Re: Correction of California Department of Public Health and Media Coverage of August 8 Limited Recall of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites

August 13, 2008

The recent statement issued by the California Department of Public Health concerning a voluntary recall of limited bags of 52-pound PEDIGREE(R) Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites is factually incorrect.  The CDPH statement, also picked up by numerous Southern California news organizations, incorrectly implies that these bags have been recalled from Costco stores statewide.

Mars Petcare US did voluntarily recall a limited number of 52-pound PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites bags from limited Costco stores in Northern California and Nevada only.  Costco has notified all of its customers in Northern California and Nevada about this issue directly. Additionally, one hundred of the 20-pound bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada Albertsons locations were also recalled.

Recalled Pet Food –  Costco Northern California and Nevada

Product: PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites
Size: 52-pound bags
UPC Code: 23100 05110
Lot Code: 831BFCAT02 and 830DFCAT02
Best Buy Date: 07/2009
Best Buy Date Location: Back of bag
Affected Stores: Northern California and Nevada

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

Corrected information on this voluntary recall can be found online at www.petcare.mars.com.

Consumers can also call :  1-877-568-4463

Additional media inquiries can be directed to Debra Fair at (973) 691- 3536
 

Contact:
Debra Fair
Public Relations Manager -- Central Marketing
MARS PETCARE US
(973) 691-3536

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRANKLIN, Tenn. – August 08, 2008 – Mars Petcare US today announced a voluntary recall of limited bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella. There have been no complaints or reports of injury resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product.

The 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.

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 potentially infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

Recalled Pet Food

Product: PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites
Size: 20-pound bags
UPC Code: 23100 14719
Lot Code: 830BFCAT02
Best Buy Date: 07/2009
Best Buy Date Location: Back of bag
Affected Stores: Albertsons locations in Southern California and Las Vegas.

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.

FRANKLIN, Tenn. – August 08, 2008 – Today Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of 100 of the 20-pound bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada to a limited number of Albertsons locations due to potential Salmonella contamination.

PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites is a multi-component dry pet food. Last week, a component that should have been on hold due to positive testing results was inadvertently shipped to our Tracy, California facility and used in the production of 100 bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites with best buy dates of 07/2009.

Our primary concern is the safety and welfare of our pet owners and their pets. Although the finished product tested negative and we have received no reports of illness of pets or their owners, out of an abundance of caution we are issuing a voluntary recall of the limited number of bags of Pedigree® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites containing the component in question.

We have already notified Albertsons and are working with them to retrieve any bags still in their stores or distribution centers. If any bags have been sold to consumers, we are asking them to return the product to Albertsons for a full refund. Mars Petcare US is cooperating fully with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on this matter.

Proper handling of pet food can help prevent illnesses in humans and pets. 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 on the FDA’s web site at: www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html.

Contact:
Debra Fair
Public Relations Manager -- Central Marketing
MARS PETCARE US
(973) 691-3536

Please find below a list of all Southern California and Las Vegas Albertsons stores.