Businesses
PET SAFETY ALERT: Fraudulently Sold Dog Food Lots Trigger Recall Warnings in Escambia County
Public safety alert for local pet owners: Mars Petcare US, Inc. issues an urgent voluntary recall on select lots of PEDIGREE® wet dog food after discovered stolen batches were fraudulently sold into commercial retail networks. Check your lot codes now to protect your pets from choking and internal injuries.
Pensacola, Fl. NewsWK —Local pet owners are urged to closely examine their pantries this holiday weekend following an unusual federal safety alert involving a popular wet dog food brand that may contain dangerous foreign materials.
Mars Petcare US, Inc. has issued a voluntary recall for specific lots of its PEDIGREE® Can High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor (13.2 oz. cans) after discovering that product designated for destruction was illegally diverted and sold into the commercial marketplace.
The Risk to Pets
According to the consumer safety notice, the affected cans have the potential to contain hard, sharp pieces of metal and plastic. If consumed by dogs, these foreign materials present severe health hazards, including acute choking risks, gastrointestinal blockages, or internal lacerations within the digestive tract.
The Cause: Fraudulent Distribution Loops
Unlike typical product recalls caused by standard manufacturing line slip-ups, the contamination in these specific batches was caught during internal corporate quality control checks. Mars Petcare strictly isolated the inventory and shipped it to a specialized third-party facility to be completely destroyed.
However, an ongoing investigation revealed that the product was fraudulently intercepted, stolen, and illegally sold back into broader retail distribution networks across the United States.
Local Impact and What Pensacola Residents Should Do
Because the compromised dog food was funneled into the market via unauthorized commercial channels rather than traditional corporate shipping routes, there is no official regional store registry detailing exactly where the cans were sold. As a result, the risk across Pensacola and surrounding Escambia County is considered a POTENTIAL IMPACT.
Local pet owners cannot rely on store-specific shelf clears or point-of-sale warnings. Instead, residents must manually verify any wet food items currently in their possession.
The recall is strictly limited to 13.2 oz. cans of PEDIGREE® High Protein Chopped Chicken & Duck Flavor carrying the following lot codes stamped on the bottom of the packaging:
- 613C3KKCFC
- 613C1KKCFC
If you locate cans matching these exact alpha-numeric lot codes, stop using the product immediately and ensure it is kept completely out of reach of your animals.
Affected consumers should contact Pedigree Consumer Care directly at 1-800-525-5273 to report the product, obtain retrieval instructions, and secure a full replacement. If your pet has consumed this food and is exhibiting signs of distress, lethargy, or loss of appetite, consult a local veterinarian immediately.
For real-time consumer alerts, public safety notifications, and local breaking updates across Northwest Florida, keep your browser pinned to pensacola.newswk.com.
