Miracle-Gro class action claims organic soil and fertilizer products contain PFAS forever chemicals

Miracle-Gro class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Two consumers filed a class action lawsuit against The Scotts Company LLC.
• Why: The plaintiffs claim the company’s Miracle-Gro “organic” soil contains synthetic, non-organic and harmful “forever chemicals” known as perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
• Where: The Miracle-Gro class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges The Scotts Company falsely advertises its Miracle-Gro organic soil and fertilizer products as organic when they contain synthetic, non-organic and harmful “forever chemicals” known as PFAS.

Long-term exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious health problems, including kidney cancer, testicular cancer, liver cancer, thyroid cancer, and ulcerative colitis.

Plaintiffs Carrie Calcagno and Praveen Pathangi filed the class action complaint against The Scotts Co. on Oct. 7 in California federal court, alleging violations of state consumer laws.

According to the class action lawsuit, Miracle-Gro uses the term organic to induce consumers to believe that the products contain only naturally occurring, non-synthetic ingredients and are therefore a superior alternative to competing and less expensive products that are not labeled as organic.

“Reasonable consumers do not expect Scotts’ organic products to contain toxic forever chemicals like PFAS, especially when marketed for use in residential gardens to grow fruits and vegetables,” the Miracle-Gro class action lawsuit alleges.

Scotts fails to disclose PFAS presence, lawsuit alleges

The Miracle-Gro class action lawsuit accuses Scotts of failing to disclose the presence of PFAS because this would influence purchasing decisions to the company’s financial detriment.

The plaintiffs allege they and class members would not have purchased, or would have paid less money for, Scotts organic products had they known the products contained PFAS.

Calcagno and Pathangi want to represent anyone who bought Scotts’ Miracle-Gro organic soil and fertilizer products in California within the applicable statute of limitations period.

Class members are suing under California’s consumer laws and seeking certification of the class action, damages, restitution and an injunction.

This year, a Florida college and numerous companies were hit with a class action lawsuit over PFAS contamination of land and water, while DuPont and two other companies agreed to pay the State of New Jersey $2 billion to settle “legacy” PFAS contamination claims.

What do you think of the claims made in this Miracle-Gro class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Todd D. Carpenter and Jennifer M. French of Lynch Carpenter LLP.

The Miracle-Gro class action lawsuit is Calcagno, et al. v. The Scotts Company LLC, Case No. 3:25-cv-02661, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

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