Pedigree Complete Nutrition Roasted Chicken and Vegetable Dog Kibble
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products provide a “100% Complete & Balanced” diet for dogs
Nutro Dog Food Products
August 2016: A federal judge granted final approval of the settlement.
August 2015: A federal judge preliminarily approved a $500,000 settlement of this lawsuit. According to the settlement terms, class members may receive a $2 refund, a $5 gift certificate to use towards the purchase of any Nutro product, or choose to donate $5 worth of the company’s dry kibble product to animal shelters and charities. A final fairness hearing is scheduled for December 7, 2015.
February 2014: A class-action lawsuit alleging that The Nutro Company and Mars, Incorporated mislabel dog food products was transferred from state court to federal court. Specifically, plaintiffs claim that the companies represented that the Nutro brand dog food kibble and biscuits were a “source of live microbial spores” when, in reality, these claims were not true. (Monteleone et al v. The Nutro Company, Mars, Incorporated, and Does 1-100, Case No. 14-cv-00801, D. NJ.).
For more information about other class-action lawsuits regarding dog food and TINA.org’s coverage of the topic, click here.
Class-Action Tracker
Nutro Pet Foods
Allegations: False natural claims
Combos Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Snacks
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that the filling in products is made with real cheddar cheese
Starbursts
Allegations: Deceptively using slack-filled packaging that is approximately 55% empty space
Dove Promises Deeper Dark Chocolate 70% Cacao
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain dangerous levels of heavy metals
Chocolate in Starbucks, Mars, and The Quaker Oats Company Products
Allegations: Misleadingly representing that cocoa has been harvested following ethical and environmentally responsible standards
Combos Cheddar Cheese Stuffed Snacks
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that the filling in snacks is “made with real cheese”
Skittles
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose candies contain a toxin that increases the risk of adverse health effects
Calories in Starburst Gummies Sours
Allegations: Deceptively representing the number of calories in candies
Nutro Limited Ingredient Dog Foods
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that dog foods do not contain wheat, soy, or chicken when they contain significant amounts of the ingredients
Altoids Cinnamon Mints
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing cinnamon
Silky Smooth Dove Bars
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that ice cream bars are covered in milk chocolate when the coating contains ingredients not contained in real chocolate
Dove Chocolate-Covered Mixed Berries
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “made with real fruit” when the fruit ingredients contain sugar and other non-fruit components
Nutro Limited Ingredient Diets Dog Foods
Dove Ice Cream Bars
M&M’s Reduced Fat Vanilla Ice Cream Products
IAMS Dog Foods
Uncle Ben’s Ready Rice
Mars Chocolate Products
Snickers Protein Bars
Chocolate Products from Mars
M&M’s Candies, Dove Candy Bars, Snickers Bars, and More
Iams Cat Food
Uncle Ben’s Rice Products
Mars Flavored Ice Cream Products
Mars Chocolate Candy Products
M&M’s® Mini Products
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