Zesty Paws Dog Supplements Contain Less of Joint Health Ingredient Than Advertised, Class Action Claims

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

A proposed class action alleges six varieties of Zesty Paws nutritional supplements for dogs contain less of certain active ingredients than buyers were promised, calling into question the products’ overall quality.

The 14-page lawsuit says that although the label of Zesty Paws Vet Strength Mobility Bites, for example, claims the supplement contains 100mg of chondroitin sulfate, a compound that supports healthy cartilage, connective tissue and joint function in dogs, independent laboratory analysis has shown that the product contains less than 2.5 mg of chondroitin sulfate, or less than 2.5 percent of the amount promised. 

The suit adds that although the label of Zesty Paws Hemp Elements Mobility Bites states that the supplement contains 125 mg of chondroitin, lab tests were “unable to detect the presence of this ingredient.” For Zesty Paws Multifunctional 8-in-1 Bites, which are said to contain 75 mg of chondroitin sulfate, analyzed lab samples showed “no detectable amount less than 2.5 mg,” less than 3.5 percent of the amount buyers were promised, the filing says.  

Further, although the label of the Zesty Paws Aller-Immune Bites and Multifunctional 8-in-1 Bites claim that the products also contain probiotics, live microorganisms that benefit a dog’s immune system and gut health, independent lab analysis showed that neither contained as many colony forming units (CFU) as advertised, the suit alleges. 

“Independent laboratory analysis of the Aller-Immune Bites concluded that instead of containing 250 million CFU of lactobacillus bacteria per 4 g, it contained 72,000 CFU of lactobacillus bacteria, which is less than one thousandth of a percent of the promised amount. 

The Multifunctional 8-in-1 Bites promised 500 million CFU of lactobacillus bacteria per 4 g, but lab analysis detected 60,000 CFU per 4 g, slightly greater than one thousandth of a percent of the promised amount.”

Further still, the case says that the products’ labels claim that they’re free from artificial flavors, preservatives, and colors; made with human-grade ingredients in the United States; and approved and endorsed by the third-party National Animal Supplement Council, and therefore create the expectation that the chews are “high quality” and “free of harmful contaminants.” Lab analysis, however, allegedly found that the Vet Strength Mobility Bites had an aerobic microbial count of 140,000 CFU per gram. According to the filing, this amount is “14 times greater” than the limit recommended by the United States Pharmacopeial Convention for nutritional supplements containing botanicals.

“Plaintiff paid more for the Products than he would have had he known the representations and omissions were false and misleading, and he would not have bought them or would have paid less,” the suit contends. 

The lawsuit looks to cover all persons in Illinois, Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, West Virginia, Kansas, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska and Utah who bought any of the Zesty Paws highlighted on this page, as well as Zesty Paws Ancient Elements Mobility Bites and Core Elements Mobility Flavor Infusions, within the applicable statute of limitations period. 

Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox – sign up for ClassAction.org’s free weekly newsletter here.