Big Lots class action claims Sound Body sunscreen not ‘reef conscious’ as advertised

Big Lots class action overview: 

• Who: Plaintiff Andrew Bellomo filed a class action lawsuit against Big Lots.
• Why: Bellomo alleges Big Lots’ Sound Body contains ingredients that are dangerous to reefs despite being advertised as “reef conscious.” 
• Where: The Big Lots sunscreen lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York.

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Big Lots claiming that its Sound Body sunscreen contains ingredients that are dangerous to reefs — even though the retail chain advertises the sunscreen as “reef conscious.”

Early research showed that the ingredients oxybenzone or octinoxate are dangerous to coral reefs and lead to bleaching. Further research has shown that avobenzone, octocrylene, octisalate and homosalate are also dangerous to reefs, but those ingredients are included in the Big Lots reef conscious sunscreen.

Snorkel Around the World listed the additional ingredients as dangerous to reefs and, while Hawaii has outlawed oxybenzone and octinoxate, many Hawaiians believe the law should go further now that more research on additional ingredients is available.

“Nowhere on the front or back of the Product are purchasers told what Snorkel Around The World and Hawaiians know, that sunscreen containing ingredients known and/or linked to harming critical and fragile reef ecosystems and/or the environment, is not ‘Reef Conscious,’” the Big Lots sunscreen lawsuit says.

‘Reef conscious’ is sales gimmick with hazy definition, lawsuit says

Experts said that using the terms “reef conscious” or “reef safe” are just sales gimmicks; the terms continue to broaden and don’t mean a product is actually safe for reefs, the Big Lots sunscreen lawsuit says.

State laws in New York and the federal Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 outline requirements for businesses to use “honesty and fair dealing” in advertising products and their ingredients. 

Labeling a product “reef conscious” when it is actually harmful to coral reefs is an example of the opposite, according to the Big Lots class action.

The reef conscious claims lead consumers to pay a higher price for the same item, believing they are reducing harm and saving coral reefs, the class action argues.

Consumers filed a similar class action lawsuit against Walmart for claiming its “reef friendly” sunscreen is actually dangerous to coral reefs.

Have you ever purchased Big Lots sunscreen? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC.

The Big Lots class action lawsuit is Bellomo v. Big Lots Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-03480, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York Central Islip.

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