A California plaintiff alleges that Huggies baby wipes are misleadingly marketed as “natural” when they actually contain synthetic ingredients.
The plaintiff hit Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, the maker of Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes, with a class action lawsuit alleging that consumers were duped into paying more because the wipes were advertised as natural.
The Huggies lawsuit claims consumers purchased Huggies wipes because of labeling that said the wipes were not only “natural,” but “gentle” as well.
“Defendant falsely advertises the Products as being ‘natural,’” states the Huggies Natural Baby Wipes lawsuit. “Despite the representations, the Products are actually non-natural, contain synthetic and chemical ingredients, and constitute false and misleading advertising. The Products contain phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, cocamidopropyl betaine, and sodium citrate, which are synthetic ingredients.”
Huggies Natural Care Wipes come in packs of 32 and 56 wipes, and in tubs containing 40 to 64 wipes. Refill packages containing 552 and 624 wipes, according to the Huggies Natural Baby Wipes lawsuit. They are sold at major retailers, including Safeway, Walmart, and Costco.
“’Synthetic’ is defined as ‘a substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral sources, except that such term shall not apply to substances created by naturally occurring biological processes,'” points out the Huggies class action lawsuit.
Further, alleges the Huggies Natural Baby Wipes lawsuit, medical problems can be caused by the synthetic ingredients in Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes. The plaintiff says that she and other consumers are concerned about the effects of synthetic and chemical ingredients in products they use, alleges the complaint noting that sales of natural products totaled $180 billion in 2015.
“Companies such as the Defendant have capitalized on consumers’ desire for purportedly ‘natural products,’” argues the Huggies Natural Baby Wipes lawsuit. “Indeed, consumers are willing to pay, and have paid, a premium for products branded ‘natural’ over products that contain synthetic ingredients.”
The Huggies lawsuit also points out that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has been warning companies who claim that their products are natural, but actually include synthetic ingredients.
“Likewise, the Food and Drug Administration (‘FDA’) warns that any ‘natural labeling on cosmetic products must be ‘truthful and not misleading,'” the Huggies lawsuit states.
According to the Huggies Natural Baby Wipes lawsuit, Kimberly-Clark violated California state laws and breached warranties and contracts with the consumers through its alleged false marketing of Huggies Natural Care Baby Wipes.
The plaintiff is seeking damages on behalf of her and other consumers across the nation who bought the wipes. The plaintiff also wants a court order prohibiting Huggies wipes from being advertised as natural.
The Huggies Natural Baby Wipes Lawsuit is Haris v. Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Inc., et al., Case No. 3:17-cv-07016, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Have you been tricked by false advertising or mismarketing? If so, call the attorneys at Bradley/Grombacher to evaluate your claim at (888) 418-7094.
Bradley/Grombacher is not representing the plaintiff in this lawsuit.
