Major Baby Food Makers Accused of Using Toxic Ingredients in Trio of Class Action Lawsuits

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Three major baby food makers face class action lawsuits in federal court by parents who say their products are “tainted with significant levels of toxic heavy metals.” 

The class action lawsuits were lodged this week against Beech-Nut Nutrition Company, The Hain Celestial Group, Inc, maker of Earth’s Best Organic, and Campbell Soup Company, make of Plum baby foods. The plaintiffs accuse the manufacturers of misrepresenting their products and join ever-growing legal action that began in the wake of a congressional report revealing that many of major brands of baby food contain potentially dangerous levels of various toxins.  

In February, the House Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy issued a report alleging that baby food made by the following brands contains toxic metals including arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury: 

• Beech-Nut 
• Earth’s Best Organic (Hain Celestial Group) 
• Gerber 
• HappyBABY (Nurture) 
• Parent’s Choice (Walmart) 
• Plum Organics (Campbell Soup Company) 
• Sprout Foods 

Lead plaintiffs Emily Orsak and Julie Chatagnier, who filed a class action lawsuit in New York federal court Monday, want to represent consumers nationwide, as well as a subclass of Louisiana residents, who purchased Beech-Nut baby food products.  

Lead plaintiff Kristin Hanna filed a class action lawsuit in New Jersey federal court the following day claiming that Campbell Soup failed to warn her and other consumers about the presence of heavy metals in Plum baby food products.  

Lead plaintiff Nikeita Boulware filed her class action lawsuit in New York federal court on Tuesday alleging that Earth’s Best Organic brand baby food made by The Hain Celestial Group was misleadingly marketed as high quality and wholesome.  

Heavy metals can enter foods through soil or water and can be introduced through additives and mixes, according to recent research. Pediatricians say that while the levels found in single baby food items do not pose a significant health risk to babies, long-term exposure can cause lasting neurodevelopmental disabilities in children. 

Soon after the congressional report was revealed to the public, parents and caregivers filed class action lawsuits against Gerber, Earth’s Best, Nurture, Plum Organics, Beech Nut, Walmart, and other baby food producers.   

In March, the plaintiffs in one of the many other toxic baby foods class action lawsuits filed a motion asking the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to consolidate the cases in the Eastern District of New York. 

In April, the Food and Drug Administration released an action plan to reduce the levels of lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury found in baby foods after facing strong political and community pressure. 

The baby food manufacturers have maintained that their products are safe, reportedly issuing statements asserting the safety and quality of their baby foods; however, Beech-Nut recalled certain lots of its rice cereal in early June, citing concerns about levels of inorganic arsenic in the product. Further, the company has announced it will exit the rice cereal market and stop making the product because it cannot find rice flour with sufficiently low levels of the toxic ingredient.  

Are you concerned about the baby food you have purchased? Tell us about it in the comment section below! 

The plaintiffs in the Beech-Nut class action lawsuit are represented by Mark S. Reich and Courtney E. Maccarone of Levi & Korsinsky, LLP.  

The Beech-Nut Toxic Baby Food Class Action Lawsuit is Orsak, et al. v. Beech-Nut Nutrition Company, Case No. 1:21-cv-722 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.  

The plaintiffs in both the Earth’s Best Organic and Plum class action lawsuits are represented by Thomas A. Brown II, John M. Bradham, and Peter B. Katzman of Morea Schwartz Bradham Friedman & Brown LLP, and Roy T. Willey, IV, Eric M. Poulin, Blake G. Abbott, and Jarrett W. Withrow of Anastopoulo Law Firm LLC.  

The Plum Toxic Baby Food Class Action Lawsuit is Hanna v. Campbell Soup Company, et al., Case No. 1:21-cv-12842 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.  

The Earth’s Best Organic Toxic Baby Food Class Action Lawsuit is Boulware v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., Case No. 2:21-cv-3511 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. 

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Do You Qualify: Toxic Baby Food | Autism and Other Disorders Lawsuit Claim Review
• Class Action Lawsuits Served After Baby Food Toxic Metal Contamination Report
• Do You Qualify: Birth Injury Lawsuit | Cerebral Palsy, Erb’s Palsy, Brain Damage & Other Injuries
• Class Action Lawsuits Served After Baby Food Toxic Metal Contamination Report