Ricola Class Action Claims Product’s Therapeutic Effect Not Provided By Advertised Herbs

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Ricola Herbal Benefit Class Action Lawsuit Overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Lacie Davis has filed a class action lawsuit against Ricola USA Inc.
• Why: The Ricola class action lawsuit alleges the company sells cough drops with herbs that do not provide the advertised therapeutic effect.
• Where: The Ricola class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

Ricola USA Inc. is facing a class action lawsuit alleging it misrepresents the benefits provided by herbs included in its cough drops when the therapeutic effect is provided by menthol, the only active ingredient. The herbs depicted on the front label of the cough drops are listed as inactive ingredients.

Plaintiff Lacie Davis filed the Ricola class action lawsuit on May 8, alleging Ricola sells cough drops that prominently display “Made with Swiss Alpine Herbs” on the label. The package also includes images of various herbs, including peppermint, wild thyme, mallow, sage, lemon balm and linden flowers.

“Consumers seeing the Product’s front label will expect its cough suppressant and oral anesthetic functionality will be provided by its herbal ingredients,” Davis alleges. “It is false, deceptive and misleading to claim or imply that the Product’s inactive ingredients provide a therapeutic benefit.”

Ricola Class Action Says Cough Drops Sold at Premium Price

The Ricola class action lawsuit notes that American consumers have shown an increased interest in purchasing products with herbal extracts over the past few decades. The herbal remedies market is reportedly more than $10 billion per year and growing. 

Recognizing the growing demand for herbal products, the pharmaceutical industry has sought to incorporate herbal ingredients in products sold over the counter, the Ricola class action lawsuit says. Increasingly, herbs are included in pain relief products, cough suppressants, muscle relaxants, digestive aids and oral care.

Davis notes that other competing herbal cough drops products clearly disclose the presence of menthol on the front label of the product.

The Ricola class action lawsuit alleges the company has been able to sell more of its cough drops with herbs at a higher price point because of its misleading representations. Davis says that she would not have purchased the Ricola cough drops, or would have paid less for them, if she had known the herbs depicted on the front label did not provide a therapeutic benefit.

Do you think Ricola misleads consumers into thinking the herbs in its cough drops have therapeutic benefits? Let us know your thoughts about the Ricola class action lawsuit in the comments below!

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