Recall Alert: Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs
This just in from the FDA this weekend.
The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs due to concerns that one or more bags 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.
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 dogs and humans. Anyone experiencing the symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek immediate medical attention. Owners of dogs exhibiting these symptoms should also seek veterinary assistance.
Hartz Mountain Corporation is recalling 74,700 8-oz bags of Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs, lot code BZ0969101E, UPC number 32700-11519, which were imported by Hartz from a Brazilian supplier, Bertin S.A., and which were distributed to a number of customers in the United States. While regular testing conducted by Bertin (prior to shipment to the US) did not detect the presence of Salmonella in any packages of this product, random sample testing conducted by FDA did indicate the presence of Salmonella. Hartz is aggressively investigating the 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 having 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 BZ0969101E 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 at any time with any questions they may have and for information on how to obtain reimbursement for purchased product.
It is often hard to say how contamination comes about…. But since these treats were heat-treated (I think, they were baked) it might be a contamination that either survived baking or was added to the product after production. This case should be interesting to opponents of raw feeding where salmonella is one of the most frequently used arguments against this form of diet.
It’s always sad to hear about new cases of salmonella, and I hope no one became sick this time. I always make sure to give Dozer grain-fed, free-range meat and I sterilize it without cooking it before I give it to him. I see that it was from Brazil. Another reason to support American-made products!
I’d be willing to bet that their flea products are still more deadly to dogs than tainted treats.
On a side note, aren’t treats from Brazil generally better, or as good as, American ones? I usually only buy bullysticks and stuff like that that are made in Brazil because their cattle aren’t as pumped full of antibiotics and other nastiness like America’s cattle are.
I stand by my original commitment to never buy ANYTHING from Hartz. I also encourage my friends and clients to NOT BUY ANYTHING made by or sold by Hartz.
it is sad to hear about more recalls. But maybe will all of these they will be more careful and pay more attention to what goes into them
I purchased these treats and have taken my dog to the vet 2 times already. I have to take him again tomorrow. I never made the connection to the treats and him getting ill until a family member mentioned the recall. The lot number I purchased doesn’t match the one that they are putting in their recall, so don’t buy any of them. I am extremely upset about this and will most likely not buy another Hartz product again.
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[...] Recall Alert: Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs Posted in Pet Recalls | May 5th, 2011 This just in from the FDA this weekend. The Hartz Mountain Corporation is voluntarily recalling one specific lot of Hartz Naturals Real Beef Treats for Dogs due to concerns that one or more bags within the lot may have been potentially contaminated with Salmonella. Hartz is fully cooperating with the US Food and Drug Administration [...] Dogster for the Love of Dog Blog ยป Recall Alerts [...]
I’ve nothing against their product but I am not a fan. On the other hand, it’s so nice to know that they made an effort to recall those products that they believe would cause harm. I admire them for being that.