Recalls, 2008

December 19, 2008
FDA Continues To Receive Complaints about Chicken Jerky Products for Dogs and Cautions Consumers
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) continues to caution consumers of a potential association between the development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats. FDA continues to receive complaints of dogs experiencing illness that their owners or veterinarians associate with consumption of chicken jerky products. The chicken jerky products are imported to the U.S. from China. FDA issued a cautionary warning to consumers in September 2007.

December 15, 2008
Solid Gold Voluntary Product Withdrawal - Turkey Canned Food
(dog food pop top cans)
Solid Gold has received several complaints regarding mold found in a batch of 13.2 oz canned Turkey, Ocean Fish, Carrot, & Sweet Potatoes Formula, with Pop-Tops. As a precautionary measure, they ask that you return any of this product with the 'Use By Date 01/02/2010'; you will find these numbers on the bottom of the cans.
November 26, 2008
Orijen Udate Australia
On November 20th, 2008 Champion Petfoods announced a VOLUNTARY RECALL of ORIJEN brand cat food sold in Australia.
The recall is restricted to AUSTRALIA ONLY and was issued in response to reports from the Australian veterinary community of 27
cats showing neurological symptoms after consuming ORIJEN.
While there is no definitive link between ORIJEN CAT food and illness in the Australian cats, we have recalled our product from
Australia as a precautionary measure.

November 26, 2008
Mars recall update:
"The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella. This voluntary recall affects product sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club, ShopRite Supermarkets, and 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."

October 27, 2008
"Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of a Limited Number of Bags of SPECIAL KITTY® Gourmet Sold at Wal-Mart locations in Fifteen States due to Potential Salmonella Contamination
The pet food is being voluntarily recalled following a positive test result indicating a potential contamination with Salmonella. "

October 20, 2008
The Hartz Mountain Corporation Voluntarily Recalls One Specific Lot of Nationwide Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips Because of Possible Health Risk
The Hartz Mountain Corporation, Secaucus, NJ is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Hartz Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips due to concerns that one or more bags within the lot are potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration in this voluntary recall.

September 12, 2008
Mars Petcare US Issues Voluntary Recall of Everson, PA Plant Dry Pet Food Product due to Potential Salmonella Contamination *
Today, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall of products manufactured at its Everson, Pennsylvania facility. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella serotype Schwarzengrund. This voluntary recall only affects the United States.
*PLEASE NOTE THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BRANDS LISTED ON THE PAGE ABOVE, NOT JUST "PEDIGREE"

August 11, 2008
PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites - localized recall by manufacturer. May contain Salmonella.

August 08, 2008 – FDA announcement: Mars Petcare US today announced a voluntary recall of limited bags of PEDIGREE® Complete Nutrition Small Crunchy Bites sold in Albertsons stores in Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. The pet food is being voluntarily recalled because of potential contamination with Salmonella. There have been no complaints or reports of injury resulting from consumption or handling of the recalled product.

June 25, 2008
List of recalls for Dog Food from Brand 'Champion Breed Peanut Butter Biscuits'

June 19, 2008
Today, at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), U.S. Marshals seized various animal food products stored under unsanitary conditions at the PETCO Animal Supplies Distribution Center located in Joliet, Ill., pursuant to a warrant issued by the United States District Court in Chicago.

April 24, 2008
FDA Orders Pet Food Maker to Obtain Emergency Operating Permit
A recent inspection revealed significant deviations from prescribed documentation of processes, equipment, and recordkeeping in the production of the company's thermally processed low acid canned food (LACF) products. These problems could result in under-processed pet foods, which can allow the survival and growth of Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum), a bacterium that causes botulism in some animals as well as in humans.

April 3, 2008
Prairie™ Lamb Meal and Oatmeal Medley for Cats
Information for our CustomersNature’s Variety has withdrawn distribution of Prairie Lamb Meal and Oatmeal Medley for Cats with the “best if used by” dates of 12/20/08 and 1/25/09. If you purchased a bag of Prairie Lamb Meal and Oatmeal Medley for Cats with those specific “best if used by” dates, please return it to the store for a replacement or refund. The “best if used by” dates are located on the back of the package.

March 14, 2008
Nature's Variety
Update on Instinct™ Chicken Meal Formula ProductionAs we communicated on 02-27-08, some of our customers who are feeding Instinct Chicken Meal Formula grain-free kibble for dogs may have noticed loose stools and occasional vomiting in their pet. Again, if your dog has experienced this and your bag of Instinct Chicken Meal Formula displays a “best if used by” date of 1/3/09 or 1/10/09, you may return it to your retail store for a replacement or refund. The “best if used by” dates are located on the back of the package.

March 13, 2008
SAFETY ALERT - PRESENCE OF SALMONELLA BACTERIA IN ROLL OVER PORK TENDERS PREMIUM DOG TREATOTTAWA, March 13, 2008 - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Rollover Premium Pet Food Ltd. are warning consumers not to purchase or use the Roll Over Pork Tenders Premium Dog Treat described below. This product may be contaminated with the bacteria responsible for salmonellosis in humans. The affected Roll Over Pork Tenders Premium Dog Treat was sold in 50 g packages bearing UPC 0 60766 88138 1. All lots up to and including 07 MAR 10 are affected by this alert.

March 7, 2008
Hartz Mountain update from 2007 recall in November. Added Lot No. SZ 22771 Not yet reported by FDA

February 6, 2008
FDA Investigation Leads to Several Indictments for Importing Contaminated Ingredients Used in Pet Food
Pet Food Recall (Melamine)/Tainted Animal Feed
"As a result of FDA and USDA's comprehensive investigation, on February 6, 2008, FDA announced that two Chinese nationals and the businesses they operate, along with a U.S. company and its president and chief executive officer, were indicted by a federal grand jury for their roles in a scheme to import products purported to be wheat gluten into the United States that were contaminated with melamine. "

January 22, 2008
We are assuming that the massive recall below follows from a listing made at the FDA on January 7, 2008 IA #99-29 which was slipped in to replace one published on April 23, 2007
The following is presented by the FDA as an "updated list". The unfortunate part here is that not even the FDA is able to provide specific reasons for most of the listed products, and I am not finding links to specific brands as has been done in the past. The pet food companies seem to be ducking for cover and the new list of foods is at a web link attached to the April 2007 site. You may note there are a number of items on there which were not listed in the 2007 alerts.