Pedigree Issues National Pet Food Recall for Possible Salmonella Contamination

Salmonella found in tested products of Pedigree dog food produced at the Everson, Pennsylvania plant has prompted a voluntary recall of Pedigree and related dog food brands manufactured by Mars Petcare US. The recall includes all products produced between February 18 and July 29 and covers 31 states.

Company spokespeople urge consumers to check any dog food produced under these brand names: Country Acres, Retriever, Doggy Bag, Members Mark, Natural, Ol' Roy, Special Kitty, Paws & Claws, Pedigree, Wegman's, Pet Pride, PMI Nutrition and Red Flannel. Customers are also urged to look for the number "17" as the first two digits on the second line of the UPC code of a purchased product. Affected bags or products may have "PAE" on the bottom line of the Pedigree brand.

Pedigree's recall is a Class 1 recall, which is considered the most serious. The particular strain of salmonella found, Schwarzengrund, can cause serious health problems and could prove deadly.

Debra Crew, Pedigree US General Manager, issued a public statement assuring customers that the company was doing everything possible to protect the public and their pets. "Thankfully, there haven't been any reports of pets being affected by our food in this recall; however, we feel we must take this action as a precautionary measure after we were alerted of a possible link between dry dog pet food produced at the Everson plant and two isolated cases of people infected by Salmonella Schwarzengrund."

On March 7, Hartz Mountain Corporation issued a voluntary recall of a specific lot of Hartz Vitamin Care for Cats because of possible salmonella contamination. Hartz had previously issued a voluntary recall in November 2007 for another specific lot that was possibly contaminated.

Menu Foods in Canada issued a voluntary pet food recall in March 2007 after complaints and testing in February provided information of animals falling ill and expiring after consuming food products manufactured by the company. Eventually, the Menu Foods and several other companies, including Purina and Del Monte, in North America, Europe, and South Africa would occur. Wheat gluten in the products caused renal failure in hundreds of animals. Investigators traced the gluten back to a single company in China but the company refused to acknowledge the findings of the investigation and were subsequently supported by the Chinese government.

This is the second recall of pet food by Mars Petcare US in two months. On August 8, the company issued a limited recall for Pedigree Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites for Albertsons stores in California and Nevada. Salmonella had been detected, prompting a voluntary recall.

Further questions concerning the recall or the affected products are to be directed toward the company website at Petcare.mars.com. Concerns will also be handled by phone at 1-877-568-4463.