Update:The test results from each sides expert is in, this is a summery of what it contains:
Purina has produced their test results on Blue Buffalo pet food. Blue Buffalo has hired their own expert to refute it. The Pet Food Fight continues.
Purina hired their expert – James V. Makowski Ph.D. in February 2014. Dr. Makowski charges $250.00 an hour.
Not to be outdone, Blue Buffalo hired their expert Vinayak P. Dravid, Ph.D to refute Dr. Makowski’s findings. Dr. Dravid charges $300.00 an hour.
Purina’s Dr. Makowski provided his “Curriculum Vitae” – 8 pages in length.
Blue Buffalo raised with Dr. Dravid’s “Curriculum Vitae” at a whopping 66 pages.
Purina’s Dr. Makowski stated he was hired by Nestle Purina to analyze several Purina pet foods and several Blue Buffalo Pet Foods, but he “was not provided with any reasons, hypotheses, expectations, suspicions, or goals associated with my analysis.”
Blue Buffalos Dr. Dravid knew exactly why he was hired, “to provide a preliminary opinion about the scientific adequacy and reliability of the conclusions set forth in the Expert Report of James V. Makowski…”
Purina’s expert provided detailed explanation of his testing procedures and findings. Dr. Makowski stated he found “small fragments of egg shell, raw feather and leg scale” – which would indicate by-products.
Blue Buffalo’s expert seems to tear down every aspect of Purina’s report calling Purina’s science “rudimentary”, “inappropriate methodology” and found that Purina’s expert lab is actually located in a residence.
Even if you don’t speak ‘science’ (I don’t speak science) – when you read Purina’s report and Blue Buffalo’s rebuttal, it appears Blue Buffalo’s expert has the upper hand. Did Purina base a massive lawsuit on this evidence alone? Or do they have more cards up their sleeve they are not disclosing yet?
These two companies are dueling for market share. What a shame they aren’t fighting to see who can feed more shelter pets – or who can use the highest quality ingredients in their pet foods. Nope – this fight is simply about money. That’s the real crime.
These are the legal documents, they are pretty lengthy:
Learn the Truth Behind Purina's Junk Science Preliminary Report, Independent Testing by Windsor Laboratories