Mars Special Kitty Recall

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http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/following-statement-released-mars-petcare/story.aspx?guid=%7B99005115-C6D0-40EB-BCD5-618BA2C7856E%7D&dist=hppr

The Following Statement Was Released by Mars Petcare US Regarding the Voluntary Recall of a Limited Number of Bags of Wal-Mart SPECIAL KITTY(R) Gourmet Blend Cat Food

Last update: 3:31 p.m. EDT Oct. 27, 2008

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Oct 27, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ --

Even though there is no link between the SPECIAL KITTY(R) Gourmet
Blend dry cat food manufactured at the Allentown, Pennsylvania factory
and any human or pet illness, we are taking precautionary action to
protect pets and their owners by announcing a voluntary recall of all
sizes of SPECIAL KITTY(R) Gourmet Blend produced at the facility on
August 11, 2008. This action is being taken as a result of potential
Salmonella contamination.

This voluntary recall affects only a limited number of bags of SPECIAL
KITTY(R) Gourmet Blend dry cat food sold at Wal-Mart locations in
Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina,
New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,
Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.

Mars Petcare has been working cooperatively with Wal-Mart to address
this issue, and the affected product of this lot has already been
removed from Wal-Mart's shelves. As a result, consumers can be assured
that all SPECIAL KITTY(R) Gourmet Blend products that remain on
Wal-Mart's shelves are safe and not subject to this recall.

Our top priority has always been and continues to be the health and
welfare of pets and their owners, and we are working vigorously to
identify the cause of the issue.
SOURCE Mars Petcare US

Copyright (C) 2008 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

Also see:

http://www.petcare.mars.com/

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Re: Mars Special Kitty Recall

http://in.sys-con.com/node/724936

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InSys-Con|PR Newswire October 27, 2008

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mars Petcare US today announced a voluntary recall of a limited number of bags of SPECIAL KITTY(R) Gourmet Blend dry cat food sold at Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled following a positive test result indicating a potential contamination with Salmonella.

This 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.


There have been no complaints or reports of illness resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product.


Pet owners who have questions about the recall should call 1-877-568-4463 or visit www.petcare.mars.com.


Recalled Pet Food

Product: SPECIAL KITTY(R) Gourmet Blend Dry Cat Food

Best If Used By Date: AUG 11 09

Best If Used By Date Location: Back of bag

Production Lot Code: 50 XXXX X (Found on back of bag just after "Best If Used By" date. Consumers should look for "50" as the first two digits of the second line.)


UPC Code: UPC code numbers can be found directly underneath the bar code on the package. Please find recalled pet food UPC information below.


3.5 lb. SPECIAL KITTY (R) Gourmet Blend 81131 17546
7 lb. SPECIAL KITTY (R) Gourmet Blend 81131 17547
18 lb. SPECIAL KITTY (R) Gourmet Blend 81131 17548


Affected Stores: Wal-Mart locations in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and West Virginia.
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Note that the notice mentions Mars' Allentown, PA plant as where the Special Kitty was made. In the recent past, Mars has recalled products for salmonella or possible salmonella from its Everson, PA (now closed or closing due to the inability to locate the source of the salmonella contamination there) plant, its Manassas, VA plant (Ol' Roy--June 2007), and its Tracy/Victorville (Pedigree) plants.