Jessica Alba, Honest Co. Hit With Another Lawsuit For Dishonest Labeling
Jessica Alba's eco-friendly product line, Honest Company, is facing another legal battle. Accusations of dishonest labeling in its chemical-free personal and home care products are outlined in a lawsuit filed Friday in Manhattan, Reuters reports.
Brad and Manon Buonasera filed the lawsuit and cited at least 41 Honest Company products - such as the children's toothpaste, soap and bubble baths, and laundry detergents - mislabeled as "all natural" or containing "no harsh chemicals (ever!)." They alleged that the products contain synthetic and toxic ingredients, and described these as "chemical soup."
The Buonaseras are seeking $5 million in damages and they are also hoping that the case would be elevated to class-action status. Before going to court, the Buonaseras were using Honest Company's Conditioning Detangler and Shampoo & Body Wash. Also, they tried contacting the company in mid-September for incorrect advertising, AOL reports.
Honest Company has discontinued manufacturing and selling some of the products stated in their lawsuit. It has also changed the labels and ingredients on some of the items.
In 2015, the company defended itself in a class action suit involving its SPF 30 sunscreen, which caused severe sunburns among its users. "Our Sunscreen Lotion was tested, by an independent 3rd party, against the protocols prescribed by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) monograph for over-the-counter sunscreen products," the company said in its statement, per E! Online.
"The results showed that our product is effective and safe for use as an 80 minute water-resistant (FDA's highest rating), SPF 30 sunscreen lotion in accordance with FDA regulations when used as directed," the company added.
Honest Company is also in the midst of dismissing five other pending lawsuits in Los Angeles and they have yet to address the latest case.
The news comes as Honest Company is preparing its IPO launch with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley, Bloomberg reports. It was able to raise $1.7 billion in funding last year with the help of Fidelity Management & Research Co., General Catalyst Partners, Lightspeed Venture Partners and Wellington Management.
Alba is the founder of the Santa Monica-based company, which was established in 2011. Friend and co-founder Christopher Gavigan is the company's chief product officer.
Honest Company initially focused on developing and selling baby and kids care products. However, it has expanded to include home products and beauty items. It is mainly an online business, but it has in-store items at grocery spots like Target and Whole Foods Market.