Class action alleges Weed Slayer/Agro Gold WS not organic as advertised

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Weed slayer organic overview: 

• Who: A Weed Slayer consumer is suing the makers and sellers of the product.
• Why: The plaintiff says the product is advertised as organic when really it is a synthetic herbicide.
• Where: The Weed Slayer organic class action lawsuit was filed in a California federal court.
• What are my options: Consumers looking for alternative weed killers may be interested in products at Ace Hardware.

A Weed Slayer consumer is suing the makers and sellers of the product alleging it is advertised as organic when really it is a synthetic herbicide.

Plaintiff Victor Saborio filed the class action lawsuit against Agro Research International LLC (ARI), Sentinel Biologics Inc., Amazon.com Inc. and Amazon.com Services LLC on April 28 in a California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

Saborio said he buys Weed Slayer, which is manufactured by ARI and sold and distributed by Amazon. 

Weed Slayer is a two-part mixture, Saborio says. Part A is the herbicide and Part B is a biological surfactant that enables the herbicide to penetrate through the leaf. Part B, also called Agro Gold WS, is advertised as an organic biological amendment containing nothing more than soil-enhancing bacteria and water. 

“In reality, however, Agro Gold WS contains the synthetic herbicides glyphosate and diquat, both of which are prohibited for use in organic production,” the lawsuit alleges.

Weed Slayer was falsely advertised, lawsuit alleges

When Saborio bought Weed Slayer/Agro Gold WS, the company represented that the product was natural, organic, suitable for use on organic plants, and contained clove essential oil as its only active ingredient, the lawsuit states. “These representations were false,” Saborio says.

“Due to Defendants’ false and misleading advertising and statements, Plaintiff and members of the Class were induced to purchase a non-organic, synthetic herbicide that was far inferior in value than that which had been promised,” the lawsuit states.

“As a result of the misrepresentations made to him, Plaintiff Saborio unknowingly exposed his family, particularly his three-year-old daughter, to the synthetic ingredients when he used and applied the product in their yard at home.” 

Saborio is suing on behalf of others similarly situated for alleged violations of California business laws, fraud and breach of implied warranty. He seeks certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.

Consumers have raised concerns about the chemicals in other products, as well.

Edgewell Personal Care Co. makes o.b. Organic tampons and advertises them as being a healthy product when they allegedly contain potentially harmful “forever chemicals,” a new class action lawsuit states.

What do you think of the allegations in this class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments. 

The plaintiff is represented by Shounak S. Sharp and Katherine A. Rabago.

The Agro Research class action lawsuit is Victor Saborio, et al. v. Agro Research International LLC et al., Case No. 3:23-cv-02086, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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