Mars Petcare has issued an urgent recall for two batches of its PEDIGREE Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck flavored dog food in the United States after discovering the cans may contain bits of metal, plastic, and other foreign materials. The company is urging dog owners who have fed the affected product to their pets to contact their veterinarian immediately.
Recall Details and Safety Risk
The recalled product is PEDIGREE Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor, sold in 13.2-ounce cans. Only two specific lot codes are affected: 613C3KKCFC and 613C1KKCFC. According to a Mars spokesperson, these lots had been sent to a third-party vendor for destruction after failing the company's stringent safety and quality standards. However, the product appears to have been fraudulently diverted and sold into the marketplace.
The potential presence of sharp metal and plastic foreign material in the cans could pose a hazard to dogs. Health risks range from choking to lacerations or blockages in the gastrointestinal tract. Mars Petcare US is working with authorities to determine how the canned goods entered the marketplace, as they were already deemed unfit for sale.
Company Statement and Consumer Guidance
A Mars spokesperson stated: "As part of the robust quality control process every single PEDIGREE product undergoes, these two lots had been sent to a third-party vendor for destruction. Mars later discovered that the product appears to have been fraudulently diverted and sold into the marketplace in the United States." The spokesperson added: "The potential presence of sharp metal and plastic foreign material in the cans could pose a hazard to your dog. Health risks to dogs ingesting sharp foreign objects can range from choking to lacerations or blockages in the gastrointestinal tract. Consumers who fed the recalled product to their dog and are concerned should contact their veterinarian."
The company emphasized its commitment to protecting pets and helping consumers identify and remove the affected products from use. Notably, Mars has received no related reports of pet illness or injury to date.
How to Identify and Return Affected Product
The recall applies only to the two lot codes of PEDIGREE Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor 13.2oz. Consumers who may have purchased the canned dog food are urged not to feed it to their animals. Instead, they can contact PEDIGREE for a replacement product. No other PEDIGREE or Mars Petcare US products are being recalled or are affected by this notice, which was issued in coordination with the US Food and Drug Administration.
