Concerned about the potential health impact of metals in their products, Walmart has initiated a recall of pet food distributed.
Mars Petcare US, Inc. issued a press release on May 17th, announcing the recall of 44-pound bags of PEDIGREE adult dog dry food in the flavor of roasted steak and vegetables, totaling 315 bags, due to potential presence of loose metal fragments.
The affected product batch number is 410B2TXT02, with a best-by date of March 4, 2025. This recall specifically pertains to 315 bags of dog food sold at Walmart locations in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas.
According to the press release, “Loose metal fragments may be present in the bags, posing a potential hazard to pets’ health.” The company advises, “If you believe your pet has consumed the affected product, monitor for any abnormal behavior and contact a veterinarian if any issues arise.”
Mars Inc. confirmed no reports of pets being injured or falling ill due to the product. Consumers who have purchased the product are urged to discontinue use immediately.
They can contact Mars customer service at 1-800-525-5273 for returns. The company assured that no other PEDIGREE or Mars Petcare products are impacted or subject to recall. Product images were released alongside the press release.
Mars Inc. is collaborating with Walmart in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas to ensure the affected products are no longer for sale and have been removed from inventory.
Walmart has disclosed the list of stores that sold these products. The recall event has also been listed on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website.
In other recalls, various pet foods were recalled last year. In January of this year, pet food manufacturer Viva recalled its duck products used in dog and cat food after samples tested positive for Salmonella and Monocytogenes.
The recall notice stated that these microorganisms “may affect animals consuming these products, and there is a risk for humans handling contaminated pet products, especially if they do not thoroughly wash their hands after contact or exposure to the products or any surfaces contaminated by the products.
In November last year, due to concerns about potential Salmonella contamination, TFP Nutrition expanded the voluntary recall scope of its cat and dog food.
The recall notice mentioned, “Healthy individuals infected with Salmonella should monitor themselves for some or all of the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or bloody diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and fever.”
“In rare cases, Salmonella can lead to more serious illnesses, including arterial infections, endocarditis, arthritis, muscle pain, eye irritation, and urinary symptoms.”
Amid the Walmart recall incident, multiple studies have shown that the metal or mineral content in pet food may exceed acceptable limits.
A study in October 2021 analyzed 100 commercial pet foods in the United States, finding that levels of aluminum, mercury, lead, uranium, and vanadium in dog and cat food exceeded the FDA’s Maximum Tolerable Levels (MTL).
“Most toxic metals (TM) concentrations were higher in dry food than in wet food.” Among carbohydrate sources, wheat bran had the highest TM concentration, except for cobalt, mercury, and nickel.
In protein sources, animal by-products had higher TM levels than plant-based ingredients. “Pork fat contained higher concentrations of arsenic, mercury, and antimony compared to fish oil and poultry fat.”
A study in April 2023 investigated heavy metal and mineral content in dog food. The study found that heavy metal content in dry food “poses no risk to dogs.”
The study stated, “In terms of mineral content, mixed rations had the worst test results, so feeding dogs a single protein food is worth considering.”