Class Action Lawsuit Claims Taste of The Wild Grain-Free Dog Food Misrepresented as Healthy and Safe

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Taste of the Wild grain-free dog food is deceptively marketed as healthy and safe, given that there exists no medical or scientific justification for feeding a dog a grain-free diet high in legume or pulse ingredients.

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The 38-page complaint contends that defendant Schell & Kampeter, Inc. has misled consumers into believing its Taste of the Wild dog food is healthier and more natural for dogs even in the face of evidence that dogs who consistently consume the grain-free food have an increased risk of developing dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a fatal heart disease.

The case says that while the scientific and academic communities have known of the DCM risk for dogs on grain-free diets for years, Taste of the Wild and other manufacturers have “taken numerous steps to minimize public awareness” of the problem, including by “refusing to disclose” the research and/or health risks online or on product packaging.

“Nowhere on the dog food packaging or website does Defendant inform consumers of its product’s association with serious cardiac health risks,” the class action lawsuit states. “When one searches DCM,’ ‘dilated cardiomyopathy,’ ‘cardiac risk,’ or ‘heart damage,’ in the search bar on Defendant’s Taste of the Wild website, the search locates nothing responsive.”

According to the complaint, DCM is a condition characterized by an enlarged, weakened left ventricle that ultimately reduces the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. Although certain larger breeds may be genetically predisposed to the disease, DCM can also develop due to dietary and lifestyle factors, the suit says.

The lawsuit claims that the rise in popularity of grain-free pet foods in recent decades has mirrored human dietary trends, such as low-carb diets, and has allowed pet food companies to market grain-free products as premium, healthier alternatives. Taste of the Wild launched its grain-free wet and dry dog food line in 2007 on this basis, allegedly without conducting a meaningful feeding study to assess the safety of the food.

To this day, the class action lawsuit claims, Schell & Kampeter has not publicly disclosed any feeding study that substantiates its health and safety claims for the Taste of the Wild food at issue.

“Because there is no medical or scientific reason a dog should be fed a grain-free diet, pet owners are needlessly exposing their dogs to cardiac health risks by feeding them Taste of the Wild grain-free dog food, while also paying a premium for this dangerous dog food,” the filing states.

Related Reading: The Farmer’s Dog Foods ‘Grossly Out of Line’ With Canine Nutritional Needs, Class Action Alleges

Around 2009, veterinary researchers began to investigate links between diet-associated DCM and grain-free diets after observing the condition in dog breeds typically not predisposed to it, the filing relays. The lawsuit says that researchers found a correlation between DCM and dog foods high in plant-based proteins and legumes, including peas, lentils, chickpeas and other alternative ingredients commonly used as a substitute for grains.

In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began to investigate the development of non-hereditary DCM in dogs with diets high in legumes and plant-based proteins, the case continues. Per the suit, Taste of the Wild ranked in the top three among dog foods most frequently reported with DCM diagnoses, while other private-label dog foods manufactured by Schell & Kampeter also appeared prominently.

The complaint also alleges that the company received at least 110 reports between 2018 and 2022 involving canine DCM and other heart-disease-related deaths in dogs fed its grain-free products.

When a dog is diagnosed with DCM, the suit contends, it is an “established veterinary medical practice” to advise owners to stop feeding their pet a grain-free diet. The case mentions that the defendant is aware of studies that showed an improvement in canine heart function, including a full reversal of DCM, after an owner changes their dog’s diet from grain-free to a more traditional diet.

“In misrepresenting its product and failing to inform consumers of the implications of consuming Taste of the Wild grain-free dog food, Defendant abuses the public’s trust,” the lawsuit charges.

The Taste of the Wild class action lawsuit seeks to represent all individuals who purchased Taste of the Wild grain-free dog food in California in the last three years, including the following grain-free recipes:

• Appalachian Valley Small Breed Canine Recipe, High Prairie Canine Recipe, High Prairie Canine Recipe with Bison in Gravy, High Prairie Puppy Recipe, Pacific Stream Canine Recipe, Pacific Stream Canine Recipe with Salmon in Gravy, Pacific Stream Puppy Recipe, Pine Forest Canine Recipe, Sierra Mountain Canine Recipe, Sierra Mountain Canine Recipe with Lamb in Gravy, Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe, Southwest Canyon Canine Recipe with Beef in Gravy, Wetlands Canine Recipe, Wetlands Canine Recipe with Fowl in Gravy, Prey Angus Beef Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs, Prey Trout Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs and Prey Turkey Limited Ingredient Recipe for Dogs.

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