Banana Boat ‘Reef Friendly’ Sunscreens Toxic to Coral Reefs, Marine Life, Says Class Action

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Banana Boat Sunscreens Class Action Lawsuit Overview: 

• Who: An environmentally-conscious consumer lodged a class action lawsuit against Edgewell Personal Care Brand, LLC.
• Why: Plaintiff claims Edgewell Personal Care Brand sold Banana Boat brand sunscreens that were deceptively mislabeled as “Reef Friendly.” 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court. 

Certain Banana Boat sunscreens marketed as “Reef Friendly,” contain ingredients that are harmful to coral reefs and other marine life, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Mary Condreay claims Edgewell Personal Care Brand, which markets and sells Banana Boat sunscreens, is misleading consumers by labeling them as “Reef Friendly,” when they in fact contain avobenzone and octocrylene — chemicals toxic to the development of coral reefs. 

The affected products include Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Lotion SPF 15-50+, Banana Boat Sport Ultra Sunscreen Spray SPF 15-50+, Banana Boat Sport Coolzone Sunscreen Spray SPF 30-50+, and Banana Boat Ultra Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+, according to the class action lawsuit. 

Banana Boat Sunscreens Contain Toxic Ingredients Despite “Reef Friendly” Claims 

Condreay claims she purchased a Banana Boat SPF 30 sunscreen labeled “Reef Friendly,” from a Simi Valley CVS earlier this year, however, she says she would not have purchased the product or paid as much for it as she did had she known it was not actually “Reef Friendly.”

Avobenzone and octocrylene, ingredients in Banana Boat sunscreens, cause coral bleaching and negatively affect the reproduction of coral reefs, according to the class action lawsuit. Octocrylene specifically is toxic to the development and reproduction of marine life, says the plaintiff. 

Condreay wants to represent herself and a California Class of consumers who purchased any of the above Banana Boat sunscreens that claim to be “Reef Friendly.” 

“By representing that the Products are ‘Reef Friendly,’ Defendant leads consumers into reasonably believing that the Products contain only ingredients that are safe for coral and other marine life,” states the class action lawsuit. 

Condreay alleges the defendant intentionally is misleading a growing base of consumers who are more likely to purchase a product they believe is not going to harm the environment. 

The plaintiff claims Edgewell Personal Care Brand is in violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, and Unfair Competition Law. 

Condreay is demanding a jury trial and seeking injunctive relief as well as statutory and monetary damages for herself and all Class Members. 

A class action lawsuit was filed against Banana Boat earlier this summer that alleged the sunscreen contained benzene, a potentially cancer causing chemical. 

Have you purchased any Banana Boat sunscreens labeled “Reef Friendly”? Let us know about your experience in the comments! 

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

The Banana Boat Sunscreens Class Action Lawsuit is Condreay v. Edgewell Personal Care Brand, LLC, Case No. 2:21-cv-07100, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

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