Do Rainbow Light Vitamins Contain Lead?

A recent investigation by the Los Angeles City Attorney’s office reportedly indicates that the prenatal version of Rainbow Light vitamins contains more lead that is allowed under California law.

These findings negate the company’s longstanding claim that their Rainbow Light prenatal supplements are “free of heavy metals.” As a result of the City Attorney’s Rainbow Light lawsuit, the manufacturer is having to pay out almost $2 million in compensation and civil penalties in addition to taking action to correct the problem.

Who is Rainbow Light?

Rainbow Light is part of the Clorox Company, formerly known as Clorox Chemical. The Oakland-based firm is best known for its bleach, but over the past few years, it has been branching out into the field of dietary supplements and “health and wellness” products as the market for these has expanded.

According to Whole Foods Magazine, Clorox acquired Rainbow Light in March 2018 in a $700 million transaction that also included Neocell and Natural Vitality. All of these companies are subsidiaries of Nutranext, which was named as a co-defendant in the L.A. City Attorney’s lawsuit.

What Are Rainbow Light Vitamins?

These vitamins, actually part of an entire product line of prenatal supplements, are marketed to expectant mothers. In March of 2019, the website VeryWellFamily.com included Rainbow Light among its list of the “Best Prenatal Vitamins of 2019,” describing the product as “…one of the best, most highly-rated prenatal vitamins.”

What is the L.A. City Attorney’s Claim About?

Rainbow Light has long claimed that its products are “free of heavy metals,” and manufactured using materials that have “the lowest detectable lead level” available. However, independent testing reportedly found that Rainbow Light vitamins, in fact, do contain detectable levels of lead, exceeding more than 0.2 micrograms per serving.

Are These Lead Levels a Health Hazard?

According to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, lead levels of 5 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) are likely to have “adverse health effects.” In response to the L.A. City Attorney’s allegations of mislabeling, the company says that Rainbow Light Vitamins are “safe” and contain “less lead than you could find in a typical serving of spinach.” However, they acknowledge that because of their “plant and mineral-based ingredients, they could contain trace elements of lead.”

Most soils do contain lead of between 10 and 50 milligrams per kilogram, or 1 to 5 parts per million, according to researchers at Penn State. The problem is that Rainbow Light claimed their products were lead-free, which the court has determined to be misleading.

What is Rainbow Light Doing to Rectify the Problem?

In addition to paying $1.5 million to consumers who have purchased Rainbow Light Vitamins and $250,000 in civil penalties and court costs, the company has agreed to conduct “rigorous testing” in order to reduce lead levels and bring their products into compliance with state and federal standards for lead.

Are Expectant Mothers and Fetuses at Risk?

Scientists believe there is no safe level of lead exposure for expectant women and their infants. This said, virtually everyone has been exposed to lead at some point in their lives. If there is a silver lining, it is that allowable lead levels under state and federal guidelines have been drastically reduced over the past 4 decades, so people are less likely to suffer dangerous lead exposure today than they were in the 1970s.

Join a Free Rainbow Light Prenatal Vitamins Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you purchased Rainbow Light prenatal vitamins in the last four years, you may qualify to join this Rainbow Light prenatal vitamins class action lawsuit investigation.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.