Mars Petcare issues pet food recall

FRANKLIN, Tenn., Sept. 13 (UPI) -- Mars Petcare US, a pet food maker based in Franklin, Tenn., says it has recalled products that could be contaminated with salmonella bacteria.

The company said in a statement that it stopped production of Pedigree, Member's Mark, Ol' Roy and other pet food brands made at its Everson, Pa., facility July 29 when it was alerted of a possible link between dry pet food produced there and two isolated cases of people infected with Salmonella Schwarzengrund.

Mars officials said even though there is no direct link between the pet food and human or pet illness, they are taking "precautionary action to protect pets and their owners by announcing a voluntary recall of all products produced at the Everson facility beginning Feb. 18, 2008, until July 29, 2008, when we stopped production."

Health officials say 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.