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A new class action lawsuit alleges that Big Heart Pet Brands Gravy Train dog food is contaminated with pentobarbital, a barbiturate drug.
Lead plaintiff, Maclain Mullins, alleges in his class action lawsuit that several varieties of Gravy Train dog food produced by Big Heart Pet Brands contains the drug.
Pentobarbital, alleges the plaintiff, is a sedative and anesthetic for animals and commonly used to euthanize cats and dogs.
Mullins says the chemical makes its way into the dog food because Big Heart likely uses animals that were euthanized to make the product.
The Gravy Train dog food class action lawsuit alleges that Big Heart hid this from consumers and advertised their dog food as high quality and safe to feed to pets multiple times each day.
“Pentobarbital from euthanized animals survives the rendering process and could be present in the rendered feed ingredients used in pet food,” alleges the Gravy Train class action lawsuit.
Mullins alleges that the Food and Drug Administration has prohibited the use of animals that have been euthanized because pentobarbital remains in the final product.
“The FDA’s testing of dry dog food confirmed some samples contained pentobarbital,” alleges the Gravy Train class action lawsuit. “The FDA concluded that pentobarbital was entering pet foods from euthanized, rendered cattle or horses because of the lack of dog and cat DNA.”
According to the Gravy Train dog food class action lawsuit, the FDA fails to enforce laws restricting the use of animals euthanized with pentobarbital in pet food products. The plaintiff says that Big Heart depends on that failure to use euthanized animals in its products.
Mullins also alleges that Big Heart falsely advertises its Gravy Train products as subject to a strict oversight and approval process.
“Defendant’s advertising campaign is deceptive…because there was no label or warning indicating to consumers that these products contained any level of Pentobarbital or that Defendant utilized animals that have been euthanized as a protein or meat by-product source,” argues the plaintiff.
The pet food class action lawsuit alleges that reasonable consumers, like the plaintiff, would not suspect that a euthanizing drug would be contained in Big Heart Gravy Train dog foods.
“Nondisclosure and concealment of any level of Pentobarbital or utilization of animals that have been euthanized as a protein or meat by-product source in the Contaminated Dog Foods coupled with the partial disclosures and/or misrepresentations that the food is pure, quality, healthy and safe by Defendant is intended to and does, in fact, cause consumers to purchase a product Plaintiff and Class members would not have bought if the true quality and ingredients were disclosed, including that the fact the Contaminated Dog Foods are adulterated,” alleges the Gravy Train class action.
According to the class action lawsuit, the contaminated dog food allegedly includes Big Heart Brand Gravy Train Chunks in Gravy with Beef Chunks, Gravy Train Chunks in Gravy with T-Bone Flavor Chunks, Gravy Train Chunks in Gravy with Chicken Chunks, Gravy Train Strips in Gravy Beef Strips and Gravy Train With Lamb & Rice Chunks.
The plaintiff seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased Big Heart Gravy Train dog food that allegedly contains pentobarbital. He is seeking damages as well as an order stopping Big Heart from advertising their products as “healthy, pure, quality and safe for consumption.”
Mullins is represented by attorneys from Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP, Robbins Arroyo LLP, Gustafson Gluek PLLC, Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP, and Lite DePalma Greenberg LLC.
The Gravy Train Contaminated Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit is Mullins v. Big Heart Pet Brands Inc., Case No. 3:18-cv-00861-LB, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.
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124 thoughts onGravy Train Dog Food Contaminated, Class Action Claims
I was feeding my dog this dog food and he got real sick his hair starting falling out this was right before it was recalled it made him real sick I changed his food and starting treating him for his hair made it through I’ve never really thought about it till now I’m sorry for everyone who lost a pet I would like to know how to get a calim
I haven’t seen any updates on this for a while. What about our babies that were healthy and ate this food and then we lost them. I’ve lost my beagle a couple years back to this food. My vet couldn’t save her. I feel for all you guys who fed their animals this food and your babies got sick. We’re supposed to be able to trust the food we give our babies.
My bully pit went from be happy fat and healthy to not being able to walk was depressed and unplayful and developed a skin rash just before dieing all in a month long periid
What is going to come of this? Our babies deserve to eat and us parents not worrying about things like this. I feel we need answers.
Please add me. Jasper and maggie also ate this can food and had adverse reactions. Jasper has since passed 4/18 . Maggie seems to have mental and motor function issues.
I’m curious in what’s to come of this. We lost our beloved Tiny to this food. I really feel that our furbabies deserve justice. I would like some answers
I was feeding my dog gravy train. He was falling out couldnt stand, wouldnt eat, i took him to the vet they didnt know what it was. I decided to switch their food. A month later I saw on the news that there was poison in gravy train food. I would like to be added to the lawsuit. I have a labarador retreiver and a shit tzu. My shit tzu suffered the most he is still not himself. His walking is still off. he just falls down cant stand sometimes
I have been feeding my dog gravy train the same bar code recall noticing my boxer has a terrible hack and hard to walk she has had attackes swallowing her tongue then this recall I’m storing this food in my home until I’m notify
I had been feeding my dog gravy train for about 6 months on February 8 I fed him about half a can 3 hours later. He started having seizures. Couldn’t walk would try to get up. His head would move back and forth. I. Had him. 16 years he was never sick never had a seizures before in his life. I did contact gravy train. My rocky passed the next day. February 9
My dog became very ill after eating gravy train dog food. I took her to the vet she was giving medicine but it is not doing anything she is only getting worse. I think she is to the point of no return I am now just trying make her comfortable, while she is going through the transition to die. This is very heartbreaking for myself and my family. She grew up with my grandchildren so they are totally devastated by what is going on.
Can you please tell me how I can become involved in the lawsuit against gravy train manufacturer. They should have to pay for what they are putting families through. Pets are not just an animal they are family members. I hope and pray that you will be able to help me with this matter. Thank you.
Also I forgot to add that my dog has just started to have seizures. We have to lay and hold her to help her through them. I don’t know what else to do.
The case is still moving through the courts and has not yet reached a settlement. Claim forms are usually not made available to consumers until after a court approved settlement is reached. We recommend you sign up for a free account at TopClassActions.com and follow the case. We will update the article with any major case developments or settlement news! Setting up a free account with Top Class Actions will allow you to receive instant updates on ANY article that you ‘Follow’ on our website. A link to creating an account may be found here: https://topclassactions.com/signup/. You can then ‘Follow’ the article above, and get notified immediately when we post updates!
Please let me know as soon as possible. I fed my rocky on the February. 8 2018 and he passed on the 9th of Feb. He was in great health. I called the number on my can and did report this. Rocky was my therpy dog for depression., and to have to watch him die and to know I had fed him the food that killed him I still cry over this I have been thru. 2 rounds of chemo. and rocky never left my side. Shame on the people who did this. They have no idea of the pain in my heart I have they caused