Pet food class action lawsuit filed against major manufacturer.

• A class action lawsuit has been filed against Nestlé Purina PetCare Company alleging that ingredients in the company’s Beneful product line pose the risk of adverse health effects or death to pets.
• Among other issues, the lawsuit calls into question the permissible use of propylene glycol, a known component of antifreeze that also is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) under FDA regulations for use in animal feed and pet food (except for cat food).
• Nestlé Purina has secured dismissals of previous class action lawsuits based on similar allegations and the fate of the current suit remains to be seen.  Nevertheless, the suit serves as a reminder to industry that even “FDA-approved” or GRAS ingredients are subject to scrutiny and consumer attack where negative perceptions or suspicions of negative health effects may be associated with the substances.