Blue Buffalo Class Action Says Dog Food Is Contaminated with Lead

On Monday, a class action lawsuit accusing Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc. of failing to disclose the presence of dangerous substances in its pet food products was filed in California federal court.

Plaintiff Vladi Zakinov of California claims he purchased Blue Buffalo dog food as the primary food source for his 4-year-old dog named Coco. According to the Blue Buffalo class action lawsuit, Coco experienced kidney disease and eventual kidney failure from consuming the contaminated dog food.

Blue Buffalo products named in the contaminated dog food class action lawsuit include Blue Wilderness Chicken Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs, Blue Freedom Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs, and Blue Basics Grain-Free Turkey & Potato Recipe for Adult Dogs.

According to the Blue Buffalo class action lawsuit, these dog food products contain significant levels of lead, a carcinogen that can cause serious health problems.

“Exposure to lead in food builds up over time,” the Blue Buffalo class action lawsuit says. “Buildup can and has been scientifically demonstrated to lead to the development of chronic poisoning, cancer, developmental, and reproductive disorders, as well as serious injuries to the nervous system, and other organs and body systems.”

Zakinov claims that Blue Buffalo advertised and sold dog food products without warning consumers that they contain lead, and that lead exposure over time can cause poisoning, injury and/or disease to occur.

On the contrary, Blue Buffalo advertises its products as healthy and safe, claiming the dog foods contain “a precise blend of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals selected by holistic veterinarians and animal nutritionists,” according to the Blue Buffalo class action lawsuit. The bags of dog food also allegedly declare the products to be “healthy” and “holistic.”

“Nothing could be further from the truth, as the Contaminated Dog Foods’ inclusion of an unsafe amount of lead creates a health hazard for dogs” the Blue Buffalo class action lawsuit says. Zakinov claims he spent a significant amount of money on Blue Buffalo dog food and on treatments for his dog Coco.

Zakinov asserts that a reasonable customer would not have any reason to expect the products contain lead because Blue Buffalo pet food is labeled as healthy and holistic. Based on these representations, consumers reasonably expect the dog food to be healthy and safe for their pets to consume over time. The plaintiff says he would not have purchased Blue Buffalo dog food if he had known the products contained an excessive amount of lead.

Zakinov filed the Blue Buffalo class action lawsuit on behalf of himself and a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased the allegedly contaminated Blue Buffalo dog food since July 1, 2013. He also seeks to represent a California subclass.

The Blue Buffalo class action lawsuit asserts claims for negligent misrepresentation, violations of California’s Consumer Legal Remedies Act, California’s False Advertising Law, California’s Unfair Competition Law, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty and negligence per se.

Zakinov is represented by Brian J. Robbins, Kevin A. Seely, Ashley R. Rifkin and Steven M. McKany of Robbins Arroyo LLP and by Rebecca A. Peterson and Robert K. Shelquist of Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP.

The Blue Buffalo Contaminated Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit is Vladi Zakinov v. Blue Buffalo Pet Products Inc., Case No. 3:17-cv-01301-AJB-WVG, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

UPDATE: The Blue Buffalo Contaminated Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit was dismissed on March 22, 2018.