LAWSUITS NEWS & LEGAL INFORMATION
Earth Friendly Products Agrees $925,000 Settlement in Consumer Fraud Class Action Lawsuit
Santa Clara, CA: A preliminary $925,000 settlement has been reached in a consumer fraud class action lawsuit pending against a cleaning products manufacturer. The lawsuit alleged that the company fraudulently advertised its products as being "natural".
Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the defendant, Earth Friendly Products Inc (EFP), will pay up to $925,000 in damages and change the labels on its products. EFP, formally known as Venus Laboratories Inc., denies any wrongdoing.
The class could consist of thousands of people across the US who purchased EFP' laundry detergents, odor removers, dishwashing liquids and other cleaning products.
The lawsuit was brought by Rebekah Baharestan and Jena McIntyre, who both live in California. They alleged they paid a premium for EFP' products because they believed they were made entirely out of natural ingredients. However, the complaint states that the products contain numerous synthetic chemicals, including cocamidopropyl betaine, lauryl glucoside and methylisothiazolinone, or MIT, a biocide linked to an "epidemic"of allergic reactions.
Under the terms of the settlement, EFP has agreed to limit its use of "all-natural" and "100% natural" claims that have been confirmed by independent third parties. The company must also refrain from calling its products "organic"unless they meet standards laid out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or by states, such as in the California Organic Produce Act. Additionally, EFP must to do its best to remove MIT from all its products and try to find an alternative.
The case is Baharestan et al v. Venus Laboratories, Inc., dba Earth Friendly Products, Inc., case number 3:15-cv-03578, in the U.S. District Court for California' Northern District.
Published on Nov-9-15
Under the terms of the proposed agreement, the defendant, Earth Friendly Products Inc (EFP), will pay up to $925,000 in damages and change the labels on its products. EFP, formally known as Venus Laboratories Inc., denies any wrongdoing.
The class could consist of thousands of people across the US who purchased EFP' laundry detergents, odor removers, dishwashing liquids and other cleaning products.
The lawsuit was brought by Rebekah Baharestan and Jena McIntyre, who both live in California. They alleged they paid a premium for EFP' products because they believed they were made entirely out of natural ingredients. However, the complaint states that the products contain numerous synthetic chemicals, including cocamidopropyl betaine, lauryl glucoside and methylisothiazolinone, or MIT, a biocide linked to an "epidemic"of allergic reactions.
Under the terms of the settlement, EFP has agreed to limit its use of "all-natural" and "100% natural" claims that have been confirmed by independent third parties. The company must also refrain from calling its products "organic"unless they meet standards laid out by the U.S. Department of Agriculture or by states, such as in the California Organic Produce Act. Additionally, EFP must to do its best to remove MIT from all its products and try to find an alternative.
The case is Baharestan et al v. Venus Laboratories, Inc., dba Earth Friendly Products, Inc., case number 3:15-cv-03578, in the U.S. District Court for California' Northern District.
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