Champion Petfoods Facing Class Action in MA Over Alleged Failure to Disclose Heavy Metals in Dog, Cat Food

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Champion Petfoods USA, Inc. and Champion Petfoods LP are the defendants in a proposed class action that seeks to represent Massachusetts consumers who purchased the companies’ Acana and Orijen pet foods. According to the 39-page complaint, the pet foods in question are contaminated with “levels of arsenic, mercury, lead, cadmium and/or bisphenol A (BPA)” not disclosed by Champion in the products’ marketing and advertising or on product labels.

The lawsuit alleges that despite knowing of the risks posed by exposure to heavy metals, Champion nonetheless sold its Acana and Orijen pet foods without disclosing the presence of contaminants to consumers. Moreover, the case argues Champion knew or should have known its products would be the only source of food for many consumers’ pets, and that such repeated exposure to heavy metals could have disastrous health effects.

The case goes a step further in claiming the defendants’ alleged non-disclosures are even more egregious given Champion’s “long-standing campaign” to market its pet foods as “biologically appropriate” and comprised of “fresh regional ingredients.”

Below are the Champion pet foods alleged in the complaint to be contaminated with heavy metals: 

• Acana Regionals Appalachian Ranch with Ranch-Raised Red;
• Acana Regionals Wild Atlantic with New Wild New England Fish & Fresh Kentucky Greens;
• Acana Heritage Freshwater Fish Formula Dry Food;
• Orijen Regional Red Angus Beef, Ranch Raised Lamb, Wild Boar, Pork, Bison Dry Food;
• Orijen Regional Red with Angus Beef, Wild Boar, Boer Goat, Romney Lamb, Yorkshire Pork & Wild Mackerel; and
• Orijen Six Fish with New England Mackerel, Herring, Flounder, Redfish, Monkfish and Silver Hake.