Mars recalls Pedigree dog food after allegedly diverted product reaches consumers amid foreign material risk

Mars Petcare US is recalling 2 lots of Pedigree Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor wet dog food after the company said the product may contain metal and plastic fragments.¹ The 13.2-oz cans, sold under lot codes 613C3KKCFC and 613C1KKCFC, failed Mars' internal quality checks and were sent to a third-party vendor to be destroyed.

The company said it later learned the product had not been destroyed. Instead, Mars said the cans appear to have been “fraudulently diverted” and sold into the US marketplace. Mars did not say how it discovered the diversion or how long the product may have circulated before the recall was announced on July 2, 2026. The company said it is working with authorities to determine how the cans reached consumers.

Mars warned that the affected cans may contain sharp pieces of metal and plastic that could injure a dog if ingested, with risks ranging from choking to lacerations or gastrointestinal blockages. As of the announcement, the company said it had not received any reports of pet illness or injury tied to the recalled lots.

The recall is limited to the 2 named lot codes. Mars said no other Pedigree or Mars Petcare US products are affected. Consumers who have the recalled product are being told not to feed it to their dogs and to contact Pedigree Consumer Care for a replacement. Pet owners who have already fed the product to their dog and have concerns about the dog’s health are advised to contact their veterinarian.

“We are committed to protecting pets and helping consumers identify and remove the affected products from use,” Mars said in its announcement.¹ “If you believe you have purchased this product, do not feed it to animals, and contact Pedigree for a replacement product.”

Consumers can reach Pedigree Consumer Care at 1-800-525-5273, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 8 PM CT and weekends from 8 AM to 4 PM CT, to arrange a replacement or ask questions about the recall.

Mars says the product was never meant to be sold

Mars has framed the recall around a fraudulent distribution rather than a manufacturing failure discovered after distribution. According to the company, the 2 lots had failed to meet its safety and quality standards and were sent to a third-party vendor for destruction as part of its standard quality control process. Mars has not released details about the third-party vendor involved, how the alleged diversion occurred, or whether any additional lots are under review.

Reference

1. Voluntary recall of two lots of Pedigree Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor wet dog food due to potential fraudulent distribution of product which may contain foreign material. News release. Mars Petcare US. July 2, 2026. Accessed July 6, 2026. https://tinyurl.com/48wr85e3