October 20, 2008

Hartz is recalling almost 5,000 bags of rawhide chips for dogs after it detected Salmonella in one sample, the company announced on Friday. (Pet Pulse Illustration by Mike Lloyd)

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- The Hartz Mountain Corporation has recalled 4,850 bags of its "Chicken-Basted Rawhide Chips" for dogs, after the company's routine testings found one bag was contaminated with Salmonella.

Hartz, based in Secaucus, N.J., announced the voluntary recall on Friday.

The rawhide chips, intended as snacks for dogs, were manufactured by a company in Brazil. The recalled bags were distributed to various locations, but mainly large, trademark pet stores, across the country.

No animals or humans have been reported to have contracted Salmonella or any other disease from the product, Hartz's spokesman, John Mullane told Pet Pulse today.

The move comes as a purely precautionary measure.

"We are going to look at this thoroughly to find out what could have gone wrong and consult with the manufacturing company," Mullane said.

As Hartz receives the recalled bags, the company will continue to test the products and investigate the source of the Salmonella, which can cause diarrheal illness and prove especially dangerous for small children or the elderly.

The two-pound plastic bag of chips with the lot codes "JC23282" and UPC number "3270096464" were distributed to a national retail customer Mullane could not identify.

Mullane says Hartz is now trying to get the word out on the recall, even though only one bag tested positive for Salmonella.

"The recall is intended to reassure customers and we are letting people know there is a potential for illness here," Mullane said.

This is the second recall of the year for Hartz, which pulled 739 bottles of "Vitamin Care for Cats" in March and 3,600 bottles of the same project in November 2007.

The Federal and Drug Administration's detection of Salmonella led to the "Vitamin Care for Cats" voluntary recalls.

Hartz is now suing the manufacturing company, UFAC USA Inc., for $1 million, as Pet Pulse previously reported.

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