Jill Weighs in on the Purina Pet Food Lawsuit

• Posted on 5 March 2015
• By Dr. Jill Tack
• Posted in Nestlé Purina PetCare, Purina Pet Food, Purina pet food deaths, Purina Pet Food Lawsuit
• 0

Oh, Nestlé Purina PetCare. First it was the “pissing match” between you and Blue Buffalo. Now your ingredients are causing health issues and even death in our precious furry family members.

Oh, Nestlé Purina PetCare. First it was the “pissing match” between you and Blue Buffalo. Now your ingredients are causing health issues and even death in our precious furry family members.

Purina’s lawsuit with Blue Buffalo is still ongoing and claims that Blue Buffalo is using ingredients with byproducts and making false marketing claims. Blue Buffalo is countersuing Purina saying that their independent testing is “junk science.” Purina has been quick to claim that their first ingredient is “integrity.” We can now see that any minuscule amount of integrity that this conglomerate once had has flown out the window with their use of lethal pet food ingredients.

Toxic Ingredients Approved for Consumption

A California man’s current civil lawsuit against Purina states that many pets have exhibited severe health complaints up to, and including death. This lawsuit has received much attention lately — even in mainstream media. It seems that many of the news channels are hyper-focusing on one ingredient called “propylene glycol.” Sadly, this ingredient is also approved for human consumption. We often find propylene glycol in human foods such as ice cream (Cold Stone, Edy’s, and Blue Bunny), liquor (Fireball Whiskey), flavored iced tea (Dunkin’ Donuts), Nestea flavored water enhancers, Betty Crocker cake frosting and boxed cake mixes, food dyes, salad dressings, juices, sodas… and the list goes on. The reason you may not know the extent of food items for humans that also contain harmful ingredients is because they often label it as “artificial coloring or flavoring,” which easily disguises it. The main difference between humans and our animals is that we have a way to verbalize to a naturopath, doctor, or friend when we don't feel good and what the pain/aches may feel like. We often vary our diet so we don’t eat the same item at every single meal and allow chemicals to build up in our systems. Our pets don't have a voice to tell us what is wrong, or if they don’t like the food. Sometimes their mannerisms will tell us they don’t like the food, but we have to be mindful of those behaviors.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved propylene glycol, as well as many other harmful ingredients into the human food chain; including what goes into our animal’s food. In addition to propylene glycol, the FDA has also deemed it safe for our animals and us to eat the weed killer Roundup. Roundup is found in our genetically modified (GMO) crops such as corn, beets, and soy (often ingredients used in animal feed). In the bigger picture maybe it isn't the propylene glycol causing the death of these pets; perhaps it’s the weed killer (or a combination of the two) that is causing the deaths? What we do know is that over 4,000 animals, all with the common denominator of eating Purina Beneful, just can’t be ignored. There is obviously something out of balance in their formula, whether it’s the chemical ingredients or the ingredients being nutritionally out of balance. Science cannot and will not replicate nature. You can’t use synthetic ingredients to make bioavailable nutrients to sustain a healthy life.

There have been many studies done on animals showing how deadly Roundup is when eaten on a continual basis. The body continues to store these toxins and poisons because it doesn't know how to metabolize foreign proteins or chemicals. Many times this leads to tumors as a result of the body trying to encapsulate these foreign chemicals and wall-off such deadly molecules. GMO foods cause stomach linings to grow out of control. It causes stillborn births, sterility, and death.

I personally don’t consider Purina or any low-end food option a “gateway” food. We do not and will not recommend these food options to your pets. These foods are toxic and they have poisonous ingredients. It’s the same reason I don’t recommend any human eating at McDonald’s. And McDonald’s for sure isn’t a “gateway” food to a better diet of fruits and veggies. It’s more than that. It’s about a lifestyle change. In reality, large conglomerates care more about their pocketbooks (including the bottom line), not the health and wellness of your furry family member. They don’t feel the need to educate consumers on how they choose ingredients. They use many marketing gimmicks that may mimic something looking “natural” or “wholesome” to fool the average consumer. For years they have practiced and perfected marketing and branding manipulation. The mentality we have at The Pet Beastro is the exact opposite. We live by the motto: Feed Better. Feel Healthier. Live Longer. We take our promise to our customers seriously and we are committed to diligently researching and carefully selecting every item we carry in our store and our online market. Not only are many of our products and supplements human grade, but we also deal mostly with independent manufacturers and small businesses who are transparent about their processes and care just as much as we do about the well-being of your pet.

What can you do?

My honest opinion is that your cat or dog does not benefit from either Blue Buffalo or anything Nestlé Purina PetCare carries. (Purina has many pet food brands that include: ALPO, BAKERS (UK brand), Beneful, Beyond, Chef Michael’s, Cat/Kitten Chow, Deli-Cat, Dog/Puppy Chow, Fancy Feast, Felix, Friskies, Gourmet (UK brand), Just Right, Kit & Kaboodle, Little Bites, Mighty Dog, Moist & Meaty, Purina Pro Plan, Purina ONE, and Veterinary Diets.) As a consumer you may not have realized how many different foods Purina makes and how big a hold Purina has in the pet food industry. But now you know. And now you can do better and make healthier choices. As I said before, we feel that if you feed your animals better, they will feel healthier, and will ultimately live a longer life with you.

This might be just the time to improve your pet’s diet and overall health. While this may mean that you now have to budget for your pet’s food, it also means that you will not have severe health concerns that lead to lengthy and pricey vet visits. Just like with our health, it is a choice, and as the primary caretaker for your animals it is up to you to make the best choice for them. With knowledge comes power. Educate yourself on the brands and ingredients before making decisions. Our educated staff can help you with:

• Alternative Food Plans for those who are just getting started with feeding alternative, safe and healthy pet foods.
• Nutrition Consults for those who want an affordable detailed/complete diet and supplement plan for their specific pet’s health needs.
• Health Assessments for those who want to improve their pet’s overall health from the inside out and not just manage symptoms through medication.

You can conveniently schedule an appointment for the services listed above and more online. And of course, you are always welcome to stop by our store in Madison Heights, MI. Together we’ll make sure your pet is with you for years to come.