Costco class action lawsuit overview:
- Who: Plaintiff Taylor West filed a class action lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corp.
- Why: West claims the company misleadingly markets its Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain grain-free dog food as healthy and safe.
- Where: The Costco class action lawsuit was filed in Washington federal court.
A new class action lawsuit accuses Costco of falsely marketing its Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain grain-free dog food as healthy and safe when it increases the risk of heart disease in dogs.
Plaintiff Taylor West claims Costco fails to inform consumers that the Nature’s Domain dog food increases the risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and related cardiac damage.
West argues that Costco’s grain-free dog food contains high amounts of legume or pulse ingredients, which can contribute to the development of DCM, a potentially fatal heart disease.
The plaintiff alleges Costco deceived consumers through false advertising and misleading statements, unjustly profited from those practices and violated Washington and California consumer protection laws.
West wants to represent a nationwide class and California subclass of consumers who purchased Nature’s Domain grain-free dog food within the applicable statute of limitations period.
Lawsuit claims risks of high-legume diets for dogs have been known since 2018
West argues that Costco has been aware of the risks associated with Nature’s Domain dog food since at least 2018, when veterinarians began publishing research linking grain-free diets to heart disease in dogs.
Despite this knowledge, West claims Costco has continued to market its grain-free dog food as a healthy option for dogs, including those with food allergies.
The class action lawsuit argues that Costco’s marketing misleads consumers into believing that the Nature’s Domain dog food is safe for all dogs, including those predisposed to heart disease.
West claims that Costco has failed to conduct adequate safety testing on its grain-free dog food and has not disclosed any feeding studies that substantiate its health and safety claims.
As a result, West argues that consumers are paying a premium for a product that poses a significant health risk to their pets.
The lawsuit claims that Costco’s actions have caused financial harm to consumers who purchased the dog food, as they would not have done so had they been aware of the associated health risks.
In other California violations, a customer claims Costco illegally sends email notifications 60 days prior to automatic membership renewals, which is outside the 45-day window set by California’s Automatic Renewal Law.
Did you purchase Costco’s Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain grain-free dog food? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiff is represented by Kim D. Stephens and Rebecca L. Solomon of Tousley Brain Stephens PLLC; Patrick J. Stueve, Todd E. Hilton, Stephen D. Ahal and Joy D. Merklen of Stueve Siegel Hanson LLP; Christopher S. Shank and David L. Heinemann of Shank & Heinemann LLC; and John J. Schirger, Joseph M. Feierabend and Katherine A. Feierabend of Schirger Feierabend LLC.
The Costco class action lawsuit is West v. Costco Wholesale Corp., Case No. 2:26-cv-02182, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
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