Missouri certifies class action over grain-free dog food and DCM

A Missouri court has certified a consumer class action against Schell & Kampeter, Inc., the company behind Diamond Pet Foods and Taste of the Wild, over allegations that its grain-free Taste of the Wild dog food was marketed as safe and healthy despite an alleged association with increased risk of canine dilated cardiomyopathy, or DCM. Court notice materials define the class as Missouri consumers who bought Taste of the Wild grain-free dog food in Missouri for household use between August 27, 2015, and June 21, 2024, and who were Missouri citizens on August 27, 2020. The company denies wrongdoing, and the case has not been resolved on the merits. Trial materials posted for class members previously indicated a March 31, 2025, trial setting. (dogfoodadvisor.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the case keeps diet-associated DCM in the spotlight even as the science remains unsettled. FDA said in its latest public update, dated December 23, 2022, that it would not issue further public updates until meaningful new scientific information emerges, and that adverse event reports alone are not enough to establish causation. At the same time, FDA has continued to describe the issue as complex and multifactorial, and peer-reviewed studies have reported improvement in some dogs after diet change, which is why nutrition histories, cardiac workups, and careful client communication still matter in practice. (fda.gov)

What to watch: Watch for any dispositive rulings, settlement activity, or trial outcome, and for whether new research or FDA action sharpens the profession’s understanding of which diet characteristics, if any, are driving risk. (missouridogfoodclassaction.com)