Lawsuit Filed Against Orijen, Acana Claims Dog Food Contains Heavy Metals & Other Toxins

A class action lawsuit has been brought against the makers of premium dog food brands Orijen and Acana claiming false advertising and referencing levels of various heavy metals as well as BPA, a chemical not normally found in dry kibbles.

The class action lawsuit, representing consumers in Minnesota, California, and Florida, claims that Champion Pet Foods, the manufacturers of Orijen and Acana, is “negligent, reckless, and/or intentional practice of misrepresenting and failing to fully disclose the presence of heavy metals and toxins in their pet food sold throughout the United States. Plaintiffs seek both injunctive and monetary relief on behalf of the proposed Classes (defined below), including requiring full disclosure of all such substances in its marketing, advertising, and labeling and restoring monies to the members of the proposed Classes.”

Among violations cited in the lawsuit, testing revealed that specific Orijen and Acana dog foods include Heavy Metal Toxicity due to the presence of Arsenic, Mercury, Lead, and Cadmium as well as contamination with Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in the production of plastics and commonly as a coating inside metal food cans to prevent corrosion. It is unusual for BPA, an endocrine disruptor that is shown to interfere with the production, secretion, transport, action, function and elimination of natural hormones, to be present in dry kibble.

The lawsuit provided this chart of lab results found in certain Orijen and Acana dry dog foods:

The lawsuit says, “Defendants market the Contaminated Dog Foods as “Biologically Appropriate,” using “Fresh Regional Ingredients” comprised of 100 percent meat, poultry, fish, and/or vegetables, both on the products’ packaging and on Defendants’ websites. Moreover, Defendants devote significant web and packaging space to the marketing of their DogStar® Kitchens, which they tell consumers “are the most advanced pet food kitchens on earth, with standards that rival the human food processing industry.”

The lawsuit goes on to say that Champion Pet Foods “wrongfully and misleadingly advertised and sold the Contaminated Dog Foods without any label or warning indicating to consumers that these products contain heavy metals, or that these toxins can over time accumulate in the dog’s body to the point where poisoning, injury, and/or disease can occur.”

Pet owners hoping to join the class action lawsuit or obtain more information about the pet foods involved should contact the law firm directly:

Law Firm:
LOCKRIDGE GRINDAL NAUEN P.L.L.P.
REBECCA A. PETERSON & ROBERT SHELQUIST
100 Washington Avenue South
Suite 2200 Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: (612) 339-6900
E-mails: [email protected] and [email protected]

Specific pet foods involved in this Class Action Law Suit Include:

• Acana Regionals Wild Atlantic New England Fish and Fresh Greens Dry Dog Food
• Orijen Six Fish With New England Mackerel, Herring, Flounder, Redfish, Monkfish, Silver Hake Dry Dog Food
• Orijen Original Chicken, Turkey, Wild Caught Fish, Eggs Dry Dog Food
• Orijen Regional Red Angus Beef, Boar, Goat, Lamb, Pork, Mackerel Dry Dog Food
• Acana Regionals Meadowland with Poultry, Freshwater Fish and Eggs Dry Dog Food
• Acana Regionals Appalachian Ranch with Red Meats and Freshwater Catfish Dry Dog Food
• Acana Regionals Grasslands with Lamb, Trout, and Game Bird Dry Dog Food Orijen Regional Red Angus Beef, Ranch Raised Lamb, Wild Boar, Pork, Bison Dry Dog Food
• Acana Singles Duck and Pear Formula Dry Dog Food
• Acana Singles Lamb and Apple Formula Dry Dog Food
• Acana Heritage FreeRun Poultry Formula Dry Dog Food
• Acana Heritage Freshwater Fish Formula Dry Dog Food

For additional information and updates, visit www.truthaboutpetfood.com.