What happened to Cesar dog food
Cesar Recall History and Pet Food Brand Info
Petful is reader-supported. As an affiliate of platforms, like Amazon, we may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page. There is no extra cost to you.
Important Cesar recall information appears below.
Brand Name: CesarRelated Brands: Pedigree, Wiskas, Royal Canin, Nutro Products, GreeniesProduct Lines: Cesar Classic Loaf in Sauce, Cesar Filets in Gravy, Cesar Loaf & Topper in Sauce, Cesar Simply Crafted, Cesar Minis, Cesar Home Delights, Cesar Puppy, Cesar Softies, Cesar Meaty Bites, Cesar Jerky BitesCompany: Mars Inc. Headquarters: 6885 Elm St, McLean, VA 22101Website: https://www.cesar.com Phone: 1-800-525-5273Contact Form: https://www.cesar.com/contact-us
Cesar Company Overview
Cesar traces its history back to the 1930s when it was known as Kal Kan, but the Cesar brand name wasnt used for dog food in the United States until more than a half-century later.Below, we share more information about the history of this pet food including up-to-date Cesar dog food recall information.Cesar dog food products are manufactured in the United States under the Mars Petcare division of Mars Inc. The companys headquarters is in McLean, Virginia.
Cesar Dog Food HistoryCesar started out in 1936 as a canned food called Kal Kan. It was manufactured in Vernon, California, near Los Angeles, by a company then called Stirling Packing Company.Stirling Packing brought 2 niche businesses together. By slaughtering horses that had outlived their usefulness, they could provide affordable dog meat for a nation that, at that time, did not have so many tender feelings for horses as we do now.By 1946, this operation had been reincorporated as Kal Kan Foods Inc. In that year, the corporation registered the Kal Kan trademark under the honest description canned horse meat and gravy.In 1952, the Kal Kan plant in Vernon came under the leadership of the Butchers Local 563 union. Kal Kan Foods continued to expand until it had factories in several United States locations.
Under Mars Inc. LeadershipIn the 1960s, Kal Kan was bought out by Mars Inc., a company still better known for chocolate bars and M&Ms.By the 1960s, most dog food manufacturers were buying surplus and below-grade vegetables as ingredients in their dried dog food. Meat was traded out for soybean and corn derivatives to make dry food, while canned dog food continued to contain mostly meat that was not deemed fit for human consumption.However, that trend had to change as dog food consumers more and more saw their pets as family members and child surrogates. In 1988, Mars changed the name of its entire dog food line to Pedigree.
Mars Stays on Top of TrendsMars Inc. has fought hard and successfully to anticipate market changes, and the transition away from the well-known brand name Kal Kan dovetailed with a sea change in how consumers view and talk about their pets.In the 1980s, it became much more common for people to view their pets, including rescued dogs and cats, highly. Whether or not those animals were show champions or registered breeds, they were now family.The name Pedigree kept pace with the transition of dogs from secondary citizens to family members.The success of Mars is also built on an early recognition that consumers love an infinite variety. To that end, the company launched a subcategory of dog food called Pedigree Select, whichwas marketed specifically for small breed companion dogs.
Cesar: A Dog Food for Small Dogs With Big PersonalitiesPedigree Select became Cesar Select Dinners in the late 1990s. The Cesar brand name had been popular in Europe and Asia, but it was all new to U.S consumers.Underlying the marketing for Cesar was the assumption that people with smaller dogs often see their pups as amusing Napoleonic figures, making demands that are out of proportion to their size.A TV ad from around the time of the name change illustrated this marketing mentality. The ad featured an imperious small breed pulling his person out of bed by the pajama bottoms. The tagline: What do you feed the head of the household? Only the best.Cesar was being packaged in small oval tins, just like another Mars Inc. brand, the cat food Sheba.The octagonal tray design is patented, and the company has trademarked both the individual food containers and the famous image of Cesar dog foods little white dog, a West Highland White Terrier.
Options AplentyIn 1998, Ad Age reported that Cesar was the 7th best-selling dog food brand in the United States, with revenues of $43 million. Simultaneously, the reporter asked, How many breed-specific or size-specific brands [can] the market support?That article went on to question whether there would be room in the grocery stores and pet stores for so much diversification: Theres only so many you can stock.History has shown, however, that bigger stores can be built and that consumers do, in fact, want a near-infinite variety of options.Companies that failed to realize this trend fell behind, while Mars continued to expand.As of 2020, Mars Petcare Inc. was the No. 1 pet food company in the world, with over $18 billion in annual revenue, according to data provided by Pet Food Industry.
Recipes to Suit Every NeedCesar has an array of recipes and formulations, ranging from Classic Loaf in Sauce to Home Delights.Cesars Simply Crafted line is designed as a limited-ingredient complement to regular meals. Each one is made with a handful of ingredients and no artificial colors or flavors. For example, Simply Crafted Chicken contains only 100% real chicken and water.Cesar is described as a gourmet wet dog food that has been formulated for small dogs of all ages. These meals are designed to satisfy even the pickiest eaters, according to Cesar.In the next section below, we discuss the Cesar dog food recall history.
Has There Ever Been a Cesar Recall?
There has been one Cesar recall in recent years, according to our research.In October 2016, There was a Cesar recall by Mars Inc. for certain lots of Cesar Classics Filet Mignon wet dog food after receiving reports of tiny pieces of plastic being found in the food.While a small number of consumers have reported finding the plastic pieces, we have not received any reports of injury or illness associated with the affected product, the company said. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused by this recall.Several days after the Cesar recall was announced, a Maryland woman reported her dog had died after eating Cesar Filet Mignon. She didnt realize it had been recalled.The woman told reporters that after eating the food, her dog looked really terrible, had a hard time breathing and then vomited up big plastic things before collapsing. He died in her arms as she was carrying him outside to rush him to the vet.Mars Inc. responded that it was investigating the claims.During follow-up safety inspections 9 months later, the company conceded it was still receiving consumer complaints about foreign objects including insects in various brands of its pet food, such as Pedigree. Mars insisted it was working to fully implement corrective actions.Pest control records at a Mars canning facility in Columbus, Ohio, noted damaged cans covered in flies, and dozens of employees had complained about cockroaches in the area, especially at night. Different employees described seeing multiple roaches, an invasion of roaches, roaches everywhere and even millions of roaches which we hope was an exaggeration.Inspectors from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) themselves observed 2 live roaches. The FDA stressed the seriousness of the pest problem, and the company promised correction.Full details of the 2016 Cesar recall appear below. The Petful research team found no other U.S. recalls for Cesar dog food or its predecessor, Pedigree Select, in our extensive search of news archives going back more than 30 years.
Cesar Recall History
October 2016Cause: Potential for choking hazard from plastic pieces.Announcement: Company announcement dated Oct. 7, 2016 (archived here).What was recalled:The following packagesof Cesar Classics Filet Mignon wet dog food:
- Individual packs with best by date of Aug. 4, 2018 or Aug. 5, 2018 AND Lot #631FKKC or 631GKKC
- Variety packs with best by date of Aug. 4, 2018 or Aug. 5, 2018 AND Lot #632D14JC, 633B24JC, 634A14JC, 634A24JC, 634B14JC, 634B24JC, 634E14JC, 635A24JC, 635B14JC, 636D24JC or 636E14JC
Have You Had a Problem With Cesar Dog Food?
- See our reporting page for contact info.
- Leave a comment below to share your experience with others.
Stay Updated with Pet Food Recall Center: Instant Email Notifications
Subscribe to our 100% free Pet Food Recall Emails to receive timely alerts on pet food recalls. Our service ensures youre immediately informed about important safety notices, sending the latest updates directly to your inbox. Join the Petful community today and stay ahead with our indispensable pet food recall notifications.
References
- Kal Kan Foods Inc. History. FundingUniverse.com.http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/kal-kan-foods-inc-history.
- Kal Kan Foods Inc. Trademarks. Justia.https://trademarks.justia.com/owners/kal-kan-foods-inc-12223/.
- Lazarus, George. Kal Kan Getting a New Pedigree.Chicago Tribune. Aug. 12, 1988.https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1988-08-12-8801220385-story.html.
- Pollack, Judann. Mars Kal Kan Rebranding Pedigree Select as Cesar: Marketer Brings Name From Asia, Europe to U.S.Ad Age. June 15, 1998.https://adage.com/article/news/mars-kal-kan-rebranding-pedigree-select-cesar-marketer-brings-asia-europe-u-s/65512.
- Top Pet Food Companies Current Data.Pet Food Industry. 2020.https://www.petfoodindustry.com/directories/211-top-pet-food-companies.
- Notice: Voluntary Recall. Cesar. Oct. 7, 2016. Archived athttps://www.petful.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/cesar-2016-dog-food-recall.pdf.
- Pasadena Woman Says Recalled Cesar Dog Food Killed Her Dog. WMAR-2 News Baltimore. Oct. 13, 2016.https://www.wmar2news.com/news/region/anne-arundel-county/pasadena-woman-says-recalled-cesar-dog-food-killed-her-dog.
- Entis, Phyllis. Millions of Roaches Plagued Maker of Pedigree, Iams, Cesar, Other Pet Foods. Food Safety News. June 7, 2018.https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2018/06/millions-of-roaches-plagued-maker-of-pedigree-iams-ceasar-other-pet-foods/.
- Establishment Inspection Report: Mars Petcare US Inc. U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). July 26, 2017.
LOOK UP ANOTHER BRAND
Look Up Another Brand
About Petful
This content was written by the lead research team at Petful, led by publisher
Dave Baker, a longtime advocate for pet food safety. Our team has been tracking pet food recalls for nearly 15 years, and we spend countless hours combing through databases and news archives going back 40 years or more to bring you the most accurate pet food information possible. About 40,000 safety-conscious pet parents are subscribed to our free recall alerts, and Animal Radio has called Petfuls list of pet food recalls the best, most complete list online. Learn more
about Petful, or explore our
Pet Food Recall Center.
New York City, Empire State Building
privacy preference center
When you visit websites, they may store or retrieve data in your browser. This storage is often necessary for the basic functionality of the website. The storage may be used for marketing, analytics, and personalization of the site, such as storing your preferences. Privacy is important to us, so you have the option of disabling certain types of storage that may not be necessary for the basic functioning of the website. Blocking categories may impact your experience on the website.
manage consent preferences by category
These items are required to enable basic website functionality.
These items are used to deliver advertising that is more relevant to you and your interests. They may also be used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement and measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns. Advertising networks usually place them with the website operator's permission.
These items allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language, or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. For example, a website may provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing data about your current location.
These items help the website operator understand how its website performs, how visitors interact with the site, and whether there may be technical issues. This storage type usually doesn't collect information that identifies a visitor.
Is Cesar Softies Dog Treats Discontinued? (With Alternatives)
Recent reports and rumors claim that Cesar has discontinued making their Softies Dog Treats, but it turns out this is not true.
Cesar recently made an announcement on their social media page that they are experiencing supply issues that have prevented them from stocking their Cesar Softies Dog Treats in stores.
This article will address the reasons why people think Cesar Softies Dog Treats have been discontinued and go over what to do when it is unavailable.
Making sure you know of some comparable options will be key in avoiding any potential issues.
How Do You Know That A Product Has Been Discontinued?
If you cannot find the product on the website of the brand, it could mean that the product has been discontinued.
Alternatively, you can contact customer service to ask them why they do not have it in stock.
From a companys social media page or blog, you can find out if a product is being discontinued.
This is good to know when deciding whether or not to purchase it before stocks run out.
If you have any questions, please call or email Cesar customer service. They may be able to answer them and help with other things like returning an item, checking product availability and more.
A products availability depend on the following factors:
- You should contact the vendor or manufacturer to find out if they are going to continue supplying their product.
- If you are looking for an item that is no longer available, you could buy a similar alternative.
What To Do If Cesar Softies Dog Treats Discontinued?
If youre worried the Cesar Softies dog treats might be discontinued, its possible the company is just updating their recipe or that theyve run out of stock.
If you cant find the product online, itd be best to contact them to ask if they still have it in stock at their store near you.
Heres a tip to help you decide: We suggest you get a different dog treat if you cant find the one you want.
To keep your dogs health general, you should feed them the right diet. Depending on their breed and specific needs.
You should always consult your vet before making changes to your dogs diet which will ensure they get the best possible chances of a healthy life.
The 5 Best Alternatives To Cesar Softies Dog Treats
Cesar Softies Dog Treats are a popular dog treat that come in different flavors and shapes.
They are made with real meat and vegetables, which is why they are so healthy for dogs.
But some people may not like the price of these treats or they may be looking for alternatives to Cesar Softies Dog Treats.
Below are five alternatives to Cesar Softies Dog Treats:
Are Caesars Softies Good For Dogs?
Caesars Softies are a popular treat for dogs. They are a good source of protein and have no carbs or sugar. The treats come in a variety of flavors, including chicken, beef and bacon.
The Cesar Softies dog treats are soft and bite-sized. Their aroma is savory, their taste tantalising and theyre nutritious too! Theyre perfect for training your canine companion.
Cesar Low Calorie Dog Treats have just 7 calories each, making them a great choice for everyday treat!
Frequently Asked Questions
Below is some information on Cesars FAQs. If you have any more questions, please feel free to get in touch with Cesar directly by contacting their support team.
Does CESAR Dog Food Expire?
When it comes to the expiration date of CESAR Dog Food, this information can be found on the back of the product packaging.
The expiration date is usually given in months and years so that consumers can know how long their product will last before it expires.
It is important to note that CESAR Dog Food should be kept in a cool and dry place at room temperature.
It should also be stored away from direct sunlight and heat sources like ovens, microwaves, and garages because these can cause the food to spoil quicker than normal.
Does Cesar Dog Food Need To Be Refrigerated After Opening?
Once opened, it is advised to store the unused portion of your Cesar dog food in the fridge and feed it to them within three days.
Store opened Cesar dog food in a cool and dry place. Roll the bag tightly after each opening in order to preserve freshness.
Is Cesar Softies Grain Free?
Cesar Softies are a tasty, grain-free treat that come in different flavors and formats. They provide high-quality, plant-based protein as the first ingredient.
Where Are Cesar Softies Dog Treats Made?
Cesars dog food is manufactured in the US and is part of Mars, Inc.
Conclusion
When youre buying pet food, make sure you buy from a reputable store and that the food has an authentic label. Buying high-quality pet food helps ensure that your pet remains healthy.
We have been waiting to hear back from the vendor on when they will be able to ship their product again. We will update this article with that information as soon as it is available.
Ive compiled a list of alternative dog treats you may want to consider substitutes for your dogs current diet.
This article contains important information that should help you make a decision on what might be best for your pup.
