The Farmer’s Dog Sued Over Excessive Fat in Dog Food, Are You Part of This Class Action?

A new class action lawsuit accuses The Farmer’s Dog of misleading consumers by marketing its dog food as healthy, balanced, and personalized despite allegedly containing dangerously high fat levels. The complaint, filed April 24, 2026 in New York federal court, says the company promotes its subscription meals as “fresh,” “human grade,” and “clinically proven nutrition” while concealing fat content that the lawsuit calls “grossly out of line” with what most dogs should actually be eating.

Farmer’s Dog Lawsuit Quick Facts

Field	Detail
Case Name	Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc.
Case Number	1:26-cv-03410
Court	U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Filed	April 24, 2026
Plaintiff	Amy Trott (New Hampshire)
Defendant	The Farmer’s Dog, Inc. (Delaware corporation, New York HQ)
Laws Allegedly Violated	Breach of express warranty; breach of implied warranty; fraud; New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act
Class Sought	Nationwide — all U.S. consumers who purchased Farmer’s Dog products
Amount in Controversy	Exceeds $5,000,000
Current Stage	Early litigation — complaint filed, no scheduling order yet
Last Updated	May 21, 2026

What Is the Farmer’s Dog Lawsuit About?

The 22-page lawsuit contends that although The Farmer’s Dog promotes its subscription-based line of customized dog food as fresh, wholesome, and superior to traditional kibble, these representations disguise the fact that the dog food’s high fat content is “grossly out of line” with canine dietary requirements.

The central accusation is a labeling sleight of hand. Fat content is presented on product labels on an “as fed” basis — meaning as a percentage of the total mass of the food including moisture content. This is contrary to the “dry matter” basis, which measures fat as a percentage of the dry mass of the food after moisture is removed. Although The Farmer’s Dog promotes fat content between 4.5 and 8 percent, the complaint argues these figures significantly understate true fat content values.

Strip out the water — which makes up the majority of fresh dog food by weight — and the picture changes dramatically. “Three out of four of Defendant’s recipes have over 25% fat on a dry matter basis, over 40% fat as metabolizable energy, and over 45 grams of fat per 1,000 kcal, which is well above typical or recommended levels of fat for most dogs,” the filing contends. The complaint cites research indicating that high-fat diets can predispose non-working dogs to serious health problems including hypertension, obesity, and pancreatitis in otherwise healthy dogs.

The lawsuit also targets the way The Farmer’s Dog sells its food. Consumers are asked to enter information about their dogs — including breed, age, and weight — and are then presented with “recommended” meal plans allegedly formulated by veterinary nutritionists. The complaint argues that this personalization process creates a false sense of scientific rigor and safety, when the high fat content is the same regardless of the dog’s health profile.

The class action lawsuit claims The Farmer’s Dog uses high fat levels to make its food more palatable and calorie-dense while lowering ingredient costs, given that fat is cheaper per calorie than protein or carbohydrates.

If you have followed similar product liability cases in this space — like the Blue Buffalo grain-free DCM class action lawsuit — the core allegation here follows the same pattern: a premium pet food brand markets aggressively on health and quality while allegedly concealing nutritional information that consumers would consider material to their purchase.

Related article: Eyemart Express Data Breach Class Action Lawsuit, What Happened, Who Is Affected, and What to Do Now

Are You Part of the Farmer’s Dog Class Action?

The lawsuit seeks to represent every U.S. consumer who bought The Farmer’s Dog products. Here is how to know if that includes you.

You may be part of this class if:

• You purchased any Farmer’s Dog subscription meal or product in the United States
• You bought the food based on marketing claims that it was “healthy,” “balanced,” “human grade,” or “clinically proven”
• You were not informed that the fat content on a dry matter basis significantly exceeded the labeled “as fed” percentage
• You would not have purchased the food — or would have paid less — had the true fat content been disclosed

You are likely NOT included if:

• You never purchased Farmer’s Dog products
• You are an officer, director, or employee of The Farmer’s Dog, Inc.
• You timely opt out of the class if and when it is certified

Plaintiff Amy Trott purchased 14 days of Farmer’s Dog food in June 2025 after seeing Facebook advertisements describing the products as nutritious and healthy. She alleges she would not have purchased the food, or would have paid less, had she known about the alleged risks and fat levels. Her experience is the template the lawsuit uses to describe a nationwide class of similarly situated buyers.

What Are Farmer’s Dog Plaintiffs Seeking?

This is not a settlement — no money is available right now, and no claim form exists. The lawsuit is at its earliest stage. Plaintiffs are asking the court for:

• Monetary damages for the price premium consumers paid based on false health and nutritional claims
• Restitution of profits The Farmer’s Dog earned through allegedly deceptive marketing
• Injunctive relief — a court order requiring The Farmer’s Dog to accurately disclose fat content on a dry matter basis going forward
• Class certification to allow all U.S. Farmer’s Dog purchasers to be represented collectively

The complaint invokes breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, fraud, and the New Hampshire Consumer Protection Act on behalf of a nationwide class. The amount in controversy exceeds $5 million, which is why the case was filed in federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act.

The Farmer’s Dog has not yet filed a response to the complaint. No motion to dismiss has been filed as of the date of this article. The court has not yet issued a scheduling order or set a hearing date.

What Should You Do If You Bought Farmer’s Dog Food?

Most people who purchased Farmer’s Dog products do not need to take any action right now. Here is practical guidance based on where the case stands today:

• Save your purchase records. Order confirmations, subscription emails, and credit card statements showing Farmer’s Dog purchases could be relevant if the case moves toward class certification or settlement. Save them now.
• Do not throw away any packaging. Nutrition labels — including the “as fed” fat percentages listed on the product — are central evidence in this case.
• Monitor the case docket. You can track Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc., Case No. 1:26-cv-03410 at the Southern District of New York’s PACER system at pacer.gov.
• If your dog became ill, document everything — vet records, diagnoses, bills, and the specific recipe and time period your dog ate the food. Keep this information in a folder.
• Consult a consumer rights lawyer if you believe your dog suffered a serious health event — including pancreatitis — connected to eating Farmer’s Dog food and you want to explore your individual legal options outside of the class action.

Farmer’s Dog Class Action Lawsuit Timeline

Milestone	Date
Plaintiff purchases Farmer’s Dog food	June 2025
Complaint filed in SDNY	April 24, 2026
Defendant response due	TBD — not yet filed
Class certification motion	TBD — pending early litigation stages
Possible settlement or trial	TBD — no timeline established

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a class action lawsuit against The Farmer’s Dog? 

Yes. Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc., Case No. 1:26-cv-03410, was filed April 24, 2026 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. It alleges the company misrepresented the fat content of its dog food through misleading “as fed” labeling while marketing the products as healthy and scientifically formulated.

Do I need to do anything right now to be included?

 No action is required yet. The class has not been certified. When and if the case progresses to settlement, a formal claims process will be announced publicly. For now, save your purchase records and packaging.

When will a settlement be reached in the Farmer’s Dog case?

 TBD. The complaint was just filed in April 2026 and the case is in its earliest stage. Federal consumer class actions of this type typically take one to three years to reach settlement, depending on how aggressively both sides litigate. AllAboutLawyer.com will update this article as the case develops.

What is the difference between “as fed” and “dry matter” fat content?

 “As fed” fat percentage is calculated based on the total weight of the food including water, which makes up most of fresh dog food by weight. “Dry matter” removes the moisture first, giving a truer picture of nutritional density. A food listed as 6% fat “as fed” can have over 25% fat on a dry matter basis — which is the number that matters most for your dog’s actual diet.

Can I file my own lawsuit against The Farmer’s Dog instead? 

You can consult a product liability attorney about your individual options, especially if your dog experienced a serious health event. If you stay in the class action, you will be bound by any eventual settlement or judgment and give up your right to sue separately. There is no opt-out deadline yet — the class has not been certified.

How will I know if the Farmer’s Dog lawsuit settles?

 The court will require notice to all class members if a settlement is reached. AllAboutLawyer.com will cover any settlement announcement as soon as it is public. You can also track filings directly at pacer.gov using Case No. 1:26-cv-03410.

Sources & References

• Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc., Case No. 1:26-cv-03410, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, filed April 24, 2026

Prepared by the AllAboutLawyer.com Editorial Team and reviewed for factual accuracy against the filed complaint in Trott v. The Farmer’s Dog, Inc., Case No. 1:26-cv-03410, and court records of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on May 21, 2026. Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal claims and outcomes depend on specific facts and applicable law. For advice regarding a particular situation, consult a qualified attorney.