In total, we tested 15 cans of Gravy Train. Nine cans — 60-percent of the sample — were positive for pentobarbital. And while the levels detected were not lethal, under federal law they are also not permitted at any concentration.
Gravy Train is made by Big Heart Pet Foods and owned by Smucker’s. According to Neilsen data, it accounts for more than $40 million of the company’s annual revenue.
Big Heart Brands is also the maker of Meow Mix, Milk Bone, Kibbles’n Bits, 9 Lives, Natural Balance, Pup-Peroni, Gravy Train, Nature’s Recipe, Canine Carry Outs, Milo’s Kitchen, Alley Cat, Jerky Treats, Meaty Bone, Pounce and Snausages.
In total, we tested 15 cans of Gravy Train. Nine cans — 60-percent of the sample — were positive for pentobarbital. And while the levels detected were not lethal, under federal law they are also not permitted at any concentration.
The J. M. Smucker Company has been headquartered in Orrville, Ohio, since its founding, and has been family-run for four generations. Since 1998, the company has appeared on Fortune magazine's annual listing of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in the United States, ranking number one in 2004.[6]
In May 2008, Smucker's announced it had bought the food division of Knott's Berry Farm from ConAgra Foods. (Cedar Fair continues to own the theme park itself.)
On June 4, 2008, Smucker's announced it would purchase the Folgers coffee brand division from Procter & Gamble for $3.3 billion.[7][8] Completion of the sale was announced on November 6, 2008.[9]
Smucker's in Canada
Throughout 2012, Smucker's contributed $485,000 to a $46 million political campaign known as the "Coalition Against The Costly Food Labeling Proposition, sponsored by Farmers and Food Producers".[10][11][12] This organization was set up to oppose a citizen's initiative in California, known as Proposition 37, demanding mandatory labeling of foods containing genetically modified ingredients. About 70% of the funding for the initiative was provided by a PAC and by companies with financial interests in the organic foods industry, with most of the remainder coming from a handful of wealthy individuals.[13] Following rejection of the proposition in the November 2012 referendum, organizers called for a boycott of companies funding the campaign to defeat the referendum.[14]
Wasting no time, a class action lawsuit has been filed against Big Heart Brands pet food for “negligent misrepresentation” stating the dog food was “adulterated and contains pentobarbital”.
The news story broke on a Washington D.C. television station Thursday February 8, 2018. The next day a lawsuit was filed; Friday February 9, 2018. The class action lawsuit is suing Big Heart Brands for “Negligent misrepresentation, Violations of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, Violations of the California False Advertising Law, Violations of the California Unfair Competition Law, and Breach of Implied Warranty.”
WJLA News of Washington D.C. tested 62 samples of dog food; 15 from Big Heart Brands Gravy Train canned dog food. Nine of the fifteen cans of Gravy Train dog food tested positive for pentobarbital – a drug used to euthanize animals (commonly horses, cats and dogs).
The class action lawsuit against Big Heart Brands Gravy Train cites numerous FDA statements regarding pentobarbital being found in Evanger’s pet food and cites years earlier testing performed by FDA finding pentobarbital in a large percentage of samples. The lawsuit states…
“Despite its findings, the FDA has not aggressively taken action under FDCA, § 342 (a)(1) or (5), against the pet food companies that it found to have used nonslaughtered animals and contain pentobarbital in their pet foods. Therefore, manufacturers in the pet food industry, including Defendant, have continued their illegal practice of using non-slaughtered animals that may contain poisonous substances, like pentobarbital, in their pet foods. It is not acceptable to use animals euthanized with a chemical substance in pet food, and the detection of pentobarbital in pet food renders the product adulterated.”
This is VERY true. Actually, because FDA has not aggressively enforced law – multiple recalls have occurred and an unknown number of pets have become ill, one pet died.