Nestle Purina expands suit against Blue Buffalo

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis-based Nestle Purina PetCare Co. is expanding its lawsuit against Blue Buffalo Co. to include additional allegations of false advertising.

The two companies sued each other in May. Purina accused its Wilton, Connecticut-based competitor of lying about its use of natural ingredients in dog food. The counterclaim accused Purina of some of the same deceits, as well as defamation.

Late Thursday, Purina expanded its lawsuit. Among other things, it claims that Blue Buffalo lies about the nutritional value of a pet treat product, and about the absorption abilities of one of its cat litters.

Blue Buffalo responded Friday with a written statement that questions the qualifications of a Purina scientific expert and further denies any wrongdoing.