Rachael Ray is in the doghouse.
A $5 million class action lawsuit has been filed against the celebrity chef’s “natural” pup food brand, alleging it contains a chemical used in weed killer.
The suit, brought by Bronx resident Markeith Parks on behalf of himself and others, claims that Rachael Ray Nutrish was found to have the chemical glyphosate, a herbicide used in brands like Roundup.
Included in the suit is a photo of a bag of Nutrish, which boasts on the packaging, “Natural food for dogs” and “No artificial flavors or artificial preservatives.”
Court documents claim that “Rachael Ray Nutrish aggressively advertises and promotes the products as ‘natural.’ These claims are false, deceptive, and misleading.”
The suit goes on to state that, “The products at issue are not ‘natural.’ Instead, the products contain the unnatural chemical glyphosate, a potent biocide and endocrine disruptor, with detrimental health effects that are still becoming known.”
Parks purchased the dog food several times at a BJ’s Wholesale Club on Exterior St. in the Bronx because he “saw, relied upon, and reasonably believed Rachael Ray Nutrish’s representations that its products were ‘natural,’ ” according to the suit.
Glyphosate, the active ingredient used in weed killers, was found in tests done by an independent lab, court papers claim.
Rachael Ray Nutrish is a branch of Ainsworth Pet Nutrition, which was recently acquired by The J. M. Smucker Company.
“We are in the process of reviewing the details of the claim but strongly stand behind the quality of our products, ingredients, and sourcing practices,” Bobby Modi, vice president for pet food and snacks for The J.M. Smucker Company, said in a statement. “As animal lovers and humans, it goes without saying that we do not add pesticides to our products as an ingredient. We plan to aggressively fight these claims.”
Smucker Company recommends that anyone with questions about what’s in its dog food or treats call 1-800-323-7738 or visit nutrish.com.
A spokesperson for Ray told the Daily News in a statement: “Rachael herself has always championed the great lengths Ainsworth Pet Nutrition and now The J.M. Smucker Company take to create and provide the highest quality and safest pet food products on the market. This is why she does, and will continue to, feed Nutrish to her own dog Isaboo and her extended pet family.”
The lawsuit states that the source of the glyphosate in the canine chow isn’t known to Parks, but speculates that “crops such as peas, soy, corn, beets and alfalfa are sprayed with the chemical in order to dry them and produce an earlier, more uniform harvest. By deceiving consumers about the nature, quality, and/or ingredients of the products, Rachael Ray Nutrish is able to sell a greater volume of the products.”
Credit: www.nydailynews.com
