Walmart fish oil supplements don’t prevent heart disease as advertised, class action claims

Walmart fish oil class action overview: 

• Who: Plaintiff Pearl Magpayo filed a class action lawsuit against Walmart Inc. 
• Why: Magpayo claims Walmart sells fish oil supplements that falsely claim they contribute to heart health.
• Where: The Walmart class action was filed in federal court in California.

A new Walmart class action lawsuit claims the company sells fish oil supplements that falsely claim they are good for heart health.

Walmart’s Spring Valley Omega-3 Fish Oil Soft Gels makes claims on its product with words such as “heart health,” “fish oil is a source of omega-3 fatty acids that support heart health,” “omega-3,” and the heart symbol on the front label, the class action says.

However, the lawsuit says there is no scientific proof that taking fish oil supplements has an effect on heart health and cardiovascular disease prevention.

“Despite the lack of evidentiary support, companies like defendant continue to make false and misleading claims related to Omega-3 supplements because reasonable consumers are particularly vulnerable to such claims,” the class action says.

Required FDA disclaimer not included on Walmart fish oil supplements, lawsuit says

While omega-3 supplements don’t improve heart health, those who eat seafood one to four times per week are less likely to die of heart disease, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH).

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires omega-3 supplements making heart-health claims to provide a disclaimer stating, “Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.”

The FDA disclaimer does not appear on the Walmart fish oil supplements, the lawsuit says.

Nestlé Health Sciences also is facing a class action lawsuit claiming it falsely advertises that its Nature’s Bounty fish oil supplements help improve heart health. 

Have you purchased fish oil supplements from Walmart? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Ruhandy Glezakos, Benjamin Heikali and Joshua Nassir of Treehouse Law LLP.

The Walmart fish oil heart disease class action lawsuit is Magpayo v. Walmart Inc., Case No. 3:24-cv-01350, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Judge declines to certify class in Flintstones Vitamins class action
• Balance of Nature class action alleges supplements not healthy as advertised
• FDA issues warning for certain tejocote root supplements
• Liquid I.V. class action claims product falsely advertised as containing no preservatives