Deception in the bowl: how well-known pet food brands became legal action subjects

Pet owners trust brands that promise their pet food is safe and their labeling is accurate. However, that trust is sometimes misplaced. Several major brands have faced lawsuits for misrepresenting ingredient information. In some cases, the lawsuits followed reports of pet illness or product recalls.

1. Blue Buffalo
   The premium brand, which claimed its pet food contained no poultry by-products, faced a major lawsuit in 2014. The company later admitted that some formulations did contain by-products, supplied without Blue Buffalo’s knowledge. The firm agreed to a USD 32 million settlement to compensate affected customers.
   
2. Hill’s Pet Nutrition
   In 2019, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, known for its veterinary diets, was sued after a large-scale recall of canned dog food due to excessive vitamin D levels. The company had to issue public apologies and tighten quality control after it was revealed that vitamin D concentrations on labels were incorrect, leading to illness and even death among pets.
   
3. Champion Petfoods
   Champion Petfoods, Orijen and Acana producer, faced lawsuits in 2020 over alleged false claims about ingredient quality. The suits alleged that fish in certain recipes contained high levels of heavy metals, and that “wild-caught” fish were actually farm-raised. While Champion denied wrongdoing, it later updated its marketing and product descriptions.
   
4. Purina Beneful
   In 2015, Purina’s Beneful brand became the focus of a class-action lawsuit claiming that some ingredients—such as propylene glycol, used as a preservative—were potentially harmful to pets. The issue stemmed from incomplete labeling and marketing disclosures, violating labeling standards and endangering pet health. Although Purina denied the allegations, the case raised public concern about ingredient transparency and consumer trust.
   
5. Evanger’s Dog & Cat Food Co.
   Evanger’s faced legal action after pentobarbital—a substance used in euthanasia—was discovered in its canned dog food. The contamination was linked to beef mistakenly labeled as “human-grade.” The incident led to multiple recalls and significant legal and reputational consequences.
   
6. WellPet (Wellness and Holistic Select)
   In 2018, WellPet, producer of Wellness and Holistic Select pet food, was sued over alleged heavy-metal contamination. The plaintiff claimed the diets contained unsafe levels of arsenic, lead, and mercury despite being marketed as containing “natural ingredients.” The case highlighted that even refrigerated pet food can become subject to disputes over inaccurate labeling.
   
7. Freshpet
   Freshpet, known for its refrigerated pet food, faced a lawsuit in 2021 alleging mislabeling of ingredients. Plaintiffs claimed certain recipes contained undeclared ingredients and were not as “fresh” as advertised. Although the company denied the charges, the case emphasized the importance of transparency among premium-positioned pet food brands.
   
8. Midwestern Pet Foods
   In 2021, Midwestern Pet Foods was sued after a massive product recall related to aflatoxin contamination. Investigations revealed that corn used in manufacturing contained mold, information not disclosed on labels. Consumption of the food reportedly led to several pet deaths.

Transparency builds trust

When it comes to feeding pets, accurate ingredient labeling is not just a marketing requirement—it is a matter of health and safety. These lawsuits demonstrate how mislabeling can range from misleading advertising to hidden contaminants. For pet owners, the best protection is to research brands carefully, read labels attentively, and monitor product recalls.

Source: inkl.com