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The voluntary recall was made by Mars Petcare US, Inc., on July 2, 2026, for two lots of PEDIGREE® Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor 13.2 oz wet dog food. This recall was published also in the database of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the same date. As stated by the manufacturer, the recalled product did not meet the safety and quality standards set by Mars and had been distributed to a third party for destruction. However, the company found out that the appeared products were diverted and sold in the U.S. market illegally. Because of the presence of foreign materials including sharp metal and plastic, the company initiated a voluntary recall to protect animal health. No other PEDIGREE® products or Mars Petcare products are affected by this recall. [1]

United States: PEDIGREE® Wet Dog Food Recall Over Potential Foreign Material

Recall July 23, 2026

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Category of the Product: Animal & Veterinary – Pet Food

Type of the Product: Wet Dog Food

Reason for Announcement:
Potential metal and plastic foreign material in fraudulently diverted products designated for destruction.

The voluntary recall was made by Mars Petcare US, Inc., on July 2, 2026, for two lots of PEDIGREE® Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor 13.2 oz wet dog food. This recall was published also in the database of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on the same date. As stated by the manufacturer, the recalled product did not meet the safety and quality standards set by Mars and had been distributed to a third party for destruction. However, the company found out that the appeared products were diverted and sold in the U.S. market illegally. Because of the presence of foreign materials including sharp metal and plastic, the company initiated a voluntary recall to protect animal health. No other PEDIGREE® products or Mars Petcare products are affected by this recall. [1]

Reason for Warning

The recall was done as the implicated cans may contain sharp fragments of foreign materials like metals and plastics. Such foreign materials can be highly dangerous if ingested by the animals. The recall notification indicates that consumption of the food products can lead to choking, lacerations, or gastrointestinal blockages. Consumers who have fed the recalled food to their dogs and have concerns are advised to contact their veterinarian.

Root Cause Analysis

As reported by Mars Petcare US, Inc., the recalled food products did not comply with the required safety and quality standards of the company, and they had been dispatched to an independent third party for disposal purposes. But somehow, these food products have been falsely diverted and put up for sale in the marketplace rather than being disposed of. The company is trying to investigate the way the products got into commercial distribution. The recall notification does not indicate any kind of manufacturing, supplier, or packaging defect; it only states that the diverted products may contain metal and plastic foreign material and were never intended to reach consumers. [2]

 

Product Description

Product Name

Package Size

Lot Codes

Distribution

PEDIGREE® Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Wet Dog Food

13.2 oz

613C3KKCFC

United States

PEDIGREE® Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor Wet Dog Food

13.2 oz

613C1KKCFC

United States

 

Note: Only the above lot codes are recalled. None of the PEDIGREE® or Mars Petcare US, Inc. products are affected by this recall except for those listed. [1]

Health Issue Identified

The recalled product is suspected of having fragments of hard and sharp metal or plastic. There could be the following health hazards associated with consumption of the food by dogs:

  • Choking
  • Lacerations
  • Blockage in gastrointestinal tract

If you have fed your pets with this dog food and are worried, please visit your veterinarian. As of the recall announcement, Mars Petcare reported that no pet illnesses or injuries related to the recalled product had been reported.

Concerns from Regulatory Body

The FDA published this recall as a public notice because there is a danger of foreign materials in the dog food being recalled that may be harmful to animals. There is a possibility of having sharp metal and plastic parts in the dog food, which is very hazardous when consumed.

Foreign Material Contamination

Key Regulatory Considerations

Major considerations by the regulatory authority:

  • The safety and quality of products.
  • The prevention of contamination in the products distributed commercially.
  • Good control measures on the destruction process of the product.
  • Product traceability throughout the supply chain.
  • Voluntary recall and notification of the consumers.
  • The investigation of the unauthorized distribution of the products meant for destruction.

The recall highlights the importance of maintaining secure product disposal procedures and ensuring that products designated for destruction cannot re-enter the commercial supply chain. [3]

PEDIGREE® Wet Dog Food Recall | United States

Manufacturer and Consumer Guidance

For Consumers

  • Don’t give the recalled PEDIGREE® wet dog food to pets.
  • Reach out to PEDIGREE Consumer Care to get another product.
  • If your dog ingested the recalled product and you have any worries, contact your veterinarian.
  • Consumers may contact PEDIGREE Consumer Care at 1-800-525-5273 for assistance and replacement information.

For Manufacturer (Mars Petcare US, Inc.)

Based on the information from the recall notification, Mars Petcare has:

  • Conducted a voluntary recall of the lots involved.
  • Worked with the authorities to find how the products were fraudulently diverted.
  • Continued to work on identifying and removing the affected products from being used.
  • Restated their commitment to pets and consumers.

No additional corrective actions beyond those stated in the public recall notice were described. [4]

FRL Commentary

Even though this recall is due to the fraudulently diverted products that were meant to be destroyed, and not due to any manufacturing defect, it demonstrates the necessity of having good quality assurance and supply chain security in pet food manufacturing processes.

At Food Research Lab, preventing similar incidents involves:

  • Quality assurance and product release verification
  • Secure destruction of defective products
  • Supply chain traceability
  • Vendor qualification and surveillance
  • Product serialization and reconciliation of inventories
  • Readiness for product recalls
  • Compliance with regulations and proper documentation

Manufacturers should ensure that rejected products cannot re-enter commercial distribution. Robust traceability, secure disposal practices, and effective quality management systems are essential to protect animal health and maintain regulatory compliance.

Conclusion

The Mars Petcare US, Inc.’s voluntary recall emphasizes the significance of safe control, traceability, and disposal of products to avoid the entry of hazardous goods back into the market. Despite the lack of any illness or injury reports, the case study proves that it is essential to have efficient quality management and recall mechanisms to ensure animal safety and customer satisfaction.

Food Research Lab assists manufacturers of pet foods in the establishment of quality systems, traceability, compliance, and safety of the product to guarantee its successful commercialization.

References

  1. S. Food and Drug Administration. (2025). Voluntary recall of two lots of Pedigree® can high protein chopped chicken & duck flavor wet dog food due to potential presence of foreign materials. https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/voluntary-recall-two-lots-pedigreer-can-high-protein-chopped-chicken-duck-flavor-wet-dog-food-due
  2. KCRA 3. (2025). Pedigree recalls wet dog food over potential metal contamination. https://www.kcra.com/article/dog-food-recall-pedigree/71910147
  3. American Veterinary Medical Association. (2025). Pedigree® can high protein chopped chicken & duck flavor wet dog food recall. https://www.avma.org/news/recalls-alerts/pedigreer-can-high-protein-chopped-chicken-duck-flavor-wet-dog-food
  4. Hawaii State Department of Health. (2025). DOH alerts public about recall of Pedigree® high protein wet dog food due to potential presence of foreign materials. https://health.hawaii.gov/news/newsroom/doh-alerts-public-about-recall-of-pedigree-high-protein-wet-dog-food-due-to-potential-presence-of-foreign-materials/
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