Pet food claims must not mislead and must not refer to curing or preventing diseases, except for dietetic feed.
Legal framework
- Regulation (EC) 767/2009, Art. 11: no misleading claims; no disease claims outside dietetic feed
- Art. 13: claims about optimising nutrition only with scientific substantiation
Case law
- OLG Stuttgart, 6 June 2019, 2 U 144/18 – a tick-repellent effect of a snack must be proven; an unpublished expert opinion is not enough
Case examples
“Protects against arthritis”
Dog food is advertised as protecting against arthritis. Disease claim outside dietetic feed.
“Grain-free = healthier”
A brand claims grain-free feed is generally healthier for every dog. Without evidence, misleading.
