Target’s Up & Up ‘reef-conscious’ sunscreen harms, kill reefs, class action lawsuit alleges

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Up & Up reef-friendly sunscreen class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Target and Fruit of the Earth are facing a class action lawsuit filed by a sunscreen purchaser who claims they were misled.
• Why: The plaintiff alleges that Target and manufacturer Fruit of the Earth sold Up & Up brand sunscreens advertised as friendly to coral reefs, when they allegedly contain chemicals that harm or kill reefs.
• Where: The lawsuit seeks to represent consumers nationwide.

Target and sunscreen-maker Fruit of the Earth falsely label Up & Up brand sunscreens as “reef-conscious” when the ingredients actually kill reefs, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

Plaintiff Martin Locklin filed the class action complaint against Target Corporation and Fruit of the Earth, Inc on Oct. 8 in a California federal court, alleging violations of California consumer protection laws and breach of warranty. 

Locklin claims that the pair falsely marketed Target sunscreen products sold under its Up & Up brand in order to obtain an unfair competitive advantage in the billion-dollar sunscreen market.

“Defendants have reaped millions of dollars through this fraudulent scheme based on a calculated business decision to put profits over people and the environment,” the complaint states.

Up & Up’s ‘reef-friendly’ sunscreen contains multiple harmful chemicals

Locklin claims that the so-called reef friendly sunscreens sold at Target and made by Fruit of the Earth are labeled “reef conscious,” leading reasonable consumers to believe that the products only contain ingredients that are reef-safe. However, he says they actually contain harmful chemical ingredients that are not safe for reefs because they can harm or even kill coral reefs and the marine life that depends on them. 

“In spite of the Products labeling, they contain Harmful Ingredients, including avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and/or octocrylene, which are chemicals that harm reefs, including coral reefs and the marine life that inhabits them,” he says.

Locklin is looking to represent all United States residents who bought Fruit of the Earth “reef conscious” labeled Up & Up brand sunscreen sold at Target, plus a California subclass.

He’s seeking certification of the class action, an order declaring Target and Fruit of the Earth have broken the law, an injunction, damages, fees and costs. 

The news comes as the maker of Banana Boat sunscreens also faces class action claims that it falsely markets the products as being “reef friendly” when they really contain chemicals that can harm or even kill the delicate reefs.

What do you think of allegations that the companies profited off false claims that the sunscreens are “reef conscious”? Let us know in the comments. 

The plaintiff is represented by Ryan J. Clarkson, Shireen M. Clarkson, Katherine A. Bruce, and Kelsey J. Elling of Clarkson Law firm, P.C. 

The Target Fruit of the Earth sunscreen class action lawsuit is Locklin, et al. v. Target Corp., et al., Case No. 3:21-cv-07936-TSH, in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Johnson & Johnson Sold Neutrogena Sunscreen Known to Cause Cancer, Says Class Action
• Banana Boat Sunscreens Contain Chemicals That Harm, Kill Coral Reefs, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges
• Coppertone Recalls 12 Lots of Aerosol Sunscreen Spray Products That Contain Carcinogen
• Coppertone Mineral-Based Sunscreen $2.25M Class Action Settlement