P&G ZzzQuil sleep aid class action alleges products falsely advertised as ‘natural’

ZzzQuil class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Valerie Perkins filed a class action lawsuit against The Procter & Gamble Co.
• Why: Perkins claims P&G falsely advertised its ZzzQuil melatonin sleep aid products as able to help consumers fall asleep naturally.
• Where: The ZzzQuil class action was filed in California federal court.

The Procter & Gamble Co. falsely advertises a line of its ZzzQuil melatonin sleep aid products as able to help consumers fall asleep naturally, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Valerie Perkins’ class action lawsuit claims P&G’s ZzzQuil melatonin products with the tagline “helps you fall asleep naturally” contain several artificial and synthetic ingredients, including melatonin, which she argues is a “highly synthesized chemical which does not exist in nature and is not made by nature.”

“Reasonable consumers are deceived into thinking the primary ingredient of the products (melatonin) is not synthetically made,” the ZzzQuil natural class action says.

Perkins wants to represent a California class of consumers who purchased ZzzQuil products for personal use. She claims P&G is guilty of violating California’s Unfair Competition Law and Consumers Legal Remedies Act. 

ZzzQuil class action claims P&G uses ‘greenwashing’ tactics

Perkins argues P&G uses “greenwashing” tactics to convince consumers its ZzzQuil products are made with natural ingredients, such as using the color green on the products’ labels and including images of chamomile and lavender.

“P&G chose green, a color known to refer to nature, as the color of the font for the ‘naturally’ representation,” the ZzzQuil natural class action says. 

Perkins claims P&G’s false, misleading and deceptive misrepresentations are likely to deceive and mislead reasonable consumers and the general public.

“Perkins and the members of the class would not have purchased the products if they had known that the products were not ‘natural,’ and thus cannot and do not ‘naturally’ provide sleep,” the ZzzQuil natural class action says.

Perkins demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of restitution and disgorgement, actual, statutory and punitive damages and pre- and post-judgment interest for herself and all class members.

In a separate case, in June 2023, an Illinois district judge denied P&G’s motion to dismiss claims the company misled consumers by inaccurately dosing and labeling its Vicks Pure Zzzs melatonin supplements. 

Have you purchased ZzzQuil sleep aid products? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Craig W. Straub and Zachary M. Crosner of Crosner Legal, P.C. and George V. Granade and Michael R. Reese of Reese LLP.

The ZzzQuil class action lawsuit is Perkins, et al. v. The Procter & Gamble Co., Case No. 3:25-cv-00035, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

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