The company founded by actress Jessica Alba is being sued by a non-profit organic agriculture advocacy group. Its lawsuit stated that the hollywood star's Honest Company violated the federal law by falsely presenting its baby formula product as organic.
According to Yahoo News, the legal complaint was filed by the Organic Consumers Association against The Honest Company in Los Angeles Superior Court, alleging the company's infant formula product has "11 synthetic substances" which are prohibited under the Organic Food Production Act of 1990 and the California Organic Products Act of 2003.
The said law has named nonagricultural substances that could be included in products sold as organic. The lawsuit claimed those "11 synthetic substances" contained in the company's Premium Infant Formula were not listed on the National Organic Standards Board list.
It also claimed that the ingredients are not allowed to be put in organic products as "some are federally regulated as hazardous compounds," Page Six cited. The lawsuit also listed the names of the substances, which they described as "extremely hazardous and toxic synthetic compound". It includes, sodium selenite; "an irradiated substance" includes cholecalciferol; while calcium pantothenate, is "produced from formaldehyde."
In response to the group's claims, Honest Company stated their Organic Infant Formula is cleared by the Food and Drug Administration, adding it meets all safety and nutritional standards. The company also said their product has been approved by USDA Organic by an independent third party in strict accordance with the National Organic Program.
The Organic Consumers Association seeks a court hearing for the lawsuit, CNN money reported. In 2015, Jessica Alba's company has also faced lawsuits which is similar to the latest case. It was accused of falsely branding their product with "natural" ingredients. Despite the claims, Honest Company assures their customers that their "products are made without health-compromising chemicals or compounds."
The OCA also sued Earth's Best brand owner, Hain Celestial, alleging that its Organic Infant Formula contains a spectacular array of ingredients that are non-organic and violates the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
