On
October 20, 2008, the FDA announced that 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.
Salmonella
can cause serious infections in dogs, and, if there is cross-contamination
caused by handling of the rawhide chips, in people as well, especially
children, the aged, and people with compromised immune systems.
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 can potentially infect other animals or
humans.
The
product involved is 4,850 two-pound plastic bags of Hartz Chicken-Basted
Rawhide Chips, lot code JC23282, UPC number 3270096463, which were
distributed to a national retail customer. While the normal testing
that Hartz conducts through an independent outside laboratory did
not detect the presence of Salmonella in any Hartz rawhide products,
sample testing conducted by another laboratory did indicate the
presence of the bacteria in a sample bag of the Chicken-Basted Rawhide
Chips. Hartz is aggressively investigating the difference in test
results and the potential source of the problem.
Although
Hartz has not received any reports of animals or humans becoming
ill as a result of coming into contact with this product, Hartz
is taking immediate steps to remove the product from all retail
stores and distribution centers. Dog owners who purchased this product
should check the lot code on their bag, and, if the code is not
visible, or if the bag has lot code JC23282 imprinted thereon, they
should immediately discontinue use of the product and discard it
in a proper manner.
Hartz
can be contacted at 1.800-275.1414.
