Hormel makes bacon for human consumption, while Nestlé Purina makes bacon — or Beggin’ Strips — for dogs. The bacon and Beggin’ worlds have generally played nice with each other, but then Purina came out with “Black Label” Beggin’ Strips, which hits too close to home for Hormel. [More]
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Hormel Worried People Will Confuse ‘Black Label’ Beggin’ Strips With Its Real Bacon
By 5.30.17 — Updated: 6.1.17
Court: Lawsuit Failed To Show That Purina’s Beneful Sickened Thousands Of Dogs
By 11.18.16
After determining that he could not accept the testimony of an expert witness, a federal court judge has handed a legal victory to Nestle Purina PetCare in a class action lawsuit that claimed the company’s Beneful brand dog food made thousands of dogs ill. [More]
Lawsuit Claims Thousands Of Dogs Became Ill Or Died After Eating Purina’s Beneful Kibble
By 2.25.15
A recently filed lawsuit claims that instead of containing nutrient-rich, high-quality ingredients, Nestle Purina PetCare Company’s most popular brand of dog food includes toxins that have led to serious illness or death for thousands of dogs. [More]
Purina Lawsuit Claims Blue Buffalo Is Misleading Customers About Its Natural Ingredients
By 5.6.14
There could be a rather large cat fight on the horizon. Nestle Purina PetCare is suing rival Blue Buffalo alleging the company is lying about the natural ingredients in its pet food. [More]
Fine, Grumpy Cat Will Be Friskies’ Spokeskitty, But That Doesn’t Mean She’s Happy About It
By 9.18.13
You can stop paying that overpriced pet agent to get your cat a commercial dream gig, folks. Grumpy Cat has waltzed in with her perfectly grumpy face and taken the Friskies spokeskitty crown for herself. So there [insert grumpy face]. [More]
FDA: We Can't Prove Chinese Jerky Killed Hundreds Of Dogs, But Maybe Avoid It Anyway
By 9.19.12
“Imported Chinese jerky?” you might be saying. “Who would buy their pet any food from a country whose safety standards would shock Upton Sinclair?” Lots of well-meaning Americans are feeding their dogs and cats imported treats. Every year, the United States imports 86 million pounds of pet food products from China. Some of that food is jerky that’s packaged and sold under brand names you may recognize: Waggin’ Train (Purina), Canyon Creek (Purina), and Milo’s Kitchen (Del Monte) are the most common. Now thousands of pet owners claim that these products may have sickened or even killed their animals, and demand recalls and justice. The only problem is that the FDA can’t find any proof of harmful chemicals or pathogens in the meat. [More]
FDA Still Not Sure Why Chinese Jerky Made 1,000 Dogs Sick
By 5.23.12
Pet owners think that we’re doing our pets a favor by purchasing treats for them that are just pure dried meat: no flour, no soy, no additives, just meat. But these treats may not be as healthy as they seem. Many dog owners claim that these treats have made their pets ill with problems ranging from diarrhea to kidney failure, and many animals have died. The Food and Drug Administration continues to investigate, even sending inspectors to the production facilities in China, but can’t determine what causes the illnesses. [More]
Jenny Craig And Purina Team Up To Slim Down Your Pudgy Pet
By 1.12.12
Has your pooch just been longing to fit back into her skinny leash? Or perhaps your cat is well, too fat for your lap. Jenny Craig and Purina don’t want your furry friend to languish in chubbiness, which is why they’ve teamed up help you slim down your pet. [More]
Purina Goes After Desirable Doggy Demographic With Sounds Only Your Pet Can Hear
By 10.4.11
While fast food advertisers have taken a lot of heat in recent years for packaging and marketing that is targeted heavily toward children, the evil ad geniuses of the world have found another demographic on which it can focus its marketing laser — your furry friends. [More]
Friskies Debuts Free iPad And Android Games For Your Cat
By 6.3.11
It’s a scientifically proven fact that cats love iPads, or at least love to smack things around that move. A few app developers have capitalized on this trend, making games specifically designed for cats. Some cats think that touchscreens are the greatest thing since feathers on a stick. Supposedly, touchscreens are tougher than claws, so the devices won’t be damaged. In a brilliant marketing move, Purina, maker of Friskies, ran with this idea and has created free Android Tablet and iPad games for felines.
[More]
Another Bag Of Purina Beneful Fortified With Maggots
By 9.23.08
Do you read Consumerist on your lunch break? Oops. Here’s a photo of something Richard colorfully calls “maggot stew” lining the bottom of his dog’s food dish, right after Banjo finished a heaping helping of Purina Beneful. Richard says Banjo seems okay so far, but we think it’s interesting that this is the second Beneful maggot story we’ve received in under a week. Read Richard’s full story below.
Purina Isn't Bothered By Dog Food Infested With Fly Larvae, Maggots
By 9.20.08
Christina’s two dogs fell ill after eating Purina Beneful infested with maggots and fly larvae. After taking her dogs to the vet, Christina called Purina for an explanation, only to be told: “As soon as our food leaves our factory, it is no longer our responsibility.”
Grocery Shrink Ray Hits Purina Dog Food
By 7.9.08
Michael sends in this latest Grocery Shrink Ray victim, found at the Petsmart where he works. He writes, “The price is the same, and the 20lb bag is apparently being “upgraded” to an 18lb bag. This was the only 20lb bag left, but consumers who pay attention may be able to still be able to find some of the larger bags in stores.”
Fancy Feast Pricing Scheme Rewards Those Who Pay Attention
By 4.10.08
Reader T says:
This is regarding something that has always bothered me. While grocery shopping today, I decided I’d better pick up some cat food. I always buy a case of the Fancy Feast 3-Flavor Variety Pack, sliced. That’s the only stuff my cat will eat. I promise, I’ve tried everything else. So, I’m looking over my two choices, which are a 12 pack (4 of each flavor) for $8.29, or $3.684 per pound, and a 24 pack (8 of each flavor) for $17.65, or $3.92 per pound…
Purina On Virgin Mary-Esque Packaging: They "Reflect The Close Bond Between The Consumer And Their Pet."
By 4.24.07
We received a response tonight to the inquiry we sent Purina on 4/09/07 asking if there was any truth to the rumors (which we spread) that the recurrent “Woman And Kitty” imagery that bedecks numbers of their pet food packages seemed to recall, if not draw directly from, the “Madonna And Child” motif (undoubtedly to serve manipulative marketing ends).
Dear Purina: Why Do You Love The Virgin Mary So?
By 4.9.07
As we mentioned last week, the packaging on several kinds of Purina cat chow feature pictures that seem to be influenced by the Madonna and Child motif. To get to the bottom of the mystery, we sent Purina this letter:
