Mars Petcare Pet Food Recall
Questions and Answers
Q: What is FDA doing today?
A: The FDA is alerting consumers that Mars Petcare US, Inc. has recalled two dry dog food products because of the potential contamination with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.
Q: What products are being recalled?
A: Krasdale Gravy dry dog food (5 pound bags) sold in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, and Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry dog food (50 pound bags) sold in Pennsylvania.
Q: What is Salmonella Schwarzengrund?
A: Salmonella is an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. The Salmonella germ is actually a group of related bacteria. Although there are over 2500 serovars of Salmonella, most human infections are caused by a limited number of serovars. Salmonella Schwarzengrund is just one member (serovar) of the Salmonella family.
Q: What are the symptoms in animals?
A: Animals infected with Salmonella may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever, and vomiting. Some pets will only have decreased appetite, fever or abdominal pain.
Q: Can an animal be infected but not show signs of infection?
A: Yes, animals can be carriers and infected without showing clinical signs.
Q: What should pet owners do if they suspect their animal has been infected?
A: The FDA recommends contacting your veterinarian if your pet has consumed the recalled product and has any of the symptoms described above.
Q: What are the symptoms in humans?
A: Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.
Q: What should pet owners do if they have purchased any of the recalled product?
A: Do not feed it to your pet. Pet owners should dispose of product in a safe manner (example, a securely covered trash receptacle). Mars Petcare US, Inc. has instructed pet owners to return the empty bag to the store where purchased for a full refund.
Q: Who should consumers contact if they have questions about the recalled product?
A: Consumers with questions about the recalled product should call Mars Petcare US, Inc. at 866-298-8332.
Q: Who should consumers contact if they wish to report a complaint or adverse reaction to the pet food product?
A: Consumers can contact FDA’s Consumer Complaint Coordinators. For more information, please see: http://www.fda.gov/opacom/backgrounders/complain.html.
Q: How did the pet food become contaminated?
A: The two lots of pet food are being recalled because tests completed by the FDA were positive for Salmonella Schwarzengrund. We do not know the source of the contamination. In the home, Salmonella can potentially be transferred to people handling pet food, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with the product or any surfaces exposed to the product. People may also become infected through routes other than pet food.
Q: What evidence does FDA have?
A: The FDA conducted tests on 10 samples, representing seven product brands from the company. Each sample (same size and brand of product) consisted of 15 subsamples, for a total of 150 subsamples. Tests of the 150 subsamples revealed two positive samples; one from the Krasdale Gravy dry food and another from Red Flannel Large Breed Adult Formula dry food.
Q: Has any of the recalled product resulted in human illness?
A: To date, there have been 64 cases of illness in humans related to Salmonella Schwarzengrund reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); however, none of the reported cases have been directly linked to the recalled product that was tested.
Q: Is the FDA working with any other government agencies?
A: The FDA is working with local and state officials and with officials at the CDC in the investigation.
Q: What can consumers and pet owners do to prevent Salmonella contamination in pet food and pet treats?
A: For more information on preventing Salmonella in pet food and pet treats, please see: http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/petfoodtips080307.html.
Q: What guidance does FDA provide to pet food manufacturers to prevent Salmonella Schwarzengrund contamination?
A: The recommendations for companies producing pet food are similar to companies producing human food. FDA states it expects pet food manufacturers to use sufficient manufacturing process controls and procedures to ensure finished products are free of all Salmonella species and other pathogenic microbes. This could include having a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point plan in place, sampling finished product prior to releasing products into commerce, sampling incoming ingredients for the presence of Salmonella, and ensuring that the manufacturing process contains a killing step sufficient to render the product free of pathogenic microbes. In addition, companies need to know their supplier and have assurance regarding the quality of the product and be able to trace the product in case of a recall.
The FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine issued a letter on May 16, 2007 to feed ingredient and feed manufacturers regarding the need to ensure the safety of its products. Please see: http://www.fda.gov/cvm/FOI/Feedmanufacturers.htm.
August 24, 2007
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