A class action lawsuit claims that Orijen and Acana dog foods contain toxic metals including lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury despite being advertised as “fit for human consumption.”
Plaintiffs Tracy Simpson and Danika Lolles claim that two brands of dog foods produced by Champion Petfoods USA Inc. are falsely marketed as being made with “fresh, regional ingredients that are biologically appropriate.”
Simpson and Lolles claim that Champion Petfood’s advertisement of the dog foods as being of high quality, and containing fresh, natural ingredients represents false advertisement, breach of warranty, and breach of implied warranty.
Allegedly, the food is advertised as being healthy for dogs, while their inclusion of heavy metals is actively harmful to dogs.
The Orijen, Acana dog food class action lawsuit claims that Champion Petfoods intentionally caters to consumers’ desire for natural products without harmful chemicals in their purchasing choices for dog foods.
Allegedly, Orijen is advertised to feature “fresh, raw, or dehydrated ingredients, from minimally processed poultry, fish and eggs that are deemed fit for human consumption prior to inclusion in our foods.” The pet owners claim that this statement is intended to convince consumers that the food is of such high quality that even humans could eat it.
Acana is similarly advertised with language touting its natural ingredients. The Acana label states that the food is “bursting with richly nourishing meat and protein from free-fun chicken, whole, nest-laid eggs and wild-caught flounder — all delivered fresh from our region so they’re loaded with goodness and taste.”
The Champion Petfoods class action lawsuit alleges that the dog food maker financially benefits from catering to consumers’ preference for natural foods. Simpson and Lolles claim that dog owners prefer natural products so much over other products that they are willing to pay substantially more for natural foods.
In this vein, the plaintiffs state that Champion Petfoods prices Orijen and Acana dog foods at almost four times the price of regular dog food — at nearly $80 per bag.
However, the dog food class action lawsuit claims that the food is not natural, healthy for dogs, or fit for human consumption, as claimed in advertisements or on the product’s labeling. Allegedly, Champion itself produced a paper that detailed average metal levels in its food. The consumers claim that the results of the paper show metal levels that are well above what a dog or a human can safely consume.
The pet owners note that “a dog experiencing lead poisoning may exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, regurgitation, weakness, hysteria, seizures, and blindness.” They go on to state that “a dog experiencing arsenic poisoning may exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, staggering, bright red blood in feces, loss of consciousness, and death.”
Simpson and Lolles state that had they known that the dog foods contained heavy metals, they would not have paid as much for the food as they did, or would not have bought them at all. They seek compensation for financial injury for themselves and similarly affected consumers.
Another Orijen, Acana dog food class action lawsuit filed in April made similar claims.
The plaintiffs are represented by Robert R. Sparks, Richard S. Wayne, and Joseph J. Braun of Strauss Troy; Phyllis E. Brown and Adam S. Brown of Brown Law Firm LLC; and Ben Barnow and Erich P. Schork of Barnow and Associates PC.
The Orijen, Acana Contaminated Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit is Tracy Simpson, et al. v. Champion Petfoods USA Inc., et al., Case No. 2:18-cv-00074-WOB-CJS, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky, at Covington.
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8 thoughts onOrijen, Acana Class Action Claims Dog Foods Contain Toxic Metals
My two tiny Yorkies’s have been on acana since they were born. Puppy changed to jr food which they threw up on and I called acana which they have great customer service. They suggested lamb and they have never been sick and their stools are normal. So when was theses metals showed up in the foods. My dogs are six now and never had an issue after the change to lamb. So again when was this so called metal problem started? Is it in all the foods and is there proof it was from the food or could be from treats given. I looked into the food before I put them on it and everything was grown out west.
Is it from fish that are known
For metals. Which can be found in treats too. Anything with fish. I would like to know the outcome of law suit. Now I heard they sold the company which has made me scared because it may have changed where they get ingredients. So if you can answer any of my questions I would be happy. Also if you know anything about the company that bought them. Mars they own royal canine which has had recalls Any information would be available
I’ve been feeding orijen food for over a year thinking my dogs were getting the best. At over 80.00 a bag it should be. The claims they made about their food quality made me feel good about it. My oldest dog started getting sick several months ago a never for a minute thought it was the food, I though it was his age. So after 3 months of uncontrollable loose bowels and diapers and with much sadness we took him for one last trip to the vets office. He had losted so much weight and he was so weak he couldn’t stand. We still cry over loosing him.
Now my other dog is showing the same symtoms, that spurred me to do some research and I’m so upset. I took the last bag of Orijen I bought back to feeders supply for a refund and started cooking boiled chicken and rice for my dog Sam. He immediately responded and seemed better. When I added some kibbles left from an opened bag the symptoms started up again. Thus is Friday and hes been on the chicken rice diet as long as I dare keep him on it. If he can’t eat normal by Monday I’m taking him to be checked out. Maybe tested for heavy metals. It makes me sick , I’m so sad, I thought I was giving him the best only to find out its poison. How can I get involved in the Kentucky class action suite? I live in Louisville. Please email me.
Hi Judy,
I am so sorry for your tremendous loss and the pain your dog experienced.
I feel badly for asking you for help given what you experienced but perhaps you would be able to answer some of my concerns.
I have been feeding my one-year-old golden retriever Orijen dog food for the past 2 months as I overheard a salesperson at Petco talking about the superior quality of Orijen compared to other brands with added fillers etc.
I don’t know if they have changed their dog food and eliminated these toxic metals but I am very concerned. Do you know how I can get more information without hearing a biased point of view from the manufacturers?
I would greatly appreciate it.
Thank you,
Marianne
I have three dogs a mix rescue and two purebred Great Danes , the mix is an old man but my two Danes just hit a year 2-15-23. On Tuesday 2-28-23 one of my Danes had a seizure at home (never happened before) we took him to the emergency vet and then did basic labs and nothing showed so we went home and at 8:30 pm he had his second so I rushed him back to the vet and they kept him over night and immediately put him on keppra and he made it through the night. He is currently being prescribed 6 , 750 mg of keppra and hasn’t had one since. I’ve just found this lawsuit and all 3 of my dogs eat Orijen.
I have three dogs a mix rescue and two purebred Great Danes , the mix is an old man but my two Danes just hit a year 2-15-23. On Tuesday 2-28-23 one of my Danes had a seizure at home (never happened before) we took him to the emergency vet and then did basic labs and nothing showed so we went home and at 8:30 pm he had his second so I rushed him back to the vet and they kept him over night and immediately put him on keppra and he made it through the night. He is currently being prescribed 6 , 750 mg of keppra and hasn’t had one since. I’ve just found this lawsuit and many others similar to this and all 3 of my dogs eat Orijen.
This is so ridiculous we pay top dollar to poison our dogs.I.believe Companys like this should be shut down.I wont be buying any food from this company they have lost i integrity and my business. I am making my dog.food from this point on.
I bought two bags of Orijen,Acano brand dog food because I wanted a great high protein all natural ingredients for my dog so I had this extra cash at the time and really wanted to do something good for my pet. I was so scared when I see my poor dog with diarrhea everyday and not active like he was and I even saw blood in his stools. A vet told me about this food that would eventualy kill my precious pet. The makers of this food should be held accountable. If I read on the bag that this is so good for the health of your pet ,well we are supposed to believe it. I have seen so so many products that arent good for your pets or yourselfs. UNBELIEVEABLE.
I bought two bags of champian dog food because I wanted a great high protein all natural ingredients for my dog so I had this extra cash at the time and really wanted to do something good for my pet. I was so disapointed and scared when I see my poor dog diarea everyday and not active like he was and I even saw blood in his stools. A vet told me about this food that would eventualy kill my precious pet. The makers of this food should be held accountable.