be so severe that they need to
be hospitalized. In these patients, the infection can spread from the
intestines to the blood stream, and then to other parts of the body,
leading to death unless antibiotics are administered promptly. The
elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely
to have a severe illness.

Because dog food has such a long shelf life, there might be some of this
dog food still on shelves or in people's homes. As a precaution, take the
following steps to avoid possible salmonella contamination:

a.. Wash your hands right after you handle any dry dog food, any other
pet food, pet treats, even supplements or vitamins
b.. Keep infants and other young children away from pet food. Kids tend
to want to see what their dogs are eating and grab at the pet food and
play with it or even put it in their mouth.

Thank you. I just shot my two dogs, and a three month old infant to spare
them the agony. Please keep us posted.

Steve

Sharon Too wrote:
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.

Thanks for posting this information, Sharon.

FurPaw

--
The plural of anecdote is not proof.

To reply, unleash the dog.

Thanks for posting this information, Sharon.

FurPaw

You're welcome. Looking at the brands affected, I think that the only ones
I'm familiar with in our area is the 'Ol Roy, Special Kitty and Pedigree.

It's interesting. At the AVMA conference in July, one of the seminars put on
by CDC reps discussed up and coming risks to veterinary health professionals
and their patients. One is salmonella and how it's just not tested for, yet
is thought to be a much greater risk than thought, especially since it
affects humans as well as pets.

The 'voluntary recall' is probably a CYA move and the potential risk is
probably very low, but as someone who has a loved one with Cystic Fibrosis
awaiting transplant and another with terminal cancer, eliminating that risk
is very, very important.