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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.
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221 thoughts onBlue Buffalo Class Action Says Dog Food Is Contaminated with Lead
We lost our miniature schnauzer on April 6th 2023. She was 8 years and 9 months. On her well check visit our veterinarian noticed an abnormal heartbeat. Right away, our vet sent her to the ER so she can be examined by a cardiologist. We got terrible news: “ she has a mass on her heart and cancer that is spreading”. We lost her after 2 weeks. She ate blue buffalo since she was two months old. How is these possible that we trusted this dog food thinking was healthy for our dog and ended up take her life 5 to 6 years before her time. She was our baby and our first dog. Our veterinarian didn’t know about the heart damage this food can cause but other friends’ veterinarian told our friends to stop using Blue Buffalo dog food. This company should not been in business any more. They are killing dogs with their food. I hope someone can stop them.
I had 2 Weimaraner’s, one would be 8 today and the other is 3. I was feeding them Blue Buffalo for years. (The Yellow, chicken flavored dry dog food.) My pups have always been super healthy and active. Last year my older dog just stopped eating all of the sudden and was losing weight fast. Within a week he had lost 10 pounds. I took him into the vet and they found a mass near his stomach. He stayed overnight and the next day went in for an exploratory surgery. His kidneys were 4 sizes larger than they should have been. He was riddled with cancer. His adrenal glands were enlarged with cancer also. He had showed signs of kidney failure in that previous week but I was not expecting to have to make such a hard decision in that moment. I wish I would have done more research so I could still have both of my pups with me. I just hope I caught it early enough to save my little 3 year old.
I just lost my 12 year old Chihuahua Fred 6 months ago. Kidney disease . All he. Ate was blue buffalo . Since 2013 . I had zero clue it was this. I am floored. I thought I was giving him the best food. And turns out I paid extra to poison my own favorite living thing. I’m devastated. This is betond not ok. I will help destroy there chances of killing other people’s family pets. There family to us. And nothing more to them than a customer…. Help
I have been giving my two fur babies blue buffalo for the last 10 years. I have spent hundreds and have multiple receipts from various vendors. Spent more on my pups thinking grain free, higher price special ingredients was better. Sign me up.
I started feeding Sasha my American bulldog which was around 12:13 pretty much around 12 the blue Buffalo the one that supposed to be the best freedom I believe and about three months ago I lost her because all of a sudden she got an odd condition started swelling up in her neck and her muzzle and it was terrible it was very upsetting knowing that this company could be behind me losing my best friend it broke my heart it still breaks my heart it’s only been a couple months but you know that there you could have just given me bad food for her and I not know it and it killed her so in a way that puts in in my hands I would love to know what I could do because they took my best friend a family’s best friend pretty much I would call her my four-legged daughter about my oldest I had her for 13 working on 14 and last year and some odd since I changed her to blue Buffalo it’s just got worse it’s just strange it didn’t do nothing like Chicken soup for the dog lovers soul and I gave that to her and she did great but I can’t turn on the blue Buffalo because I needed to see if it would help her and it breaks my heart thinking that I might have killed her! ???????
I switched my brother & sister 12 yr old shepherds to Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Adult chicken & brown rice recipe. Near end of 2nd bag. Both having incontinence & drinking water excessively. Have been to vet a couple times recently & supposed to go Thurs. Sounds like it’s the dog food. I am sick to my stomach.
My little dog’s liver enzymes are through the roof, 10 and a half times what they should be. My vet asked me what I was feeding her and immediately had me pull her off of Blue Buffalo. My vet said numerous dogs come in with liver problems and other diseases and they happen to be eating this food. I am saddened and sick to my stomach. We are in the testing phase right now to determine what the seriousness is of her issues. But I was taken aback when she said to switch her food immediately.
I have been feeding my boy this for years. Never had any health problems. He’s perfect. Can’t believe everything you read, folks.
THIS DOG FOOD IS NO BETTER THAN ANY OTHER. PEOPLE TRUST OUT OF IGNORANCE.
Zakinovis a is a well known Shyster!