Nutritionist
On staff
Manufacturer record
Mars Petcare (Mars Pet Nutrition)
Parent: Mars, Incorporated · Co-packer (makes food for other brands) · 5 plants
Quality control
Documented
Publishes research
Yes
Transparency
Answers-publicly
Owns its plants
Yes
Credibility score
20 / 20
Credibility scored on the 20-point WSAVA tier, High confidence. An unverified field scores at half credit, never zero. How this feeds the grade →
Brands they own
Pedigree · Cesar · Nutro · Iams · Eukanuba · Royal Canin · Crave · Sheba · Temptations · Whiskas · Greenies · Kal Kan · Nom Nom
Recall history
| Date | Class | What | Brands named |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-05-17 | II | Foreign material | Pedigree |
| 2023-01 | II | Mislabeling | Royal Canin |
| 2016-10-07 | II | Foreign material | Cesar |
Recall events in the last 10 years weigh most; older events decay. Repeat events in the 10-year window: 3.
The detail
WSAVA strengths are anchored in the Royal Canin arm plus the WALTHAM Petcare Science Institute (Mars's central pet-nutrition research hub, ~60 years of research, supporting formulation/research across Mars Petcare). Royal Canin states diets are developed by 'board-certified veterinary nutritionists, Ph.D. nutritionists, and associates with a Masters degree in small animal nutrition' (staff/credentialed). Substantiation is 'mix': Royal Canin says products are 'validated and compliant with AAFCO and FEDIAF nutrient profiles and/or feeding trials,' and WALTHAM runs longitudinal/feeding studies, but not every brand/SKU is feeding-trial substantiated. QC documented: NIRS ingredient verification, mycotoxin testing, and a network of company labs. Transparency: Royal Canin publishes a public page directly answering the WSAVA-style manufacturer-selection questions. Caveat: these credentials are strongest for the Royal Canin/WALTHAM tier; Mars's value/grocery brands (Pedigree, Kal Kan wet, Sheba, Cesar) are a lower product tier though made by the same manufacturer under the same QC umbrella. This score is manufacturer/parent-level. Non-US divergence: Iams/Eukanuba WSAVA answers differ where Spectrum Brands owns those brands (Europe).
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Mars_Inc._brands
- https://www.mars.com/news-and-stories/press-releases-statements/mars-petcare-completes-acquisition-of-champion-petfoods
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mars-petcare-to-acquire-champion-petfoods-maker-of-orijen-and-acana-301664800.html
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141231005340/en/Spectrum-Brands-Holdings-Completes-Acquisition-of-the-European-IAMS-and-Eukanuba-Pet-Food-Business
- https://www.petfoodindustry.com/pet-food-market/article/15462251/tbt-mars-acquires-iams-eukanuba-natura-brands
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iams
- https://www.gray.com/insights/champion-petfoods-celebrates-grand-opening-of-kentucky-dogstar-kitchens/
- https://www.petfoodprocessing.net/articles/13819-the-food-safety-story-behind-champion-petfoods-kentucky-facility
- https://northsiouxcity-sd.gov/business-directory/royal-canin/
- https://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/pet-food-maker-royal-canin-to-invest-185m-in-north-sioux-city-add-149-new/article_a204d10a-929b-575c-88c7-8697aa8e0e60.html
- https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/pet-food-manufacturing-plant-in-rolla-set-to-close-in-2025/
- https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/06/millions-of-roaches-plagued-maker-of-pedigree-iams-ceasar-other-pet-foods/
- https://www.royalcanin.com/us/about-us/our-nutritional-approach/pet-food-safety-questions-to-ask-your-manufacturer
- https://www.royalcanin.com/us/about-us/our-nutritional-approach
- https://www.waltham.com/about-waltham
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waltham_Petcare_Science_Institute
- https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/mars-petcare-us-inc-voluntarily-recalls-315-bags-pedigreer-adult-complete-nutrition-grilled-steak
- https://www.dvm360.com/view/voluntary-recall-of-dry-dog-food-in-certain-us-states
- https://www.petful.com/brands/cesar-recall/
- https://www.petful.com/brands/nutro-recall/
- https://www.pawdiet.com/pet-food-recall/nutro-recall-history/
- https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/outbreaks-and-advisories/fda-investigation-potential-link-between-certain-diets-and-canine-dilated-cardiomyopathy
- https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/ca9/18-15026/18-15026-2020-07-28.html
- https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-9th-circuit/2078947.html
- https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/pet/champion-petfoods-class-action-survives-dismissal/
- https://lawstreetmedia.com/news/agriculture/tenth-circuit-affirms-dismissal-of-champion-petfoods-ad-case/
AI-assisted research, pending human review · 2026-07-05