The product line of Brazilian pet food manufacturer Prestige Alimentos para Animais Eireli Ltda is now subject to a product recall. The measure, issued by the country’s Agriculture Ministry, is precautionary, and aimed, in particular, at the Campinas, São Paolo-based company’s superpremium Fitpets range.
Regulation of pet food in Brazil is the responsibility of the Agriculture Ministry, which reports that investigations show Prestige’s labels display the names and logos of companies that do not manufacture for it. These companies are registered with the ministry, while Prestige is not. Such illegal activity, the ministry says, could suggest a risk to pet health.
Company rejects claims
Prestige has responded that it has yet to be contacted by the ministry and that it only learned of the recall through press reports. It adds that it has all necessary licenses to produce its range and that it has never received any reports of pets falling ill following consumption of its products.
Brazil pet food market data
Brazil is projected to reach US$7.6 billion in retail sales of dog and cat food in 2023, according to Alberto Trueba of Euromonitor International and Luis Montoya of Reading Bakery Systems during their presentation at Foro Mascotas 2023 in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, on June 1 and 2. Currently, Brazil sells 2.8 thousand tons of pet food a year. Premium pet food accounts for 16% of retail sales; 15% of pet owners in Brazil say they prepare pet food from scratch daily, while 18% do so weekly.
Pet ownership in Brazil is oriented toward dogs, with 52% of households owning at least one; 23% own a cat. Large pet food companies in Brazil include domestic manufacturers such as Special Dog, BRF Pet SA, Premier Pet, Total Alimentos and Lupus Alimentos, as well as multinational players include Mars Petcare and Nestle Purina Petcare.
