A Los Angeles County pet owner has filed a proposed class action against Whitebridge Pet Brands LLC, a Chicago pet treat maker, claiming the company labeled pet food and treats “Made in USA” even though they contained ingredients from outside the USA, Legal Newsline reported on July 1, 2016.
The complaint
Stephanie Marracco filed the suit on June 7, 2016, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (case no. 2:16-cv-04009). She brought claims under California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act on behalf of herself and others in the same position.
According to the complaint, Marracco bought Whitebridge food and treats for her dogs several times starting in 2013. The products carried a “Made in USA” label. She claims they included ingredients that were not from the USA, such as tapioca starch, and that the labeling was misleading.
What she is asking for
The suit asks for a jury trial, an order stopping the alleged violations, money for the class equal to what the company allegedly gained, attorneys’ fees and costs, and interest. The claims are allegations, and the company had not been found liable.
California has some of the strictest Made in USA labeling rules in the country, and pet products have drawn a number of these suits. For a similar case, see our coverage of the 2016 Ester-C suit.
Source & credit
Source: Legal Newsline: “Pet owner files class action against Whitebridge Pet Brands over Made in USA label”, July 1, 2016.