CONTACT: MR. JOHN MULLANE (914) 391-0943
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — MARCH 7, 2008 — THE HARTZ MOUNTAIN CORPORATION IS VOLUNTARILY RECALLING A SECOND SPECIFIC LOT OF HARTZ VITAMIN CARE FOR CATS DUE TO CONCERNS THAT BOTTLES WITHIN THE LOT MAY HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY CONTAMINATED WITH SALMONELLA. HARTZ IS FULLY COOPERATING WITH THE US FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION IN THIS VOLUNTARY RECALL. HARTZ RECALLED A SPECIFIC LOT CODE OF HARTZ VITAMIN CARE FOR CATS LAST NOVEMBER DUE TO SIMILAR CONCERNS. BOTH LOT CODES WERE MANUFACTURED FOR HARTZ BY UFAC (USA) INC. IN 2007, AND WERE REMOVED FROM DISTRIBUTION LAST NOVEMBER. HOWEVER, BOTTLES FROM THE SECOND LOT HAD BEEN SHIPPED TO CUSTOMERS PRIOR TO THEIR HAVING BEEN REMOVED FROM DISTRIBUTION.
SALMONELLA IS AN ORGANISM WHICH CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INFECTIONS IN YOUNG CHILDREN, FRAIL OR ELDERLY PEOPLE, AND OTHERS WITH WEAKENED IMMUNE SYSTEMS, ALL OF WHOM ARE AT PARTICULAR RISK FROM EXPOSURE AND SHOULD AVOID HANDLING THESE PRODUCTS.
SALMONELLA SYMPTOMS MAY INCLUDE FEVER, DIARRHEA, ABDOMINAL PAIN, AND NAUSEA IN BOTH CATS AND HUMANS. ANYONE EXPERIENCING THE SYMPTOMS OF SALMONELLA INFECTION SHOULD SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION. OWNERS OF CATS EXHIBITING THESE SYMPTOMS SHOULD ALSO SEEK VETERINARY ASSISTANCE.
THE PRODUCT INVOLVED IS 739 BOTTLES OF HARTZ VITAMIN CARE FOR CATS, LOT CODE SZ 22771, UPC NUMBER 32700-97701. WHILE NORMAL TESTING CONDUCTED BY HARTZ AND UFAC HAS NOT REVEALED THE PRESENCE OF SALMONELLA IN ANY HARTZ PRODUCTS, RECENT SAMPLING CONDUCTED BY THE FDA DID DETECT THE PRESENCE OF SALMONELLA.
ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY 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 RECOVER THIS PRODUCT FROM CONSUMERS. CAT OWNERS SHOULD CHECK THE LOT CODE ON THEIR BOTTLES, AND, IF THE CODE IS NOT VISIBLE, OR IF THE BOTTLE HAS LOT CODE SZ 22771 OR LOT CODE SZ-16371 IMPRINTED THEREON, THEY SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DISCONTINUE USE OF THE PRODUCT AND DISCARD IT IN A PROPER MANNER.
CONSUMERS CAN CONTACT HARTZ AT 1-800-275-1414 WITH ANY QUESTIONS THEY MAY HAVE AND TO OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT FOR PURCHASED PRODUCT.
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