ZuPreem Class Action Lawsuit: "Natural" Bird Food Contains Synthetic Ingredients

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit claims ZuPreem misled consumers by labeling its bird food as "natural" despite containing synthetic ingredients.

Consumers Affected: Consumers in the U.S. who purchased ZuPreem bird food labeled as "natural."

Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

A recently filed lawsuit questions whether ZuPreem bird food products live up to the natural claims printed on their packaging. According to the case, several products marketed under the ZuPreem brand contain synthetic ingredients, directly conflicting with representations made to pet owners seeking natural options for their birds.

Lawsuit Claims Synthetic Additives Found in ZuPreem Natural Bird Food

The case, filed by New York resident Catherine Riggs-Bergesen, names Compana Pet Brands LLC and Premium Nutritional Products, Inc. as defendants. Both companies manufacture and distribute the ZuPreem product line. 

The complaint states that ZuPreem bird food prominently displays the word "natural" on its labels, even though synthetic ingredients such as pyridoxine hydrochloride, citric acid, folic acid, tocopherols, and copper sulfate appear on the ingredient lists.

Riggs-Bergesen argues that consumers rely on front-label claims when choosing food for their pets, especially when those claims describe products as natural. The lawsuit claims that reasonable pet owners would not expect a natural product to contain synthetic preservatives, chemically processed acids, or artificially derived vitamins and minerals.

“No product labeled ‘natural’ should contain any of these ingredients,” the filing asserts.

Consumers Allegedly Paid Higher Prices Based on Misleading Claims

According to the lawsuit, health-conscious pet owners typically seek natural food for their pets to avoid synthetic additives. Natural pet foods are often priced higher than conventional options, with consumers accepting the higher cost in exchange for products they believe are made without artificial chemicals or additives.

The filing claims that by misrepresenting the contents of ZuPreem products, the companies profited from premium pricing while delivering products containing synthetic components. These include ingredients like citric acid, which the complaint describes as a heavily processed additive derived from black mold, and copper sulfate, which the lawsuit identifies as a chemical commonly used in pesticides.

Plaintiff Claims She Would Not Have Purchased ZuPreem If Labeling Had Been Accurate

According to the filing, Riggs-Bergesen regularly purchased ZuPreem Natural Bird Food for Medium Birds. She relied on the product's natural labeling claims when making those purchases. In February 2025, she bought the product from a PetSmart location in Kingston, New York, believing it was free from synthetic ingredients. The complaint states that, had she known the product contained several artificial additives, she would have either chosen a different product or paid less.

“Had Defendants disclosed these synthetic ingredients, Plaintiff would not have purchased the product or would have only been willing to pay a lower price,” the complaint states.

Natural Claims Allegedly Conflict with Ingredient List

The complaint points to several synthetic ingredients listed on ZuPreem packaging. These include:

• Pyridoxine hydrochloride, a synthetic form of vitamin B6.
• Citric acid, which the complaint claims is chemically processed using black mold.
• Folic acid, an artificially created version of folate.
• Tocopherols, which the lawsuit identifies as synthetic preservatives.
• Copper sulfate, a manufactured compound often used in pesticides.

Riggs-Bergesen argues that the phrase "with added vitamins, minerals, amino acids" printed on the packaging does not sufficiently clarify the synthetic nature of these ingredients. The lawsuit states that a reasonable consumer would expect natural vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in a product marketed as natural.

Other Pet Food Companies Facing Similar Lawsuits

ZuPreem’s parent companies are not the only pet food manufacturers facing allegations tied to natural marketing claims. A December 2024 lawsuit filed against Nestlé Purina PetCare Company alleges the company’s Friskies Party Mix Natural Yums cat treats contain synthetic preservatives despite labeling that advertises the absence of artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

Merrick Pet Care also faces litigation over its natural labeling. That case alleges Merrick products contain xanthan gum and chemically derived vitamins while marketed as free from synthetic ingredients, misleading pet owners seeking natural options for their pets.

In the ZuPreem bird food class action lawsuit, Riggs-Bergesen seeks to represent a nationwide class covering all consumers who purchased ZuPreem bird food marketed as natural but containing synthetic ingredients. She is suing for monetary damages for consumers who allegedly overpaid based on the labeling, as well as changes to ZuPreem packaging to more accurately reflect the products’ contents.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Riggs-Bergesen v. Compana Pet Brands LLC et al.
• Case Number: 1:25-cv-01067
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Alec Leslue and Julian C. Diamond (Bursor & Fisher, P.A.)

Do you feed your bird ZuPreem? What are your thoughts on this lawsuit? Share your opinion in the comments below.