Mars Petcare class action alleges Pedigree dog food contains excessive vitamin D that may be dangerous

Mars Petcare dog food class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Two pet owners filed a class action lawsuit against Mars Petcare US Inc.
• Why: The plaintiffs allege Mars Petcare sells Pedigree dog food that contains excessive amounts of vitamin D.
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Tennessee federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit alleges Mars Petcare sells Pedigree dog food that contains excessive amounts of vitamin D.

Plaintiffs Helene Attias and Trisha Nadeau filed the class action complaint against Mars Petcare on May 2 in Tennessee federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the lawsuit, Mars Petcare manufactures and sells Pedigree Complete Nutrition Roasted Chicken & Vegetable dog kibble with excessive levels of vitamin D.

Attias and Nadeau allege that Mars Petcare markets the dog food as “100% Complete & Balanced” for dogs, leading consumers to believe it contains all necessary nutrients in appropriate amounts. However, independent testing reportedly found the kibble contains vitamin D levels far exceeding the maximum allowed by industry standards, the lawsuit claims.

The plaintiffs say they purchased the Pedigree kibble for their dogs, relying on the product’s labeling claims. However, after feeding the kibble to their pets, both dogs developed vomiting and diarrhea, symptoms consistent with vitamin D toxicity, the lawsuit states.

Pedigree kibble allegedly contains vitamin D levels four times higher than maximum limit

Vitamin D is essential for dogs in regulating calcium and phosphorus levels, but excessive amounts can lead to toxicity, causing symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst and urination and weight loss, the lawsuit explains.

The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) sets nutritional profiles for pet food, including maximum levels of vitamin D. 

The Pedigree kibble reportedly contained an average of 14,282 IU/kg of vitamin D, more than 28 times the minimum maintenance amount and 4.8 times the maximum allowed by the AAFCO, the lawsuit says.

Attias and Nadeau claim they paid a premium for the Pedigree kibble based on its advertised nutritional benefits but did not receive the product they were promised and would not have purchased the kibble had they known it contained excessive vitamin D.

The plaintiffs seek to represent anyone in the U.S. who purchased the allegedly contaminated kibble within the applicable statute of limitations. 

They are suing for violations of New York and Michigan state consumer laws and breach of express warranty and are seeking certification of the Mars Petcare dog food class action lawsuit, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Mars Petcare is still facing a lawsuit filed last year alleging that some of its pet food products marketed as “natural” contain multiple synthetic ingredients.

What do you think of the claims in this latest Mars Petcare dog food class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Mark Foster of the Law Office of Mark N. Foster PLLC and Brittany Scott of Smith Krivoshey P.C.

The Mars Petcare dog food class action lawsuit is Attias, et al. v. Mars Petcare US Inc., Case No. 3:25-cv-00507, in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, Nashville Division.

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