Champion Petfoods Class Action Says Acana, Orijen Dog Food is Toxic

A Champion Petfoods class action lawsuit has been filed by a consumer who says toxins and heavy metals are found inside Acana and Orijen dog food.

Plaintiff Rachel Colangelo states that the company has not disclosed the presence of these materials inside their dog good

The plaintiff alleges that Orijen dog food sold by Champion is promoted as a safe and is a popular kibble type for canines. However, Colangelo claims that nowhere in the labeling does the manufacturer clarify the dangers of the toxins inside.

The Champion Petfoods class action lawsuit says that the food is not safe for dogs due to health risks associated with some of the ingredients inside. Allegedly, the dog food contains arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, or BPA.

The Acana, Orijen class action lawsuit calls attention to marketing statements made by the company, including a claim not to include anything “nature did not intend for your dog to eat.”

The plaintiff says this led her and other reasonable consumers to the conclusion that the dog food was free of heavy chemicals.

In particular, the Orijen dog food labels and marketing include statements about nutrients coming from natural sources. One claim made by the company is that the dog food is made with protein sources fit for human consumption.

However, Colangelo says that the high levels of toxins inside the dog food are not safe for humans or animals.

The lawsuit against Champion Petfoods points out that the FDA has established allowable limits for arsenic in some human food and drink items.

The Champion Petfoods class action says that this dog food also contains mercury and lead, which can buildup over time and cause serious medical issues for dogs.

The buildup of lead, for example, has been linked to developmental and reproductive disorders, nervous system injury, and chronic poisoning. Exposure to mercury can harm the kidneys, nervous system, cardiovascular system, and digestive tract of dogs.

The Acana, Orijen pet food class action lawsuit argues that the company knew that a consumer buying their product would be feeding it to a dog multiple times per day and that it would likely be the primary source of food for these dogs.

This, according to the Champion class action lawsuit, makes the repeated exposure risk so harmful for canines.

The plaintiff argues that there are no labeling or marketing materials that make it clear to the consumer that the dog food contains heavy metals of a volume that could ultimately cause injury, poisoning, or disease.

The Champion Petfoods class action lawsuit argues that independent testing revealed high levels of these heavy metals despite the marketing claims on the bags and the company’s website indicating these products were free of such toxins.

A similar Acana, Orijen pet food class action was filed in Kentucky in May of this year.

This Champion Petfoods class action is brought on behalf of a Class of New York residents who bought the allegedly contaminated dog foods from July 1, 2013 to the present for use with their dogs in their home.

The plaintiff is represented by Charles J. LaDuca, Katherine Van Dyck, and Brendan S. Thompson of Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca LLP, Robert K. Shelquist and Rebecca A. Peterson of Lockridge Grindal Nauen PLLP, Kevin A. Seely and Steven M. McKany of Robbins Arroyo LLP, Daniel E. Gustafson, Karla M. Gluek, Joseph C. Bourne, and Raina C. Borrelli of Gustafson Gluek, PLLC, Joseph DePalma and Susana Cruz Hodge of Lite DePalma Greenberg LLC, Daryl Andrews and Glen DeValerio of Andrews DeValerio, and Gustavo F. Bruckner of Pomerantz LLP.

The Champion Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit is Colangelo v. Champion Petfoods USA Inc., et al., Case No. 6:18-cv-01228, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.