Overview
- The voluntary recall covers 13.2-ounce Pedigree Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck with lot codes 613C3KKCFC and 613C1KKCFC, a notice that Mars and the FDA published on July 2.
- Mars and the FDA say the cans may contain sharp metal and plastic pieces that could choke a dog or cause internal cuts or gastrointestinal blockages if swallowed.
- Mars says the two lots failed quality checks and were sent to a third-party vendor for destruction but were later fraudulently diverted and sold in the U.S., and the company is working with authorities to trace how that happened.
- Consumers should stop using any matching cans, contact Pedigree for a replacement, and call a veterinarian right away if a pet ate the product; Mars reports no illnesses or injuries so far.
- The episode highlights a weak link in the disposal-to-destruction chain and could lead to tighter controls on how failed food lots are handled and tracked, while pet owners should watch for choking, vomiting, abdominal pain or blood in vomit or stool.