February 18, 2008 until July 29, 2008 - Wow! They were really quick in notifying the public!! 
(see link for complete list of foods)Mars Petcare US Voluntary Limited Food Recall
http://www.petcare.mars.com/ Click on a logo below to see if your products are affected:
Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet
Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
Contact:
Debra Fair
Public Relations Manager — Central Marketing
MARS PETCARE US
(973) 691-3536
For Immediate Release
Mars Petcare US Announces Nationwide Voluntary Recall
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 Salmonellaserotype
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 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.
