Nature’s Recipe ‘Natural’ Dog Foods Contain Synthetic Ingredients, Class Action Lawsuit Claims

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges that Nature’s Recipe dog foods are misrepresented in that the supposedly natural products contain dozens of synthetic ingredients.

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The 24-page lawsuit against Post Consumer Brands alleges that the company’s advertising and marketing for Nature’s Recipe products are misleading to consumers, as they convey a “clear and unified” message that the dog food is comprised only of natural ingredients. The case claims that Post Consumer Brands’ own ingredients lists show that each Nature’s Recipe product contains at least two synthetic ingredients, such as ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, calcium iodate, copper sulfate, and roughly 40 others.

The dog foods at issue in the Nature’s Recipe class action lawsuit include:

• -Nature's Recipe Freeze Dried Blend — Chicken, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe with Freeze Dried Chicken Bites;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Salmon, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Lamb, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Puppy Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Puppy Lamb & Rice Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Small Breed Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Large Breed Chicken, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Small Bites Chicken, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe;
• -Nature’s Recipe Chicken, Barley & Turkey Recipe in Savory Broth;
• -Nature’s Recipe Chicken, Wild Salmon & Brown Rice Recipe in Savory Broth;
• -Nature's Recipe Lamb, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Chicken, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Mature Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Easy-to-Digest Chicken, Barley & Brown Rice Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Beef, Sweet Potato & Pumpkin Recipe;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Chicken Recipe in Savory Broth;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Chicken & Venison Recipe in Savory Broth;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Chicken & Duck Recipe in Savory Broth;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Chicken & Beef Recipe in Savory Broth;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Chicken & Turkey Recipe in Savory Broth;
• -Nature's Recipe Grain Free Chicken & Lamb Recipe in Savory Broth; and
• -Nature's Recipe Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe.

According to the class action lawsuit, marketing materials for Nature’s Recipe pet food extensively promote the products as “natural,” stating that “Nature’s Recipe dog food includes natural ingredients with added vitamins, minerals, and nutrients,” and that the food is “simply a tasty, natural dog food” comprised of “wholesome, natural ingredients.”

Moreover, Nature’s Recipe uses on product packaging and in marketing materials imagery of raw ingredients and outdoor settings that are “evocative of nature,” including design elements and visual cues, like the color green, that suggest natural sourcing, “environmental purity” and minimal processing, the case states.

Based on Nature’s Recipe’s statements and packaging, consumers understood that the dog food products were composed entirely of “wholly natural” ingredients, the filing states.

Consumers tend to seek out natural products due to their perceived health, safety, and quality benefits and are willing to pay a price premium for those benefits, the case relays. The lawsuit says that the plaintiffs and other consumers would not have purchased the pet food, or would have paid significantly less for it, had they known the products were not entirely natural as represented.

The Nature’s Recipe class action lawsuit looks to cover all individuals who were citizens of California at the time of purchase and who bought any of the products listed on this page in the state while physically located in California, or for delivery to a California address, within the last four years.

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