A proposed class action filed in April 2026, Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc., is the Farmer’s Dog lawsuit currently in the news: it accuses the subscription fresh-food company of selling recipes with dangerously high fat levels and marketing them as safe and “nutritionally complete” without warning customers about a potential link to canine pancreatitis. The case is in its earliest stages, no class has been certified, and The Farmer’s Dog has not been found liable for anything.
What the Complaint Alleges
New Hampshire resident Amy Trott filed the complaint on April 24, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, Case No. 1:26-cv-03410.1ClassAction.org. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaint She is represented by Levin Sedran & Berman LLP and Robert Peirce & Associates.2Top Class Actions. The Farmer’s Dog Sued Over Alleged Excessive Fat Levels in Dog Food
The complaint focuses on four recipes — Turkey, Beef, Chicken, and Pork — and alleges that three of the four contain more than 25% fat on a dry matter basis, more than 40% of calories from fat, and more than 45 grams of fat per 1,000 kilocalories.3ClassAction.org. The Farmer’s Dog Foods Grossly Out of Line With Canine Nutritional Needs, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges The suit calls those figures “well above typical or recommended levels of fat for most dogs” and describes the food as “unreasonably dangerous.”1ClassAction.org. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaint
The specific dry matter fat percentages the complaint attributes to each recipe are roughly 18.75% for Turkey, 28.57% for Beef, 25% for Chicken, and 26% for Pork. The Farmer’s Dog packaging lists fat content on an “as fed” basis of 4.5% to 8%, which includes the food’s high moisture content. The lawsuit argues that this format significantly understates the actual fat concentration a dog is eating.1ClassAction.org. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaint
That distinction matters. The FDA notes that comparing pet foods with different moisture levels requires converting “as fed” values to a “dry matter” basis, a calculation standard for veterinary nutritionists but rarely done by pet owners.4FDA. Complete and Balanced Pet Food Fresh dog food contains far more moisture than kibble, so the on-package number will look much lower than the dry matter equivalent.
The Pancreatitis Claim
The complaint’s central health allegation is that high fat levels in these recipes raise the risk of acute pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. It cites veterinary research suggesting diets exceeding 60% of calories from fat have been linked to induced pancreatitis, while diets below 40% show a lower incidence.1ClassAction.org. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaint Because a single brand often makes up 90% or more of a dog’s diet, the suit argues, a high-fat formulation can have an outsized effect.
The complaint also points to Association of American Feed Control Officials benchmarks. AAFCO sets a minimum fat requirement of 5.5% dry matter for adult maintenance but does not set a maximum.5AAFCO. Proposed Revisions to AAFCO Nutrient Profiles World Small Animal Veterinary Association guidelines recommend reducing dietary fat for dogs at risk of or recovering from pancreatitis.6Petful. Farmer’s Dog Lawsuit
The veterinary science on this question is not settled. A 2026 review in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association examined multiple studies on dietary fat and canine pancreatitis and found mixed results. Some experimental models showed increased severity in dogs fed very high-fat diets. Others, including a 2025 study comparing low-fat and high-fat diets in a pancreatitis model, found the high-fat diet well tolerated and no worsening of disease. A large retrospective study identified access to trash, unusual food items, and table scraps as stronger risk factors than dietary fat content itself, and another suggested that an abrupt change in fat intake may matter more than sustained exposure to a high-fat diet.7Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. Review of Dietary Fat and Canine Pancreatitis
The Labeling and Marketing Claims
The complaint also targets how The Farmer’s Dog presents its products. Terms like “fresh,” “human-grade,” “nutritionally complete,” and “clinically proven” create a misleading impression of safety that does not reflect the actual fat content, the suit alleges.2Top Class Actions. The Farmer’s Dog Sued Over Alleged Excessive Fat Levels in Dog Food
Customers cannot access full nutritional data without completing a multi-step registration process that asks for a dog’s breed, age, and weight, according to the complaint. That process does not ask whether a dog is predisposed to pancreatitis and does not adjust recipe recommendations for high-risk breeds. The filing further alleges the company was on notice of the concerns since at least February 2021, when it published an article on its own website titled “What to Know About Pancreatitis in Dogs” in which, the complaint says, the company “affirmatively denies that high-fat diets increase risk of pancreatitis.”1ClassAction.org. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaint
Federal labeling rules require pet food to include a guaranteed analysis showing minimum crude protein and crude fat and maximum crude fiber and moisture, all on an “as fed” basis that includes water weight.8American Pet Products Association. Pet Product Labeling Requirements The Farmer’s Dog labels comply with that format. The complaint’s argument is not that the numbers on the package are false but that the format itself, applied to a wet food, obscures how much fat a dog is actually consuming.
Who Filed It and What They’re Asking For
Amy Trott owns a two-year-old Labrador Retriever named Mya. The complaint says she bought 14 days of Farmer’s Dog food in June 2025 after seeing Facebook advertisements, receiving the chicken and grain, beef, and turkey recipes. Her dog did not eat the food, and the company issued a $9.00 partial refund on the $27.26 purchase.1ClassAction.org. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaint The complaint does not allege that Mya developed pancreatitis or any other health condition. Trott’s theory is that she would not have bought the product, or would have paid less, had the fat content and associated risks been disclosed.2Top Class Actions. The Farmer’s Dog Sued Over Alleged Excessive Fat Levels in Dog Food
The complaint asserts four causes of action: breach of express warranty, breach of the implied warranty of merchantability, fraud, and violation of the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act. Trott seeks certification of a nationwide class of all U.S. purchasers of The Farmer’s Dog food, plus a separate New Hampshire subclass. She asks for damages, a declaration that the company’s conduct is unlawful, and equitable relief. The filings do not state a specific dollar figure.1ClassAction.org. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaint
Other Customer Complaints on Record
This lawsuit is not the first time customers have raised concerns. The company’s Better Business Bureau profile shows 66 complaints over the past three years, with 22 in the most recent 12 months. One customer reported that a dog died of pancreatitis and liver failure after nine months on the food, specifically citing dry matter fat content. Others described severe vomiting and diarrhea shortly after starting the food.9BBB. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaints One BBB review reported roughly $4,000 in veterinary costs after a dog was diagnosed with pancreatitis while on the diet.10BBB. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Customer Reviews
The company holds an A+ BBB rating with an average customer review score of 2.36 out of 5 stars across 119 reviews.10BBB. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Customer Reviews In responses to health-related complaints, The Farmer’s Dog has said its recipes are “formulated by Board Certified Vet Nutritionists to be 100% complete and balanced for all healthy pups” and that it tests every batch before shipment.9BBB. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. Complaints These reports are unverified consumer accounts and are not findings of fact.
Where the Case Stands
As of mid-2026, only the initial complaint has been filed. No class has been certified, no motion to dismiss or scheduling order has been entered, and there are no reports of settlement talks. Legal observers expect months of motion practice, likely starting with a motion to dismiss from The Farmer’s Dog, then class certification briefing and discovery if the case survives that stage.6Petful. Farmer’s Dog Lawsuit Nothing has been decided on the merits. If you feed your dog one of the named recipes and have questions about the fat content or your dog’s risk factors, that conversation belongs with your veterinarian, who can weigh your dog’s breed, health history, and diet against the current evidence.