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Greenies suit settled; terms not disclosed
By Gina Spadafori
September 17, 2007
Greenies were a sensation, arguably the most successful single pet treat ever launched. Pet-owners laughingly called them “doggie crack” and couldn’t get enough of the distinctive chewies dogs adored.But then came reports of dogs dying with green globs in their intestines. Mind you, millions and millions of Greenies were sold and safely chewed and all chewies have some degree of risk. But that means little if it’s your dog who dies and you think you know why, does it?
The owners of one dog whose death appeared to be linked to the treats launched a class-action lawsuit and a Web site, Burt’s Cause. Before long, news of the suit was everywhere and the inventors of Greenies had sold the company to Mars.
The Kansas City Business Journal reports the class-action suit has been settled:
A settlement has been struck between makers of a dog treat that pet owners alleged had injured and, in some cases, killed their animals.
Alan Sash, plaintiff’s class-action attorney for New York firm McLaughlin & Stern LLP, said Monday that a federal judge approved a joint agreement to dismiss the case between 10 pet owners and North Kansas City-based S&M NuTec LLC, makers of Greenies dog treats.
Sash said the settlement terms were private.
“All issues between the plaintiff and the maker of Greenies have been resolved,” Sash said.
Several dog owners brought suit against the company in 2006, which has since sold to Mars Inc., alleging that Greenies caused severe throat and intestinal blockages in some dogs because they couldn’t easily be broken down by a canine’s digestive tract.
[...]
Packaging on the treats suggested that the treats were fully edible.
Greenies became widely popular after being introduced in the market in 1998, generating revenue in excess of $340 million in 2005, according to the lawsuit.
Here’s the rest. Greenies has since been reformulated and reintroduced as “new,” although the company makes no mention of digestibility concerns in its FAQ on the change. Warnings on the label were also beefed up, according to the Kansas City Star.
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Greenies ingredients list:
“Gelatin, Wheat Protein Isolate, Glycerin, Soy Protein Isolate, Sodium Caseinate, Natural Poultry Flavor, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Vegetable Oil (Preserved with Propyl Gallate), Sodium Tripolyphospate, Lecithin, Ground Flaxseed, Calcium Carbonate, Magnesium Monostearate, Monoglycerides of Edible Fatty Acids, Choline Chloride, Potassium Sorbate (A Preservative), Minerals (Magnesium Oxide, Zinc Sulfate, Ferrous Sulfate, Copper Sulfate, Maganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide), Vitamins (dl-Alpha Tocopherol Acetate [source of vitamin E], Vitamin B12 Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride [Vitamin B6], Thiamine Mononitrate [Vitamin B1], Folic Acid), Chlorophyll”
Hmmm . . . . anyone care to hazard a guess on what country the “protein isolates” were sourced from?
Comment by The OTHER Pat — September 18, 2007 @ 7:11 am
Pat, I’m just shocked — shocked! — by your cynicism.
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 18, 2007 @ 7:53 am
Monoglycerides of Edible Fatty Acids?
why do they even bother with the flax seed and “natural poultry flavor” (whatever that means)? i’ll stick with my raw meaty bones, TYVM!
Comment by straybaby — September 18, 2007 @ 9:40 am
Comment by Gina Spadafori — September 18, 2007 @ 7:53 am
“Pat, I’m just shocked—shocked!—by your cynicism.”
Well, y’know - I gotta shake you up now and then, don’t I? VBG!
Comment by The OTHER Pat — September 18, 2007 @ 2:57 pm