Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Lawsuit Alleges Major Pet Food Manufacturer Has Been Feeding Animals Lead

BY MATTHEW RUSSELL

Blue Buffalo has not been immune to errors in quality control over the past few years. The pet food manufacturer has issued three recalls in 2017 alone, and it now faces a lawsuit that alleges its products have been causing lead poisoning.
California resident Vladi Zakinov filed a class-action lawsuit against Blue Buffalo after his 4-year-old cocker spaniel-poodle mix, Coco, was stricken with an acute kidney disease and died after eating the food daily.
Healthy Pets reports that lead was discovered in the dog’s bodily tissues after death. Zakinov’s case blames Blue Buffalo for that death.
Source: Pexels
Source: Pexels
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration sets the permissible amount of lead in a food product at 5 parts per billion, but a third-party lab found excess amounts in the following Blue Buffalo foods:
Blue Buffalo ProductLead (parts per billion)
Blue Wilderness Chicken Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs200 ppb
Blue Freedom Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs140 ppb
Blue Basics Grain-Free Turkey and Potato Recipe for Adult Dogs840 ppb
Zakinov’s case asserts that Blue Buffalo did not protect its customers from lead poisoning by warning them of lead in their products or the health issues lead-tainted foods can cause. He wants to be paid back for the food he purchased from the company back when he believed its positioning as a healthy and holistic option.
He also wants compensation for Coco’s veterinary bills and the loss of his friend.

LEAD POISONING

When lead is ingested, it can take the place of zinc and calcium in cells, gradually building up and affecting the gastrointestinal tract and nervous system.
Source: Pxhere
Source: Pxhere
PetMD maintains that young animals and dogs are the most common victims of lead poisoning, although cats are also vulnerable.
Lead poisoning symptoms include:
  • Vomiting
  • Poor appetite
  • Loss of balance
  • Diarrhea
  • Seizures
  • Blindness
  • And eventually, death
If you notice your pet exhibiting any of these symptoms, call a veterinarian immediately. They will need to understand your pet’s health and environmental history, as well as run a number of tests to see if lead is an issue.
Source: Pexels
Source: Pexels
Pet food has long been a source of worry for pet owners and health officials. Reports of salmonella contamination are frequent and threaten not only animals eating the food but also the owners handling it. Nutritional deficiencies and toxins have been found in pet foods as well — including melamine, which has led to multiple pet deaths.

Click the button below to join those who are making a difference by demanding stricter regulations for pet food!
 

Thanks for visiting my blog for the animals. It's always great to connect with another animal lover. If you and I don't speak up for them, who will? 

POTW feature
Coins That Count: 
Is your coin jar overflowing? Turn that loose change into cash that helps animals by donating to The HSUS at participating Coinstar machines nationwide. Where to go» Find a Kiosk near you...

                                             
Until next time….hug your animals. Tell them you love them. If you don’t have a pet, adopt one. Make adoption your first option when seeking a pet. Adopt. Don’t shop. Can’t adopt. Please consider fostering one. The animal will have the taste of home and the shelter will cover the expenses. Can’t foster? Make a donation or volunteer at your local shelter. Please, don’t hunt. Unless you’re starving down in a ditch somewhere, there is no logical reason to do so. Whatever you do, however you do it, please be a voice for the animals large and small. All it takes is one to make a difference, good or bad.
    FYI: To find an animal in need of a home; to find an animal shelter near you, check out www.petfinder.com
                                     
Together, you and I can make a difference in an animal's life.  I’m one for the animals. Are you? Thanks for visiting. Stay safe. Be strong. Be happy. Smile. Show compassion. Be nice to one another. Pass it onward. If you like what you see here, please consider signing up to become a follower. Please feel free to share this post with others.
                                                         

    Regards,
    S.J. Francis
    In Shattered Lies: "Good and bad, it's All About Family."  Available now from Black Opal Books and for sale at on-line retailers and independent booksellers.
   “Some secrets should remain that way.” 
      My Black Opal Books Author Page:
                 My web page: http://www.sjfranciswriter.com
                                     Twitter: https://twitter.com/sjfrancis419
FYI: To find an animal in need of a home; to find an animal shelter near you, check out www.petfinder.com

 Facebook fan page:  https://www.facebook.com/pages/SJ-Francis/480058115420325
                  My writing Blog: http://sjfranciswriter.blogspot.com
                                                     

         A Book Review 4 U: http://abookreview4u.blogspot.com
                  A Consumer's View: http://aconsumersview.blogspot.com
                   

And now for some legal stuff: Copyright 2017 by S.J. Francis. Opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, S. J. Francis and are meant to entertain, inform and enlighten, and intend to offend no one.
                                                        
 FYI: To find an animal in need of a home; to find an animal shelter near you, check out www.petfinder.com
                                                                                                Remember: Animals have no voice. We must be their voice. Always. Forever. Anywhere and everywhere. See an animal being abused or abandoned. Call the police, Sheriff, FBI.

No comments:

Post a Comment