oct 28
NEW YORK -- Another breakout of a Salmonella contamination prompted Mars Petcare US to recall a limited amount of its "Special Kitty Gourmet Blend" dry cat food yesterday.
The potentially tainted food was being sold at Wal-Mart stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia, according to a statement released Monday.
This is Mars Petcare's fifth recall since August 2007; the latest occurred in mid-September, when the strain of Salmonella was located within the company's Everson, Pa., facility. The site's production accounted for 2.7 percent of the total production of Pedigree, one of Mars' affected brands.
The Sept. 12 recall affected 31 states across the country.
It is unclear whether this most recent recall was voluntary, or how the company discovered the feed was potentially contaminated.
There have not been any complaints or reports of illness resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product, according to Mars' release.
Still, the company asked consumers to approach the situation cautiously and wisely in its statement.
"This product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund," it says.
The recall includes "Special Kitty Gourmet Blend Dry Cat Food," with a Best If Used By Date of Aug. 11, 2009, and bags with the Production Lot Code beginning with the number "50" in the first two digits of the second line.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that can lead to a
decreased appetite, nausea, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramping.
Rarer, more severe instances could also result in arthritis, eye irritation, urinary tract symptoms and arterial infections.
Some infected pets may not show symptoms, but could still be active carriers of the disease. If owners notice any of the above symptoms, they should contact their veterinarian.
NEW YORK -- Another breakout of a Salmonella contamination prompted Mars Petcare US to recall a limited amount of its "Special Kitty Gourmet Blend" dry cat food yesterday.
The potentially tainted food was being sold at Wal-Mart stores in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont and West Virginia, according to a statement released Monday.
This is Mars Petcare's fifth recall since August 2007; the latest occurred in mid-September, when the strain of Salmonella was located within the company's Everson, Pa., facility. The site's production accounted for 2.7 percent of the total production of Pedigree, one of Mars' affected brands.
The Sept. 12 recall affected 31 states across the country.
It is unclear whether this most recent recall was voluntary, or how the company discovered the feed was potentially contaminated.
There have not been any complaints or reports of illness resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product, according to Mars' release.
Still, the company asked consumers to approach the situation cautiously and wisely in its statement.
"This product should not be sold or fed to pets. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle) and return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund," it says.
The recall includes "Special Kitty Gourmet Blend Dry Cat Food," with a Best If Used By Date of Aug. 11, 2009, and bags with the Production Lot Code beginning with the number "50" in the first two digits of the second line.
Salmonella is a bacterial infection that can lead to a
decreased appetite, nausea, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, vomiting and abdominal cramping.
Rarer, more severe instances could also result in arthritis, eye irritation, urinary tract symptoms and arterial infections.
Some infected pets may not show symptoms, but could still be active carriers of the disease. If owners notice any of the above symptoms, they should contact their veterinarian.
How does this keep happening?
