Nestlé Purina Recalls Limited Number of Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food Bags Due to a Potential Health Risk

Contact:
Consumer: 
Nestlé Purina PetCare Office of Consumer Affairs: 
1-800-982-6559
Media: 
Keith Schopp
314-982-2577

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - July 29, 2011 - Nestlé Purina PetCare Company (NPPC) is voluntarily recalling a limited number of 3.5- and 7-pound bags of its Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food from a single production run and shipped to customers in 12 states in December 2010.  This is being done because some bags of the product have been found to be contaminated with Salmonella.  Only Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food with both the “Best By” date and the production code shown are included in this voluntary recall :
 

Product Name	Bag size	“Best By” Date &     Production Code*	Bag UPC Code
Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+	3.5 lb.	MAY 2012  03341084	17800 01885
Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+	3.5 lb.	MAY 2012  03351084	17800 01885
Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+	7 lb.	MAY 2012  03341084	17800 01887
Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+	7 lb.	MAY 2012  03351084	17800 01887

*”Best By” Date and Production Code are found on the back or bottom of the bag.

No additional Purina cat or dog products are involved in this voluntary recall.  No other Purina ONE brand products are involved.   Only Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ brand products which match the “Best By” dates and production code above are included in this recall.

Consumers who have purchased Purina ONE Vibrant Maturity 7+ Dry Cat Food products with these specific “Best By” Date and Production Codes should discontinue feeding the product and discard it.
Salmonella can affect animals eating the product, and there is a risk to humans from handling contaminated products.  People handling contaminated dry pet food can become infected with Salmonella, especially if they have not thoroughly washed their hands after having contact with surfaces exposed to this product.  Healthy people infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for the following symptoms:  nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramping and fever.  Rarely, Salmonella can result in more serious ailments including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation and urinary tract symptoms.  Consumers exhibiting these signs after having contact with this product should contact their healthcare providers.

Pets with Salmonella infections may exhibit decreased appetite, fever and abdominal pain.  If left untreated, pets may be lethargic and have diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting.  Infected but otherwise healthy pets can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.  If you pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian.

The product was distributed to customers located in California, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin, who may have further distributed the product to other states.

Nestlé Purina PetCare Company became aware of the contamination as a result of samples that had been collected in several retail stores.

At Nestlé Purina PetCare, the safety and efficacy of our products are our top priority.  We apologize for any inconvenience due to this voluntary recall.  For further information or to obtain a product refund, please call NPPC toll-free at 1-800-982-6559 or visit www.purina.com.

PROGRESSIVE SOCIAL CHANGE VETERAN BRITT COCANOUR NAMED EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALLEY CAT ALLIES

Alley Cat Allies, the only national advocacy organization dedicated to the protection and humane treatment of cats, announced that Britt Cocanour has been named executive director of the organization.  Cocanour, a veteran campaign strategist and leader for progressive social change initiatives, will join Alley Cat Allies co-founder Becky Robinson, president, and Donna Wilcox, former executive director and current vice president, in forging a new path in the national movement to protect and improve the lives of cats.

 
“We are thrilled that Britt has joined us at this critical moment in our organization’s history,” said Robinson.  “After more than 20 years of bringing humane programs like Trap-Neuter-Return to cities across the country, we are now ready to begin a new chapter in our organization’s mission.
 
“Britt’s leadership will be essential as we focus national attention on the fact that being killed in an animal shelter is the leading documented cause of death to cats—and as we work to replace these failed policies with a transformed system that respects the lives of cats and is truly responsive to the community’s needs,” said Robinson. 
 
Cocanour brings more than 15 years of extensive nonprofit management and strategic leadership skills to Alley Cat Allies.  She was previously chief of staff at EMILY’S List, the nation’s largest financial resource for women running for office, where she managed a staff of 60 and a budget of $35 million. 
 
Cocanour was also the founder of EMILY’S List Political Opportunity Program, which has trained over 5,000 women to run for state and local office and helped elect hundreds.  She holds a B.A. from Bowling Green State University in political science.
 
“As someone passionate and committed to the cause of animal protection and respect for the lives of cats, I am excited to join Alley Cat Allies and help expand our influence and public presence as we embark on this transformational new mission,” said Cocanour. 
 
Founded in 1990, Alley Cat Allies is the recognized global expert on Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), the only effective and humane approach to feral cats in the community.  Leadership and advocacy by Alley Cat Allies has inspired dozens of cities across the U.S., including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Chicago, to embrace TNR over failed, outdated catch and kill policies. 
 
The organization employs a staff of 30 in its Bethesda, Maryland headquarters.

Paco to the rescue! One brave little dog!

New Hope for the Snow Leopard

A "surprisingly healthy" population of rare snow leopards has been discovered in the remote northeastern stretches of Afghanistan, one of the few areas largely unaffected by the near decade-long war in the country.
Researchers photographed the elusive big cat using camera traps at 16 different locations across Afghanistan's mountainous Wakhan Corridor, according to a recent report from the World Conservation Society.
The images are the first camera trap records of snow leopards in Afghanistan, the organization noted. Read more at CNN here.

Pet guardians: Do not leave your dogs or other pets in the car!

Every year we read terrible stories about dogs left in cars with just the windows cracked open, even when it's brutally hot outside. Please don't leave your dogs in the car! A car can heat up to dangerous levels rapidly, even when the windows are open, leaving your pets in grave distress and endangering their lives.

Read this news story for more information! Take care of your beloved friends. DON'T LEAVE THEM IN THE CAR!