Purina Pet Food Products Contain Known Carcinogen, Class Action Lawsuit Claims

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A proposed class action lawsuit out of Missouri claims Nestle Purina PetCare Company knowingly sold pet food products that contained glyphosate, a known carcinogen.

The lawsuit claims that although Purina marketed its products as “safe” for pets, several studies have found that the dog and cat foods may contain “an alarming amount” of glyphosate, a biocide and endocrine disruptor linked to liver damage and cancer in animals.

According to the case, Purina represents on packaging and through statements on its website that the safety and quality of its products are the company’s “top priority.” Assuring customers that Purina pet food undergoes “thousands of quality & safety checks,” the defendant insists that the dog and cat foods it sells will be “without risk” to pets, the lawsuit alleges.

Despite these representations, Purina, the case claims, fails to disclose to customers that its pet food products contain glyphosate, a chemical found in Roundup weed killer that has been the subject of multibillion-dollar lawsuits due to its apparent link to cancer. The suit notes that glyphosate has been known to present “significant health risks” to animals that can lead to serious disease even when present in small amounts.

The lawsuit cites two studies that reportedly revealed “significant levels” of glyphosate in Purina pet food products that were well above the level considered to be safe. The studies also noted that the effects of exposure to glyphosate can be “latent,” with symptoms taking a number of years to manifest, the lawsuit says.

The case argues that Purina’s alleged misrepresentations are especially egregious given the pet food maker both holds itself out to the public as a “trusted expert” in the production of safe, quality products and continues to sell the pet food with no mention of the presence of glyphosate.

“To this day, Purina continues to misrepresent, conceal, and suppress information about the safety risks posed by the glyphosate in the Products in its advertising and communications with purchasers,” the complaint reads.

The suit claims the affected Purina products include:

The lawsuit, filed on April 1, looks to represent Missouri residents who purchased any of the above-listed Purina products within the past five years.

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