Brigette Honaker  |  March 29, 2018

Category: Consumer News

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ORIJEN-Original-dog-foodA new class action lawsuit has been filed alleging that Orijen and Acana dog food contains arsenic and other heavy metals that are dangerous for pets.

Plaintiff Kellie Loeb recently filed a class action lawsuit against Champion Petfoods alleging that their dog food contains arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. The dog food in question is sold under the brand names Orijen and Acana.

According to the class action lawsuit, Champion’s advertising states that Orijen “features 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.”

Allegedly, a 25-pound bag of dog food can cost more than $80, up to four times the price of other competitors. The Orijen, Acana dog food class action lawsuit alleges that consumers pay a higher price because the food is represented as healthy and fresh.

The class action lawsuit argues that Champion dog food contains dangerous levels of heavy metals, including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. On average, the products contain 890 micrograms of arsenic per kilogram of food, 230 micrograms of lead per kilogram of food, 90 micrograms of cadmium per kilogram of food, and 20 micrograms of mercury per kilogram of food.

In comparison, chicken, turkey, and eggs contain anywhere from zero to six micrograms per kilogram of the heavy metals. The data, given in a paper published by Champion Petfoods, shows heavy metal concentrations that are much higher than in food humans consider safe to eat.

These metals are considered toxic to both humans and dogs. Heavy metals tend to accumulate in dogs, so long-term exposure, even in small amounts, can allegedly cause serious health problems. Dogs experiencing metal poisoning may exhibit vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lethargy, weakness, blood in stool, staggering, hysteria, seizures, blindness, loss of consciousness, or death.

The Orijen, Acana class action lawsuit claims that Champion falsely represents and advertises its dog food as safe, fresh, and healthy when in reality, the dog food contains arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Loeb argues that Champion uses deceptive advertising to induce consumers into paying exorbitant prices for their dog food products. By this logic, the consumers did not get what they paid for as advertised and are owed money back, according to the plaintiff.

“Plaintiff and other members of the Class purchased Defendant’s products to their detriment because they paid a premium price expecting the goods to conform to the representations on the Products’ labels that the Products contained high quality, healthy ingredients that would be fit for human consumption,” the Orijen, Acana dog food class action lawsuit states.

Loeb seeks to represent a Class of consumers in Wisconsin who purchased a Champion dry dog food product on or after March 28, 2015. The Orijen, Acana class action lawsuit seeks a Class certification, a trial by jury, damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The plaintiff is represented by Ben Barnow and Erich Schork of Barnow and Associates PC; and Shpetim Ademi, John Blythin, and Mark Eldridge of Ademi and O’Reilly LLP.

The Orijen, Acana Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit is Loeb v. Champion Petfoods USA Inc., et al., Case No. 2:18-cv-00494-NJ, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

UPDATE April 11, 2018: A second Orijen, Acana Dog Food Class Action Lawsuit claiming the dog food contains arsenic, lead, and mercury has been filed in Ohio federal court.

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186 thoughts onOrijen, Acana Dog Food Contains Arsenic, Class Action Claims

  1. Frederic Eisele says:

    Add me. We use to feed our dog this food but she was always getting sick. Throwing and diarrhea, constantly.

  2. Kenneth J Kleinowski says:

    Add me

  3. Kara Mccullum says:

    Add me please

  4. patricia says:

    thought I checked for best food available. used it for thee years but my little one kept getting sick and my other dog wouldn’t eat it so changed. couldn’t believe with all the research I did I was actually hurting my dogs. would like to be in on the suit. thank you

  5. patricia says:

    I used this food for three years. stopped using it because my older dog was getting sick and wouldn’t eat it, and my other dog stopped eating it. it was the highest rated dog food and I thought I was doing good for my dogs. no are on another brand .

  6. Charles says:

    Add me my dogs used this

  7. Joann Scott says:

    Add me

  8. Justin says:

    I do not think THIS IS FAKE AT ALL.

    Please add me, I had been contacted Orijen customer service for multiple times already that asking them I start to doubt if it was recalled on the bag. My dogs had some bad diarrhea with the new bag, My all dogs are healthy in general and never had been sick before. I found some large weird crumble stuff in a bag and did not looks right and the odor was not either to compare with the usual bag, etc. The customer service responded there could be some ingredients did not mix into well. I sent multiple photos and they replaced my bag.
    I am so glad that finally, someone is taking action for this. I have been purchasing Orijen/ Acana dog food for a very long time and I was wondering why the dog foods quality/looks have been changed gradually since after KY factory taking over.

  9. Kristal Jetkins says:

    Please add me. This is very upsetting. I’ve been feeding the Acana to my 12 year old baby girl (I’ve had her since she was 4 weeks old) for a little over a year now because of all the praise. Wow!

    1. Top Class Actions says:

      The case is still moving through the courts and has not yet reached a settlement. Claim forms are usually not made available to consumers until after a court approved settlement is reached. We recommend you sign up for a free account at TopClassActions.com and follow the case. We will update the article with any major case developments or settlement news! Setting up a free account with Top Class Actions will allow you to receive instant updates on ANY article that you ‘Follow’ on our website. A link to creating an account may be found here: https://topclassactions.com/signup/. You can then ‘Follow’ the article above, and get notified immediately when we post updates!

  10. Nan says:

    Took my dog off of it on Sunday he was experiencing all the symptoms as listed switched to science diet, right away different dog.
    Very very upsetting to know that a premium dog food company has not been a trusting one and now I’m hoping my dog does not get damaged. Never will I buy premium

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