Natura Settlement,

I actually got an email regarding the class action suite.  I opted in.  While it isn't a huge amount of money I don't like being misled when it comes to the health of my crew.

Nothing at all.  Just tell them where and when you purchased the food.  Here's the email I got with the links to opt in.

You can be sure that the attorneys will be the ones who benefit the most from this settlement.  The whole thing bothers me for many reasons.  Please note that Natura denies the claims but is settling to avoid the costs involved with going to trial.  This happens to many companies and we, the consumers, pay for these settlements in higher prices.  It's one thing if a product has caused an injury or illness but this lawsuit has nothing to do with anything other than the alleged misrepresentation of the food grade used in the products. 

I've been feeding Evo for years now and it's a good food, IMO. 

 I also received an e-mail about the suit, but I'm not going to file a claim.

JackieG

The whole thing bothers me for many reasons.  Please note that Natura denies the claims but is settling to avoid the costs involved with going to trial.  This happens to many companies and we, the consumers, pay for these settlements in higher prices.  It's one thing if a product has caused an injury or illness but this lawsuit has nothing to do with anything other than the alleged misrepresentation of the food grade used in the products. 

  I agree.

Class-action settlement lawyers go where big money is to be made and can build a whole case out of a misplaced comma. While some of those suits have valid grounds, I think this one is frivolous. It only came out about a year after P&G bought Natura out from its founders. P&G is, in my mind, settling to avoid negative publicity, not because the foundations of the suit are legitimate. Which does not mean that the Natura products of the future will be of the same quality as the ones of the past but only time will tell about that.

 I agree that the only ones who make anything on this are lawyers, but I still have some icky feelings about the fact that labeling may not have been accurate, and that all the while, my dogs were eating this stuff.  I gave it up once they were sold to P&G, who have a reputation for crap food already (remember, their foods WERE on the recall list during the melamine incidents).  But, we were all convinced that Natura was better than that.  It would be nice to think they were, and that this is just fantasy, but how do we know?  Unless you have some of the old food and could analyze it accurately for content...and anyway, who wants to have to do that??????? Why can't companies just be honest?  Or, produce a quality product that people can trust and they can take pride in?  I can live with higher price and shrinking bag size.  I don't like the idea of living with lies, if that's what happened.

spiritdogs

 I agree that the only ones who make anything on this are lawyers, but I still have some icky feelings about the fact that labeling may not have been accurate, and that all the while, my dogs were eating this stuff.  I gave it up once they were sold to P&G, who have a reputation for crap food already (remember, their foods WERE on the recall list during the melamine incidents).  But, we were all convinced that Natura was better than that.  It would be nice to think they were, and that this is just fantasy, but how do we know?  Unless you have some of the old food and could analyze it accurately for content...and anyway, who wants to have to do that??????? Why can't companies just be honest?  Or, produce a quality product that people can trust and they can take pride in?  I can live with higher price and shrinking bag size.  I don't like the idea of living with lies, if that's what happened.

 

Agreed Anne, I also find it interesting that if the exact same thing had happened with another brand the fallout here would be quite different. Less excuse making and more condemnation I am thinking. Sure this company HAD a spotless rep...but if that rep was perhaps based in lies how does it make them any better?

Bottom line is you might have been lied to, but you won't ever know if you were because they do not say...they settled. I think in some of the other recalls..apologies were issued and culpability was delivered...even if late. EVERY company would balk at their dirty little secrets being aired out, because they ALL have them. In this case? The settlement makes me wonder more than feel any better. 

Diamond's recall encompassed some pretty high end brands because Diamond does some high end brands bagging as I understand. It was not and is not just "schlock" foods that have had issues, Merrick, TOTW both for ex have been discussed here as having quality control issues or lack of transparency issues with their customers.

I don't get it.

spiritdogs

if that's what happened.

Exactly.  

Natura Pet Products Class Action Settlement Of Innova, EVO, California Natural, HealthWise, Mother Nature & Karma Dog or Cat Food Product Class Action Lawsuit | Class Action Lawsuits In The News

 A federal judge has entered an order for preliminary approval of a class action settlement of a class action lawsuit against Natura Pet Products, Inc. (“Natura Pet Products” or “Natura” or “Defendant”) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (captioned Judy Ko v. Natura Pet Prodcuts, Inc., Civil Action Case No. C 09-02619 JF), alleging, among other things, that Natura violated California’s Business and Professions Code when advertising their dog and cat food products and allegedly made false and misleading statements about the human grade quality of its food in its advertisements, promotional materials and labeling.

The Honest Kitchen Frequently Asked Questions | The Honest Kitchen

Other terms like “Human Quality” or “Table Grade” are not legal definitions for human food or pet food. And the term “Made with Human-grade Ingredients” doesn’t mean that a finished product is actually, legally, human-grade. Ingredients may start off with ‘human-grade’ status but once an ingredient has been shipped to and processed in a pet food plant, the ‘human-grade’ term can no longer legally be used.

Thanks, Janice.  That makes sense to me and I do believe that this lawsuit is simply a chance for some attorneys to make some money.  I never bought the food because it claimed to have human grade ingredients.  I bought it and continue to feed it because of the good conditon my dogs are on this food.