Dr. Brown’s baby bottles, cups leach microplastics, class action claims

Dr. Brown’s microplastics class action overview: 

• Who: Two women who bought Dr. Brown’s baby bottles are suing Handi-Craft Company Inc.
• Why: The plaintiffs say Handi-Craft Company didn’t disclose on the Dr. Brown’s bottles’ packaging that they allegedly leach microplastics. 
• Where: The Dr. Brown’s microplastics class action lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.

A pair of women who bought baby bottles from Dr. Browns are suing the company alleging it didn’t disclose that the bottles allegedly leach microplastics, potentially harming babies.

Plaintiffs Alejandrina Cortez and Tuliisa Miller filed the class action lawsuit against Handi-Craft Company Inc. — the owner of the Dr. Brown’s brand — on June 25 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal laws.

The two plaintiffs claim that Handi-Craft Company has engaged in a “campaign of reckless deceit” by marketing its Dr. Brown’s baby bottles and sippy cups as suitable for babies and young children when, they allege, the products leach harmful microplastics directly into the food and drink of babies and young children.

“This disregard for society’s most vulnerable members has placed the health and welfare of millions of children in jeopardy as well as duped consumers out of millions of dollars,” the lawsuit argues. “Defendant has, in effect, callously brought to life every parent’s worst nightmare: unknowingly exposing their children to harm with a product they reasonably believed was safe.”

Microplastics can cause long-term health issues, lawsuit says

The women say Handi-Craft Company misleadingly markets many of its baby and infant bottles and cups by failing to inform them that, when the products are heated as they are meant to, they leach microplastics. 

These microplastics cause long-term health complications for children, the lawsuit says. These include damaging children’s digestive tracts, immune systems and reproductive systems, they say.

Miller says she bought the Dr. Brown’s Natural Flow® Anti-Colic Options+™ Narrow Baby Bottle from a Target in Contra Costa County for approximately $20 in 2022. She says, when she bought it, she had no idea it could leach microplastics when used as “ordinarily expected.”

Miller and Cortez said they wouldn’t have purchased anything from the product line if they knew they could leach microplastics that babies might then consume.

“Not exposing children to harm is consumers’ top concern when making purchasing decisions about baby products, and they reasonably expect that if there are safety concerns with a product, then the product’s manufacturer would warn of them,” the lawsuit says. 

As a result, the plaintiffs are looking to represent all residents of the United States who purchased the baby bottles that did not disclose the alleged risks. They are seeking certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial. 

Poland Springs bottled water parent company BlueTriton Brands is facing a class action lawsuit claiming  that its “100% natural spring water” actually contains microplastics and a chemical used in plastics.

What do you think of the allegations in this baby bottles microplastics lawsuit?

The plaintiff is represented by Ryan J. Clarkson, Bahar Sodaify, Alan Gudino and Kelsey J. Elling of Clarkson Law Firm P.C.

The baby bottle microplastics lawsuit is Alejandrina Cortez et al., v. Handi-Craft Company Inc., Case No. 3:24-cv-03782 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California

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