HimalaSalt Class Action Lawsuit Says ‘Organic’ Salt is Falsely Advertised

A class action lawsuit says organic HimalaSalt is falsely advertised because salt can’t be organic, so labeling it as such deceives consumers.

Plaintiff Erika Garcia alleges that she purchased HimalaSalt products, made by HimalaSalt-Sustainable Sourcing LLC, multiple times in 2018.

She claims that she chose the HimalaSalt products over other items because it was advertised as organic. However, she says that contrary to the products’ labeling, salt cannot be organic because it is a mineral and not an agricultural product.

She seeks damages on behalf of herself and a proposed Class of California residents who purchased HimalaSalt products labeled as “organic.”

Garcia argues that HimalaSalt-Sustainable Sourcing LLC intentionally misuses the term “organic” when labeling their products, in order to entice consumers who seek out organic and healthy products.

The plaintiff says that she and other consumers who purchased the salt products were injured by the company because if it weren’t for the deceptive marketing, she would not have paid as much for the product, or would not have purchased the item.

The HimalaSalt labeling class action lawsuit says that the term “organic” does not apply to salt at all, because the term is used to categorize agriculturally grown products, whereas salt is a mineral that is mined.

The HimalaSalt organic labeling class action lawsuit claims that the products’ makers know that consumers are attracted to organic products because they are seen as being natural and of higher quality.

The HimalaSalt class action further states that consumers are willing to pay more for products labeled “organic” so they can get the benefits associated with organic products.

However, the organic salt class action lawsuit alleges that because the HimalaSalt products are inherently not organic, the use of the word “organic” is deceptive, and functions to attract consumers to the product over other items and pay more than they otherwise would for a product seen as high-end and desirable.

The HimalaSalt false advertising class action lawsuit says that when consumers purchased the HimalaSalt products, they were denied the advertised benefits that come with an “organic product” because salt cannot be organic.

Garcia argues that federal law prohibits the use of the term “organic” to advertise nonorganic ingredients in products.

She then goes on to argue that HimalaSalt products have a list of ingredients advertised after organic so consumers may be led to believe that the term organic applies to all of the ingredients, including salt.

Garcia provides the example of the HimalaSalt Organic Garlic Salt which she says could mislead consumers who believe that both the garlic and the salt in the product are organic.

The plaintiff says that the salt company also violated California Civil Code, which prohibits the misrepresentation of products as having qualities or characteristics that they do not have, or being of a standard or grade of which they are not, by claiming their salt products are organic.

Garcia is represented by Scott J. Ferrell of Pacific Trial Attorneys.

The HimalaSalt Organic Labeling Class Action Lawsuit is Erika Garcia v. HimalaSalt-Sustainable Sourcing LLC, Case No. 2:18-cv-07410-DDP-KS, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.