Consumers Duped by Thayers Natural Remedies, Says Class Action Lawsuit

The line of Thayers Natural Remedies uses false advertising to sell products with “synthetic and abrasive chemical ingredients,” alleges a new class action lawsuit lodged against the Henry Thayer Company.

Lead plaintiff, Cynthia Early, says that she and other consumers are enticed by marketing that touts the products as natural and pure; however, the manufacturer, Henry Thayer Company Inc., fails to materially disclose that the products contain synthetic chemicals. In fact, alleges the class action lawsuit, the company has built a loyal fan base for the products it sells online and in retail stores through this misleading marketing.

“Defendant’s THAYERS® Natural Remedies brand created and continues to maintain a ‘natural’ myth that is displayed prominently on all of its Products’ labels as well as throughout its website and social media accounts to promote and advertise the Products as ‘natural remedies,’” asserts the complaint, pointing to marketing from the company touting its long-standing commitment to “creating pure, effective, cruelty-free products of the highest natural quality.”

Early says that she relied on representations made by the manufacturer when purchasing a facial toner for $7.19 from the line of Thayers Natural Remedies products in October 2020. She says that she would not have purchased or paid as much for the products had she known that the line contained some of the following chemicals:

• Phenoxyethanol
• Potassium Sorbate
• Polysorbate-20
• Sodium Benzoate
• Caprylyl Glycol
• Propanediol
• Maltodextrin
• Fragrance
• Citric Acid

The plaintiff alleges that Thayers is cashing in on consumer demand for natural and heathy products. According to the complaint, Thayers’ products are sold at a higher price than competing items and consumers are duped into paying higher prices because of the line’s deceptive marketing.

Indeed, according to the plaintiff, the labeling of the products contain terms like “Natural” and “Natural Remedies.” In addition, its online advertising reinforces the allegedly false advertising of the products as natural and pure.

“Defendant only lists the synthetic, unnatural ingredients in the Products on the back of the Product packaging in small, hard-to-read print and, even then, fails to inform consumers that many of the ingredients listed are synthetic and unnatural,” contends the class action lawsuit.

“Consumers are not experts in the chemical make-up or names of the ingredients disclosed in fine print on the back of the labels and, based on the ‘natural’ representations headlining the Products’ labeling, reasonably believe that the Products contain only natural ingredients.”

In addition to failing to highlight all of the allegedly not-so-natural ingredients in Thayers Natural Remedies line, the plaintiff accuses the company of failing to disclose certain chemicals used in their products for a time.

According to the complaint, Thayers Natural Remedies products that contain Phenoxyethanol are particularly troubling because they are marketed as safe for use by children and babies.

Phenoxyethanol, points out the class action lawsuit, has been flagged as unsuitable for use in infants by the Food and Drug Administration because it can depress the central nervous system and even cause vomiting and diarrhea.

The complaint notes that, in France, products containing this chemical cannot be marketed in products for use in children under the age of three.

In addition, the company allegedly targets pregnant women in its marketing campaign, touting products that may “form extremely unhealthy, dangerous chemicals.” The complaint notes that Benzene, known to cause leukemia, can be formed in a chemical reaction between sodium benzoate with citric acid and/or ascorbic acid. Both sodium benzoate and citric acid are contained in certain Thayers Natural products, alleges the class action lawsuit.

The plaintiff accuses Thayers of violating Missouri consumer protection laws, breach of warranty, and unjust enrichment. She says that she and other customers would not have purchased or paid as much for Thayers products had they been fully informed about the ingredients.

The class action lawsuit seeks to represent a nationwide Class of consumers who purchased Thayers Natural Remedies products, along with a subclass of consumers from Missouri. The plaintiff is seeking damages, as well as a court order stopping the company from the alleged false advertising of the natural remedies line.

Have you purchased Thayers Natural Remedies products? Do you think they were falsely advertised? Tell us in the comment section below!

Early and the proposed Class Members are represented by Steffan T. Keeton of The Keeton Firm, LLC and Michael A. Mills of The Mills Law Firm.

The Thayers Natural Remedies False Advertising Class Action Lawsuit is Early v. Henry Thayer Company Inc., Case No. 4:20-cv-01678, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

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