Manufacturers, Retailers Settle Pet Food Recall Lawsuits
Several companies that manufactured or sold contaminated pet food during last year’s historic recall agreed in May to pay a total of $24 million to U.S. and Canadian owners whose pets got sick or died as a result of eating the food.
Defendants include Menu Foods Income Fund (Streetsville, Ontario), numerous pet food manufacturers and several retailers—including PetSmart, Petco, Wal-Mart, Target and Canada-based Sobeys.
A final hearing to approve the settlement is scheduled for Oct. 14 at the U.S. District Court in Camden, N.J.
Under the settlement agreement, which will resolve more than 100 class-action lawsuits filed in 20 states and in Canada, pet owners can recover all documented expenses for pets that were injured or died as a result of consuming recalled products. Owners without expense documentation will be eligible to receive payments up to $900.
The settlement will not compensate plaintiffs for pain and suffering—which has upset many pet owners, according to articles posted on ConsumerAffairs.com.
Settlement funds will be administered by a neutral claims administrator. Money left over after all claims are paid will go to animal welfare charities.
People with potential claims can contact the claims administrator at 800-392-7785 or visit www.petfoodsettlement.com.
First announced in March 2007, the pet food recall was tied to melamine-contaminated wheat gluten and rice protein concentrate imported from China. The recall involved more than 150 brands of dog and cat food. [August 2008 PET AGE]
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