Fallout from Blue Buffalo Leads to Guilty Pleas and Sentencing of $7m in Penalties
Following an anti-competition lawsuit by Purina against Blue Buffalo and a class action resulting in $26m settlement, criminal charges were brought against meat supplier companies that substituted adulterated and misbranded ingredients used in Blue Buffalo's pet foods. Wilbur-Ellis and Diversified Ingredients, Inc were sentenced in federal court relating to this including to three years of probation and ordered to pay $4,549,682 in restitution, criminal forfeiture in the form of a money judgment in the amount of $964,442, and a fine of $1,000 to Wilbur-Ellis; and Diversified Ingredients was sentenced to three years of probation and ordered to pay $1.5 million in restitution, criminal forfeiture in the form of a money judgment in an amount of $75,000, and a fine of $2,000. The companies pled guilty to criminal charges and the court was advised specifically, chicken meal and turkey meal – were adulterated and misbranded through the use of cheaper substitute ingredients, such as feather meal and feed grade chicken bone by-product meal, and adulterated and misbranded by omitting premium ingredients, such as turkey meal, from products identified as turkey meal. Click here to read more about the sentencing. Andersen Sleater Sianni represent consumers who have been deceived by purchasing products that are not as they are advertised.
