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
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 Product | Lead (parts per billion) |
|---|---|
| Blue Wilderness Chicken Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs | 200 ppb |
| Blue Freedom Grain-Free Chicken Recipe for Small Breed Adult Dogs | 140 ppb |
| Blue Basics Grain-Free Turkey and Potato Recipe for Adult Dogs | 840 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
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
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.
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