Information and Resources

Font Size
A
A
A

Salmonella Risk Prompts Pet Food Recall

Possible Contamination of Mars Petcare Products Could Pose Risk to People and Pets
By Caroline Wilbert
WebMD Health News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 15, 2008 -- Mars Petcare is recalling pet food products manufactured at its Everson, Pa., facility because of a potential salmonella contamination. In addition to being dangerous for pets, the pet food could sicken people who handle the food.

Children, the elderly, and people with weakened immune systems are particularly vulnerable. If you think you may have been exposed, look for symptoms including 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. The FDA urges people with these symptoms who have come into contact with the pet products to contact a health care provider.

Some animals may have similar symptoms, but others may have minimal or no symptoms. Whether or not they have signs, they could infect other animals and humans.

Many pet food brands are produced at the plant, including several varieties of Pedigree and a number of flavors of Special Kitty Gourmet. A complete list of brands is posted on the FDA web site.

Mars Petcare stopped production at the Everson facility July 29 after learning of a possible link between dry pet food produced at the plant and two isolated cases of people infected with salmonella. The company is now implementing a voluntary recall of all products produced at the facility between Feb. 18 and July 29; only the U.S. is affected.

webMD Video

Show or hide information about video: Boosting Your Breasts Without Implants   Boosting Your Breasts Without Implants

48x48_boosting_your_breasts_without_implants.jpg

A breakthrough procedure gives women who want bigger breasts, but don’t like the idea of implant surgery, a new option.

Watch Video: Boosting Your Breasts Without Implants (opens in a new window)

Show or hide information about video: Dirty Truth About Hand Washing   Dirty Truth About Hand Washing

Show or hide information about video: Too Busy To Exercise?   Too Busy To Exercise?

Show or hide information about video: Boost Your Immune System   Boost Your Immune System

Show or hide information about video: What's Your Sleep Personality?   What's Your Sleep Personality?

Advertise on Fox News Channel, FOXNews.com and FOX News Radio Jobs at FOX News Channel. Internships at FOX News Channel (now accepting Fall interns).
Terms of use. Privacy Statement. For FOXNews.com comments write to foxnewsonline@foxnews.com; For FOX News Channel comments write to comments@foxnews.com
© Associated Press. All rights reserved.
SMARTMONEY ® © 2006 SmartMoney. SmartMoney is a joint publishing venture of Dow Jones & Company, Inc. and Hearst SM Partnership. All Rights Reserved.
All quotes delayed by 20 minutes. Delayed quotes provided by ComStock.
Historical prices and fundamental data provided by Hemscott, Inc.
Mutual fund data provided by Lipper. Mutual Fund NAVs are as of previous day's close.
Earnings estimates provided by Zacks Investment Research.
Upgrades and downgrades provided by Briefing.com.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. © 2006 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. All market data delayed 20 minutes.