Dawn Majerczyk, 43, of Chicago filed a class-action lawsuit against Menu Foods of Canada on Tuesday, alleging the pet food manufacturer delayed announcing a recall of 60 million containers of cat and dog food although it knew fully well that the said products were contaminated and were potentially deadly.
Majerczyk bought a package of Special Kitty, one of the 95 cat and dog food brands recalled by Menu Foods and gave it to her orange tabby, Phoenix. She said the 9-year-old cat fell sick last week just two days after eating the package. The cat had lost six pounds in four days and was lethargic, dehydrated, and nearly blind. The suit, filed by Chicago Attorney Jay Edelson, is seeking class-action status.
Menu Foods recalled the products after nine cats died during routine company taste tests of its products, said the Food and Drug Administration.
"I want my vet bills and I want some compensation for what they did to my kids - and for the company's neglect," Majerczyk, a medical assistant in a dermatology office.
The FDA has confirmed the deaths of 13 cats and one dog that had reportedly eaten the company’s ‘cuts and gravy’ style pet food. The wet food was sold throughout North America under the store brands carried by Wal-Mart, Kroger, Safeway and other large retailers.
Menu Foods has not yet seen the suit and made no comment. FDA had no comment either regarding the company’s delay in announcing the recall.