‘Natural’ Big Heart Pet Food Has Synthetic Ingredients: Suit

J.M. Smucker Co. unit Big Heart Pet Brands Inc. deceptively touts Nature’s Recipe dog and cat food as “all natural” despite the presence of synthetic chemicals, a new suit alleges.

Dozens of products contain non-natural ingredients including sodium tripolyphosphate, a pesticide, as well as synthetic vitamins, according to the proposed class suit.

Theresa Acquard and Tom Butler’s Jan. 7 suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York joins what is expected to be a growing number of would-be consumer class suits challenging pet food labeling.

The company doesn’t comment on pending litigation, J.M. Smucker Co. ...