Pet food rivals Nestlé Purina and Blue Buffalo this week announced a settlement of their lengthy legal battle over advertising claims.
Nestlé Purina, the nation's largest pet food maker, filed a lawsuit in May 2014 that alleged that Blue Buffalo falsely stated that its premium pet food products were free of poultry byproduct meal and corn.
Connecticut-based Blue Buffalo responded with its own lawsuit days later that accused Nestlé Purina of defamation and included similar false advertising claims.
The lawsuits came as the companies attempted to capitalize on the sharp increase in sales of more expensive pet foods in recent years.
Terms of the settlement were not disclosed. The companies asked the Eastern District of Missouri federal court — where Purina is based — to dismiss the claims with prejudice.
Blue Buffalo said that its claims against other parties would continue.