Class Claims Beneful Dog Food Kills Pets

SAN FRANCISCO (CN) - Nestlé Purina's Beneful dog food has killed or sickened thousands of dogs, a class action claims in Federal Court.

Lead plaintiff Frank Lucido claims defendant Nestle´ Purina Petcare Company has received more than 3,000 online complaints about dogs becoming ill or dying after eating Beneful in the past four years.

He blames the problems on the presence of propylene glycol, an automotive antifreeze component, and grains with fungus that produce mycotoxins.

Nestle´ Purina has sold Beneful since 2001.

"The dogs show consistent symptoms, including stomach and related internal bleeding, liver malfunction or failure, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, weight loss, seizures, bloat, and kidney failure," according to the complaint.

Lucido claims that after he bought his first bag of Beneful, one of his three dogs died, another became "violently ill," and the other has been "unwell ... and is currently undergoing medical testing."

Dozer, the dog that died, was found to have signs of internal bleeding and lesions on his liver, according to the complaint.

Lucido seeks punitive damages for breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation, strict products liability, consumer law violations, unfair competition and false advertising.

He's represented by Jeffrey Cereghino, with Ram, Olson, Cereghino, & Kopczynski, in San Francisco.

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