A lawsuit has been filed against Mars Petcare US, Inc., accusing the company of misleading consumers by labeling its products as "natural" despite containing synthetic ingredients.
The complaint was filed by Mersada Cobovic in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York on Nov. 5, 2024. Cobovic alleges that Mars Petcare engaged in deceptive marketing by advertising its pet food products as "natural," while they contain synthetic ingredients such as xanthan gum and thiamine mononitrate.
Cobovic purchased Nutro Grain Free Natural Wet Cat Food Cuts in Gravy Turkey Recipe from Amazon.com in October 2023, believing it was free from synthetic additives. She claims she would not have purchased the product—or would have paid less—had she known about its true contents.
The lawsuit argues that Mars Petcare's labeling misleads health-conscious pet owners and capitalizes on consumer demand for natural products. The complaint also notes the presence of synthetic substances, including zinc sulfate and copper sulfate, which the FDA regulates as toxic inorganic compounds and has classified for use in pesticides since 1956.
Cobovic seeks class-action status, representing consumers nationwide who purchased the allegedly mislabeled products. She is demanding compensatory damages exceeding $5 million and an injunction against Mars Petcare’s marketing practices. Cobovic also requests corrective advertising to address any misinformation from previous marketing efforts.
Joshua D. Arisohn from Bursor & Fisher, P.A., in New York City, represents Cobovic. Case I.D. 1:24-cv-07730.