Mars Petcare US VoluntarilyIssues Limited Recall of PEDIGREE(R) Complete Nutrition Small CrunchyBites at Albertsons in Southern California and Las Vegas <http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/\ 08-09-2008/0004864741&EDATE=>
STATEMENT FRANKLIN, Tenn., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of 100 of the 20-pound bags of PEDIGREE(R) 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(R) 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(R) 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(R) 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: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html <http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html> . SOURCE Mars Petcare US
