Bigelow tea class action alleges ‘Manufactured in the USA’ claims false

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Bigelow tea class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Claudia Newton and Brandy Leandro filed a class action lawsuit against R.C. Bigelow, Inc. 
• Why: Newton and Leandro claim Bigelow misrepresents that several of its tea products are “Manufactured in the USA 100.” 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in New York federal court. 

R.C. Bigelow misrepresents that several of its Bigelow tea products are “Manufactured in the USA 100%,” a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiffs Claudia Newton and Brandy Leandro claim that, in reality, the Bigelow tea products contain tea, flavors, and materials that are predominantly imported from outside the US. 

Newton and Leandro argue that Bigelow “simply purchases these foreign ingredients and materials, blends and packages the products, and then distributes the products to wholesalers and retailers.” 

Consumers who purchased certain Bigelow tea products were therefore financially injured by paying a premium price that has been set on them due to the alleged misrepresentations, the Bigelow tea class action alleges. 

“Plaintiffs purchased the Bigelow tea products based on the reasonable belief that they were Manufactured in the USA,” states the Bigelow tea class action. 

Newton and Leandro want to represent a New York class of consumers who purchased the Bigelow tea products allegedly misrepresented as “Manufactured in the USA 100%” at a retail store in the state of New York. 

Bigelow’s alleged misrepresentations an ‘important factor’ in tea purchasing decision

Newton and Leandro argue that Bigelow’s alleged misrepresentations about its tea products being manufactured in the USA was an “important factor” in their decision to ultimately purchase them. 

Further, Newton and Leandro argue that they now cannot believe any Bigelow tea products are manufactured in the country, meaning they will have to refrain from purchasing them “for the time being.” 

“Class Members will also continue purchasing Bigelow’s tea products, reasonably but incorrectly believing that they are Manufactured in the USA, resulting in a continuing harm to them,” states the Bigelow tea class action. 

Newton and Leandro claim Bigelow is guilty of intentional misrepresentation and common law fraud, among other things, and in violation of New York General Business Law. 

Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of economic, monetary, actual, consequential, compensatory, statutory, treble, nominal, and punitive damages for themselves and all class members. 

A similar class action lawsuit was filed against Bigelow in 2020 by a consumer arguing the company falsely markets and advertises that its tea products are manufactured in the USA.

Have you purchased a Bigelow tea product represented as being made entirely in the USA in the state of New York? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Daniella Quitt at Glancy Prongay & Murray LLP, Jason H. Kim of Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP, and Aubry Wand of The Wand Law Firm, P.C. 

The Bigelow tea class action lawsuit is Newton, et al. v. R.C. Bigelow, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:22-cv-05660, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

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