Pedigree Dog Food Recall 2026

 Pedigree Dog Food Recall 2026: What the FDA Wants Every Pet Owner to Know

*Meta description: The FDA and Mars Petcare issued a Pedigree dog food recall in July 2026 over metal and plastic contamination. Here's exactly which products are affected, why it happened, and what to do if you bought one.*

If you keep a bag or can of Pedigree in your pantry, it's worth pausing for a minute before your dog's next meal. In early July 2026, Mars Petcare US issued a voluntary recall of canned Pedigree wet dog food after the company discovered that two specific lots may contain sharp fragments of metal and plastic. The story behind this recall is a little unusual — and it's exactly the kind of thing every dog owner should understand, even if their cupboard is clear.

What Happened, Exactly

On July 2, 2026, Mars Petcare US announced a voluntary recall for two lots of **PEDIGREE® Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor, 13.2 oz**, sold in the United States. The lot codes affected are:

Here's the twist: these cans weren't supposed to be on shelves at all. According to the FDA, the products had already failed Mars' internal quality control checks and were sent to a third-party vendor for destruction. Somehow, they never made it to the scrapyard. Instead, the FDA says the cans "appear to have been fraudulently diverted and sold into the marketplace," meaning someone intercepted product meant for disposal and resold it through normal retail channels.

Mars says it's now working with authorities to figure out exactly how that happened.

 Why It Matters for Your Dog

The concern isn't bacteria or spoiled ingredients this time — it's physical contamination. The recalled cans may contain small, sharp pieces of metal or plastic. If a dog swallows these, the risks range from mild discomfort to more serious injuries, including:

- Choking

- Cuts or lacerations inside the mouth or throat

- Blockages or perforations in the gastrointestinal tract

As of the announcement, Mars and the FDA report **no confirmed cases of pet illness or injury** tied to this recall. That's genuinely good news, but it doesn't mean the risk isn't real — it just means it hasn't shown up yet, and prevention is far easier than treatment.

Is This the Only Pedigree Recall?

No, and that's worth knowing too. This isn't Pedigree's first brush with a recall. In 2024, Mars Petcare recalled 315 bags of **Pedigree Adult Complete Nutrition Grilled Steak & Vegetable Flavor** dry dog food (44 lb. bags, lot code 410B2TXT02) after loose metal pieces were found, in a much smaller, geographically limited incident affecting Walmart stores in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana. That recall has since been completed and closed by the FDA.

The current 2026 recall is separate and involves different products, lot codes, and a different root cause — but the pattern is a useful reminder that even trusted, long-standing brands aren't immune to quality-control breakdowns.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you have Pedigree wet food in the house, take two minutes to check it:

1. **Check the product name.** This recall applies only to PEDIGREE® Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor, 13.2 oz.

2. **Check the lot code.** It's printed on the can — look for 613C3KKCFC or 613C1KKCFC.

3. **Stop feeding it immediately** if your can matches.

4. **Don't just toss it** — contact Pedigree Consumer Care for a refund or replacement instead of throwing it in the trash where a pet (or wildlife) could still get into it.

5. **Watch your dog** for any unusual symptoms — vomiting, drooling, reluctance to eat, or signs of pain — if you've already fed them the recalled product.

6. **Call your vet** if you notice anything off, or if you're simply unsure and want peace of mind.

No other Pedigree or Mars Petcare US products are included in this recall — so if your can or bag doesn't match those exact lot codes, there's no cause for concern.

A Quick Word From One Pet Owner to Another

It's unsettling to hear that food you trusted enough to serve your dog every day might have slipped through the cracks like this. But there's a silver lining here: this recall exists *because* Mars' own quality control caught the problem before it ever should have reached a store shelf. The failure wasn't in spotting the defect — it was in what happened to the product afterward. That distinction matters, and it's part of why regulators and the company moved quickly once the diversion came to light.

Still, "trust but verify" is good advice for pet food the same way it is for anything else your family eats. Checking a lot code takes less time than pouring the bowl.

Where to Get Official Updates

For the most current and authoritative information, always check the source directly:

- FDA Recalls, Market Withdrawals & Safety Alerts: fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts

- Pedigree Consumer Care: 1-800-525-5273

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*This article is for informational purposes and reflects publicly available recall notices as of July 2026. Always consult your veterinarian with specific health concerns about your pet, and check FDA.gov directly for the latest recall status.*

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