Has Blue Buffalo Dog Food Been Improperly Advertised?

For years, the makers of Blue Buffalo dog food have marketed and labeled its dog food products as healthy, nutritious, and consistent with dogs’ dietary needs.

Blue Buffalo products are more expensive than many other dog foods. The company claims that the extra cost is justified because of the premium ingredients.

But consumers have alleged that these claims are deceptive, claiming that Blue Buffalo dog food products contain high levels of ingredients that are neither healthy for dogs nor consistent with their dietary needs. Accordingly, Blue Buffalo’s claims that its dog food products are healthy and nutritious for dogs may be deceptive, according to an Ohio veterinarian who warns pet owners about Blue Buffalo dog food on the her website, which also references class action lawsuits against the company.

Plaintiffs have accused the manufacturers of Blue Buffalo dog food of falsely representing the ingredients contained in the popular dog food products.

Previous Lawsuits Allege Illegal Marketing Tactics

In 2015, Blue Buffalo announced that it had reached a $32 million class action settlement based on claims that the pet food manufacturer deceived consumers about the contents of its dog foods. Thirteen class action lawsuits, one filed by competitor Nestle Purina, claimed that Blue Buffalo dog food marketed its products as free of poultry byproducts. Plaintiffs claimed they paid a premium for pet food based on false claims, in violation of both state and federal laws.

In October 2014, those lawsuits consolidated into one suit in Missouri federal court. The complaint cited statements by Blue Buffalo dog food that the product contained no soy, wheat, corn, poultry byproduct meals, artificial flavors, preservative or colors. However, numerous investigations revealed that some of those ingredients were indeed present in products with that label.

Blue Buffalo pointed the finger at feed company Wilbur-Ellis, which supplied ingredients in the dog food, as the source of the meat byproducts and ceased doing business with them, the St. Louis Post-Dispach reported at the time.

Wilbur-Ellis in 2017 faced eight criminal counts for providing “allegedly misbranded and adulterated poultry ingredients to Blue Buffalo,” according to PetFoodIndustry.com.

How to Analyze a Dog Food Label

Consumers have become increasingly concerned about the ingredients in their pet food and rely on package labeling, such as Blue Buffalo dog food, to make purchasing decisions. Premium pet food products like Blue Buffalo dog food are often purchased by consumers who want to  make healthy choices for their pets.

Any pet owner should take the time to read the label on a food package. Small differences in ingredients can make a big impact on your pet’s overall health. Unfortunately, there’s little beyond the label to compare one type of dog food to another.

A common question by pet owners is whether or not byproducts inside pet food are dangerous for the animal’s health. Though byproducts do not include hooves, teeth, horns, or hair, WebMD reports that meat byproducts can contain udders, bone, blood, or brains of the animal.

Consumers can take legal action when they believe that a company has provided false information about a product. These false advertising lawsuits empower consumers to hold companies accountable.

If you believe that you have purchased a product such as Blue Buffalo dog food based on inaccurate packaging claims, you could have grounds for a false advertising lawsuit. Speaking with an experienced attorney is a recommended next step. Keeping copies of the packaging on your dog food bag could help you during an initial consultation with an attorney.

Join a Free Blue Buffalo Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased any Blue Buffalo dog food product in the last four years, you may have a claim for damages against the company that makes and markets these products.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.