Back in March of last year, a massive recall of pet foods began because of tainted ingredients from China. It came amid news of lead-laced toys and Christmas ornaments, chemical baby bottles, and a whole host of other dangerous products. Wal-Mart sold it all, and they, along with companies manufacturing the dangerous pet foods, were sued. The suit settled recently and the court says pet owners are owed $24 million. Wal-Mart and the pet food manufacturers will pay families whose pets died or became sick because of the tainted food.
The Wall Street Journal has the story:
Pet-Food Companies Settle LawsuitA group of about 30 companies sued over contaminated pet food linked to the deaths of perhaps thousands of dogs and cats have agreed to pay $24 million to pet owners in the U.S. and Canada.
The deal would affect people who incurred expenses directly related to the illness or death of a pet linked to the food, which was at the center of the biggest-ever U.S. pet-food recall in 2007. Many affected pet-food makers are still trying to win back previously loyal users who switched brands following the recall.
Among the companies settling the suit are Menu Foods Income Fund; Procter & Gamble Co., which makes Iams pet food; Colgate-Palmolive Co., maker of Hill's; Nestle's SA, maker of Purina; and Mars Inc., maker of Pedigree. Retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc., Target Corp., Petco Animal Supplies Inc. and Pet Smart Inc. were also part of the suit.
Nearly 300 people sued the companies in state and federal courts. They and perhaps thousands of other pet owners would be eligible for payments under the deal. The settlement is detailed in papers filed late Thursday in U.S. District Court in Camden, N.J. It still needs a judge's approval. A court hearing on the settlement is scheduled for Friday.
"We think it's a strong settlement legally and economically for affected pet owners in the wake of a terrible tragedy," said Russell Paul, a lawyer for plaintiffs in the suit.
"We are fully supportive of the agreement and confident that this matter is moving toward a resolution," said a Mars spokeswoman. P&G said that since the recall, it has changed its ingredient sourcing and relaunched affected wet foods with new packaging and improved formulas.The pet food was discovered to contain wheat gluten imported from China that was contaminated with melamine, a chemical used to make plastics. Menu Foods was the first company to issue recalls.
Some of the companies have already paid out more than $8 million to people whose pets were sickened or died after eating the contaminated food.
Posted by Taylor - May 27, 2008 12:46 PM - In The News
I purchased Walmart dog food called Ol roy Meaty chunks N gravey 8112169630 and my dog is now in the hospital..I ate something that caused him to be sick...please reply..
Posted by esther grona - October 15, 2008 11:11 AM