McCormick Class Action Says Herbs & Spices Contain Toxic Heavy Metals

McCormick Toxic Heavy Metals Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Why: McCormick allegedly sells certain herbs and spices that contain significant levels of toxic heavy metals.
• Who: Plaintiffs Kelly Balistreri and Tony Michel filed a class action lawsuit against McCormick.
• Where: The McCormick class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

McCormick & Company Inc. fails to warn consumers that some of its herbs and spices may be tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals, according to a class action lawsuit filed Jan. 18 in a California federal court.

In November 2021, Consumer Reports published a report showing that certain brands of herbs and spices contain significant levels of toxic heavy metals such as lead, arsenic, and cadmium. 

McCormick’s Culinary Ground Basil, Ground Ginger, Ground Oregano, Paprika, Ground Thyme, and Ground Turmeric were included among the products found to have significant levels of toxic heavy metals, according to the McCormick class action lawsuit.

“Heightened levels of toxic heavy metals in foods can cause cancer and serious and often irreversible damage to brain development as well as other serious health problems,” plaintiffs Kelly Balistreri and Tony Michel state.

The plaintiffs say they would not have purchased McCormick herbs and spices if they had known the products contained significant levels of toxic heavy metals. 

Class Action: McCormick Fails to Tests Products for Heavy Metals

According to Consumer Reports, about two-thirds of the products tested did not contain significant levels of heavy metals in their products. The author of the report determined that “it is possible for herb and spice companies to limit heavy metals in their products.”

However, Balistreri and Michel allege that McCormick does not test its products for heavy metals or take steps to remove the heavy metals from its herbs and spices.

“Worse, as companies across the industry have adopted methods to limit heavy metals in their herbs and spices, [McCormick] has stood idly by with a reckless disregard for its consumers’ health and well-being,” the McCormick class action lawsuit alleges.

The plaintiffs filed the McCormick toxic heavy metals class action lawsuit on behalf of themselves and a proposed Class of consumers who purchased the products.

They have asked the court to order McCormick to notify businesses and individuals who have purchased the products about the presence of heavy metals and give them an opportunity to obtain restitution from McCormick.

Have you purchased McCormick herbs and spices? Do the allegations that some McCormick products contain toxic heavy metals affect your decision to purchase McCormick products in the future

The plaintiffs are represented by L. Timothy Fisher and Sean L. Litteral of Bursor & Fisher PA.

The McCormick Toxic Herbs & Spices Class Action Lawsuit is Kelly Balistreri, et al. v. McCormick & Company Inc., Case No. 5:22-cv-00349, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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