California Baby Natural Bug Repellent is Complete Sham, Class Action Says

A California company has come under fire for allegedly selling baby bug repellent that doesn’t stop mosquitos.

Plaintiff Rebecca Yates argues that California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent, which is advertised as able to repel mosquitos, fails in its claims.

The California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent class action lawsuit states that scientific evidence proves the product is ineffective and “a complete sham.”

Plaintiff counsel reportedly conducted arm-in-cage laboratory testing in 2018 which revealed that the baby bug repellent was ineffective at repelling Aedes and Culex mosquitos – two of the most common species of mosquitos found in the United States.

These two species are also the most worrisome. Aedes mosquitos tend to bite people during the day and can spread the Zika virus which has been linked to birth defects. Culex mosquitos bite people at night and can spread the West Nile virus.

The California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent class action includes pictures of both mosquito species swarming a treated arm without being deterred by the presence of the mosquito repellent.

The product reportedly failed other testing conducted by Consumer Reports. In 2016, Consumer Reports allegedly conducted testing to see how well the baby bug repellent protects against Aedes and Culex mosquitos.

According to the California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent class action lawsuit, subjects were bitten within a half an hour by both species of mosquitos during Consumer Reports testing. After the tests were over, Consumer Reports allegedly came to the conclusion that the baby bug repellent exhibited “[p]oor performance at repelling mosquitoes.”

Despite failing in both testing situations, the California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent allegedly contains express representations that it can repel mosquitos. Yates argues that this representation is false and misleading.

“The false and misleading representations and omissions were made with knowledge of their falsehood,” the baby bug repellent class action argues. “Defendant is a top distributor of pest control products in the United States who is undoubtedly aware of the studies finding that its product does not work. Nonetheless, Defendant continues to sell its ineffective and worthless Product to unsuspecting consumers.”

Due to these misrepresentations, Yates and other consumers were allegedly damaged by paying full price for the baby bug repellent.

The natural product was sold at a premium price which Yates argues in not warranted considering the alleged performance failure seen with the product.

“Plaintiff and members of the Class and Subclass were injured as a direct and proximate result of Defendant’s breach because they would not have purchased the Product if they knew the Product was ineffective at repelling mosquitoes, or would have only been willing to pay a substantially reduced price for the Product if they knew the Product was ineffective at repelling mosquitoes,” the California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent class action lawsuit argues.

Yates seeks to represent a Class of consumers who purchased the California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent. She also seeks to represent a subclass of consumers who purchased the baby bug repellent in New York.

This California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent class action follows another lawsuit alleging similar claims, which was filed earlier this year in California.

The baby bug repellent class action seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, statutory damages, interest, restitution, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Yates is represented by Philip L. Fraietta of Bursor & Fisher PA.

The California Baby Natural Bug Blend Bug Repellent Class Action Lawsuit is Yates v. California Natural Living Inc., Case No. 1:18-cv-01415-GLS-TWD, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.