Lawsuit says Steve's Real Food Quest cat food lacked thiamine

A proposed class action filed in federal court in San Diego alleges Steve's Real Food sold Quest raw cat food as complete and balanced even though FDA testing found thiamine levels far below the cat nutrition minimum. The case says most affected lots were not fully recalled, raising questions about consumer warnings and pet safety.

Why it matters: - Cats need thiamine to survive, and a deficiency can trigger neurological injury, seizures and death. - The lawsuit says pet owners paid a premium for a food marketed as nutritionally complete. - The case could affect consumers who bought certain Quest lots and raise broader questions about raw pet food labeling and recall practices.

What happened: - A proposed consumer class action was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California against Go Raw LLC, doing business as Steve's Real Food. - The suit targets the company's Quest line of premium raw cat food. - The case is Free v. Go Raw LLC dba Steve's Real Food, No. 3:26-cv-03704-JO-JLB. - The complaint says Quest was labeled and sold as a "complete and balanced" diet "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages." - The complaint alleges the product actually contained dangerously low or undetectable thiamine, also known as Vitamin B1.

The details: - The complaint alleges the U.S. Food and Drug Administration tested eight lots of Quest cat food. - All eight lots allegedly fell below the AAFCO minimum of 5.6 mg/kg. - Reported results ranged from non-detectable to about 15% of the required minimum. - Seven of the eight lots allegedly measured below 6% of the minimum. - The complaint says the FDA recommended recalling all eight affected lots. - The lawsuit alleges the company formally recalled only three lots. - The complaint says the company did not adequately show the remaining product was removed from the market or that consumers were warned. - The lawsuit alleges consumers paid about $100 to $115 for a four-to-six-week supply based on the complete-and-balanced claim. - The named plaintiff alleges her cat developed acute thiamine deficiency after eating Quest food and needed emergency veterinary hospitalization and intensive care. - The action seeks to represent consumers who bought the affected lots and asserts consumer-protection and warranty claims. - The plaintiff seeks damages and other relief on behalf of the proposed class. - The complaint contains allegations only, and the defendant has not yet responded. - No court has made any determination of liability or wrongdoing.

Between the lines: - The case centers on a gap between product labeling and alleged nutrient testing results. - If the allegations hold up, the dispute could turn on how quickly the company acted after FDA testing and whether the recall response was broad enough to protect consumers. - The premium pricing claim suggests the lawsuit is also about what buyers paid for, not just what the food contained.

What's next: - The proposed class action will proceed through the court process unless the parties settle or the case is dismissed. - The plaintiff is represented by Swigart Law Group, APC and Shay Legal, APC. - The complaint is available here.