Two lots of Pedigree canned wet dog food that failed quality control and were sent to be destroyed instead ended up on store shelves across the United States. Mars Petcare US, the brand's parent company, announced a voluntary recall on July 2, 2026, after discovering the products appear to have been fraudulently diverted by a third-party vendor and sold into the American marketplace.
The recalled cans may contain sharp pieces of metal and plastic that could cause serious injury — including choking, lacerations inside the mouth or digestive tract, and intestinal blockages — if fed to dogs. No injuries or illnesses in pets have been reported as of the recall announcement.
Why This Matters
Most pet food recalls involve contamination from pathogens like Salmonella or Listeria, or from manufacturing defects that slip through quality testing. This case is different.
According to Mars Petcare's statement posted by the FDA, the recalled products did not fail to catch a contamination problem — they were identified internally as defective and pulled from the production stream specifically because they might contain metal and plastic fragments. They were then sent to a third-party vendor for destruction. That is where the process broke down.
Instead of being destroyed, the cans appear to have re-entered the commercial supply chain and been sold to consumers. The company says it is working with authorities to determine how that happened.
The implications go beyond this specific recall. Pet owners who assume a product on store shelves has cleared every quality checkpoint should understand that this case describes a scenario where a product failed internal quality control and was still sold — not because the safety system failed, but because a disposal system was allegedly bypassed.
What We Know So Far
Mars Petcare US issued the voluntary recall on July 2, 2026, covering two specific lots of PEDIGREE Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor 13.2 oz wet dog food for adult dogs.
The affected lot codes are:
- 613C3KKCFC
- 613C1KKCFC
Both lots had failed Mars' internal quality control standards before they were approved for sale. The company says the products were sent to a third-party vendor for destruction. Mars later learned that the lots were not destroyed. Instead, they "appear to have been fraudulently diverted and sold into the marketplace in the United States," according to the company's spokesperson statement cited by The Daily Caller.
"Mars is working with authorities to determine how these products entered the marketplace," the company said. "We are committed to protecting pets and helping consumers identify and remove the affected products from use."
The company has not disclosed where the diverted product was distributed, which retailers may have received it, how many units are involved, or how long the product circulated before the recall was announced. No other PEDIGREE or Mars Petcare products are included in the recall.
Where the Risk Is Highest
Because distribution details have not been publicly disclosed, it is not possible to identify specific regions or retailers that received the fraudulently diverted cans. However, Pedigree is one of the most widely carried pet food brands in the United States, sold at national chains including Walmart, Target, Petco, PetSmart, Kroger, and independent pet specialty stores across every major metro area.
Pet owners in any U.S. city or suburb who purchase Pedigree High Protein wet food in the 13.2-oz can format should check the lot code on the bottom of each can.
The fraud allegation also raises a secondary accountability question. Third-party waste disposal and product destruction vendors operate outside the direct quality-control chain of the brand whose products they handle. DVM360, a veterinary trade publication, noted that Mars did not disclose how it discovered the diversion or how long the product may have circulated before the recall was initiated — details that remain unanswered.
What Veterinary Experts Say
Veterinarians and pet safety advocates are clear about the physical risks of metal and plastic fragments in pet food, even when no reported injuries have been logged.
Foreign objects such as hard or sharp metal pieces can cause choking, particularly in smaller dogs that eat quickly. Once swallowed, rigid fragments can lacerate the esophagus, stomach lining, or intestinal wall. In some cases, foreign material causes intestinal blockage — a condition that can require emergency surgery and carries significant risk if not treated promptly, according to iHeartDogs, which covers recall safety guidance for pet owners.
Dog Food Advisor, which monitors pet food safety recalls, notes that signs of ingested foreign material in dogs may not appear immediately — which is why owners who have already fed a recalled product to their dogs should monitor their animals closely even if no immediate symptoms are visible.
Pet owners should contact a licensed veterinarian rather than waiting for symptoms to become severe.
What the Evidence Shows and What It Does Not
This is a precautionary recall based on Mars' internal determination that the lot codes may contain metal and plastic fragments — not a recall triggered by a confirmed reported injury. The company's internal quality control process identified the contamination risk, which is why the products were originally sent for destruction.
However, the physical contamination has not been independently confirmed in every can bearing these lot codes. The recall is precautionary and covers all units with the identified lot codes because the company cannot guarantee which specific cans contain fragments and which do not.
The precise nature of the metal contamination — what it is, how it entered the product, and what the original manufacturing defect was — has not been publicly disclosed by Mars Petcare.
The alleged fraud, which is the basis for the diversion claim, is currently under investigation. No charges have been publicly announced, and no third party has been publicly identified.
Who Faces the Greatest Risk?
All dogs fed the recalled lots face potential risk from foreign material, but the severity of any injury depends on multiple factors:
- Smaller dogs are at higher choking risk from fragments that a larger dog might swallow without immediate obstruction
- Dogs that eat quickly without chewing thoroughly may swallow fragments whole
- Senior dogs or those with underlying gastrointestinal conditions may have less tolerance for any physical irritation or injury
- Dogs with prior gastrointestinal surgery may face higher complication risk if fragments are ingested
- Multi-pet households where the recalled product was shared across multiple animals may have broader exposure
Any dog that consumed the recalled product should be monitored, regardless of size or age.
Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For
Pet owners who may have fed their dog food from the recalled lots should watch for the following signs of internal injury or blockage:
- Choking, gagging, or pawing at the mouth during or after eating
- Vomiting — particularly if repeated or containing blood
- Loss of appetite or refusal to eat
- Abdominal bloating, distension, or visible discomfort when the belly is touched
- Lethargy or unusual weakness
- Whimpering or signs of pain when lying down or moving
- Straining or inability to defecate
- Blood in stool
If any of these signs appear, contact a veterinarian immediately. Do not wait to see if symptoms resolve on their own — intestinal blockage and lacerations can worsen rapidly without treatment.
For urgent after-hours situations, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is available 24 hours at 888-426-4435 (consultation fees may apply). Pet owners should also contact their local emergency veterinary clinic directly.
What You Can Do Now
- Check your supply immediately. Locate any cans of PEDIGREE High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor (13.2 oz) and find the lot code on the bottom of the can. If the code is 613C3KKCFC or 613C1KKCFC , set those cans aside.
- Do not feed the recalled product to your dog. Do not open the cans to check contents — the company advises contacting them before discarding.
-
Contact PEDIGREE Consumer Care
to request a replacement product:
- Phone: 1-800-525-5273
- Hours: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. CDT; Saturday and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. CDT
- If your dog has already eaten food from these lots , monitor for the symptoms listed above and contact your veterinarian. Inform your vet of the recall and provide the lot code.
- Report any adverse events to the FDA's Safety Reporting Portal or via the FDA Pet Food Recall page .
- Do not discard recalled cans before contacting the company — Mars Petcare has said it wants to facilitate replacements.
Cost and Access: What Pet Owners Should Know
Mars Petcare is offering a replacement product for recalled cans. No purchase receipt is required to contact Consumer Care at the number above. The company's stated position is that it wants to help consumers identify and remove affected products from use.
For pets injured as a result of the recalled product, veterinary costs would not automatically be covered by Mars Petcare. Pet owners facing significant veterinary expenses related to this recall may wish to document symptoms, retain veterinary records, and file a report with the FDA to establish a formal record of the adverse event.
Pet owners with no-cost access to local humane societies or low-cost veterinary clinics can search ASPCA's vet locator for options in their area.
What Happens Next
Mars Petcare has stated it is working with authorities to investigate how the recalled product re-entered the marketplace after being sent for destruction. No timeline has been given for the investigation's completion, and no criminal or civil proceedings have been publicly announced.
The FDA will monitor consumer and veterinary reports connected to this recall. If additional information emerges about the distribution scope — including specific retailers or regions — MedicalDaily will update this story.
Pet owners who have not yet registered a complaint but experienced an adverse event involving a recalled lot should file a report with the FDA SafetyReporting Portal so the agency can maintain a complete picture of outcomes connected to this recall.
The Bottom Line
Two lots of Pedigree High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor canned dog food (lot codes 613C3KKCFC and 613C1KKCFC) contain potentially sharp metal and plastic fragments and should not be fed to any dog. What makes this recall particularly unusual is that these products were already flagged as defective and sent to be destroyed before they allegedly reached consumers through apparent supply chain fraud.
Check the lot code on the bottom of any 13.2-oz Pedigree High Protein can in your home. If it matches either recalled lot, stop feeding it immediately, keep it for return, and call 1-800-525-5273. If your dog has already eaten from these cans and shows any signs of distress, contact a veterinarian without delay.
