Federal Judge Rejects Claim That Champion’s ORIJEN Dog Foods Are Unsafe

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Press release: Champion Petfoods

U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Kellie Loeb, Plaintiff v. Champion Petfoods USA, Inc.
Case number 18-CV-494-JPS
U.S. District Judge J.P. Stadtmueller.

A federal district court granted Champion Petfoods’ motion for summary judgment in a class action lawsuit that alleged that trace amounts of naturally occurring heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) were present in plaintiff’s dog foods at excessive and unsafe levels, such that they rendered Champion’s advertising statements false or misleading. The judge granted Champion’s motion for summary judgement and dismissed the plaintiff’s claims with prejudice.

Backed by expert witness testimony, Champion argued that its pet food consumed by the plaintiff’s dogs was safe and healthy. The court also noted that it was not presented with any facts that tied what the plaintiff’s dogs ate to any possible illness.

“The court’s opinion is consistent with Champion Petfoods’ position that its foods are safe and that the trace amounts of heavy metals are naturally occurring in the healthy ingredients used by Champion. We vigorously fought the allegations in this case and will do the same in any other cases that assert similar claims,” said Champion Petfoods trial counsel Dave Coulson.