The OpenSecrets profile reveals that Mars Inc, the parent company of Mars Petcare, contributed $426,481 in the 2024 cycle and spent $2,000,000 on lobbying. The data also highlights a revolving door with several lobbyists having held prior government positions, raising concerns about undue political influence.

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have initiated an investigation into Mars Petcare’s aggressive consolidation of the pet care industry. The probe focuses on how the company’s market dominance may be leading to higher prices for essential veterinary services and deteriorating working conditions for veterinary staff.

U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal have requested that Mars Petcare provide detailed information regarding its pet care acquisitions, revenue from acquired veterinary clinics, potential use of noncompete agreements, and corporate practices. The inquiry comes amid concerns that Mars Petcare's significant market share is driving up costs, undermining independent veterinary practices, and contributing to poor working conditions for veterinarians.

A letter from Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal criticizes Mars Petcare’s decades-long acquisition spree in the veterinary industry. The communication highlights how corporate roll-ups, abusive noncompete agreements, and vertical integration in diagnostics have led to rising veterinary care costs, reduced competition, and worsening labor conditions.

The OpenSecrets profile on Mars Inc highlights its ongoing lobbying efforts, detailing annual lobbying expenditures and bills lobbied in 2024. As a subsidiary of Mars Inc, Mars Petcare is part of a larger corporate structure that leverages extensive political lobbying to shape policy outcomes.

Mars, the parent company of Mars Petcare, is accused of relying on child labor within its cocoa supply chain, with reports alleging that children in Ghana harvest cocoa used for products like M&M's and Snickers. The company claims it aims to end the practice.

Mars Petcare’s public policy and advocacy page outlines its approach to political engagement. The company discloses its compliance with U.S. and EU lobbying disclosure laws, emphasizes that it does not make corporate political donations or support electioneering communications, and highlights its engagement with trade associations. This transparency in political contributions and lobbying practices reflects a commitment to ethical political behavior.

Mars Petcare launched Lovebug, a new dry catfood made from black soldier fly larvae insect meal, designed for environmentally conscious consumers. The product features recyclable, plastic‐free packaging and sustainable sourcing practices that significantly reduce land use.

Workers at San Francisco Veterinary Specialists (SFVS), part of the VCA-Mars network under Mars, protested on July 30 against federal labor law violations including the termination of union supporter Katy Bradley and obstruction of collective bargaining.

Mars, Incorporated – whose pet care division includes Mars Petcare – acquired VCA in 2017, a move that has been linked to a broader pattern of corporate consolidation in the veterinary industry. In the aftermath, workers at the VCA-San Francisco Veterinary Specialists facility faced an aggressive anti-union campaign involving mandatory captive‐audience meetings, last‐minute executive visits, and the retention of a notorious anti‐union law firm. Despite these pressure tactics, 95 workers ultimately formed a union and affiliated with the ILWU on April 4–5, 2018, a historic vote that highlights the oppressive nature of the company’s labor practices and its authoritarian approach to workplace dissent.

Mars Petcare, in conjunction with Nestlé, announced its commitment to suspend the use of transshipped seafood products in its pet food supply chains if suppliers fail to address human rights abuses and illegal fishing. This move is aimed at eliminating unethical practices in sourcing and ensuring that the supply chain remains free of forced labor and other human rights violations.

The Federal Trade Commission issued a Consent Order against Mars Petcare US, Inc. for making unsubstantiated and misleading claims about the health benefits and longevity effects of its pet food products. The Order required the company to cease such deceptive advertising practices and to implement strict compliance measures.