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Mars Petcare US Comments on Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of all products produced at itsEverson facility beginning February 18, 2008 until July 29, 2008. The pet food is being recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only affects 31 states inthe United States.

"Even though no direct link between products produced at theEverson manufacturing plant and human or pet illness has been made, we are taking this precautionary action to protect pets and their owners. We are continuing to work collaboratively with the FDA to determine the nature and source of Salmonella Schwarzengrund at theEverson facility, and are committed to making sure our consumers and customers have the information they need regarding our voluntary recall," said Catherine Woteki, Global Director of Scientific Affairs, Mars, Incorporated.

Mars Petcare US stopped production at theEverson facility on July 29, 2008 when the company was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.

In order to avoid any potential risk to pets and their owners, the company initiated an extensive internal investigation to determine the extent of the involvement of theEverson facility in cooperation with the FDA. Ultimately, none of the pet foods found in consumer homes have been determined to contain Salmonella, and there have been no reports of pet illnesses in those households. However, the strain of Salmonella Schwarzengrund involved in the illnesses has been detected in the company'sEverson facility.

Many of the brands involved in the recall are national brands produced at multiple facilities. For example, the company manufactures PEDIGREE(R) in numerous facilities throughout the country, and theEverson facility represents a very small portion of the manufacturing base -- 2.7 percent of total PEDIGREE(R) production.

Consumers can continue to have confidence in the quality and safety of the products produced at Mars Petcare US' other facilities. Only those products which were produced at theEverson facility are impacted.

Mars Petcare US will work with all of its 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 http://www.petcare.mars.com.

Catherine Woteki concluded, "Our top priority has always been and continues to be the health and welfare of pets and their owners. At Mars, we hold ourselves to the highest quality standards."

SOURCE Mars Petcare