Target faces class actions over simethicone, avocado oil, more

Target class actions overview: 

• Who: Consumers recently filed class action lawsuits against Target Corp. 
• Why: The class actions involve false advertising, product misrepresentation and biometric data collection.. 
• Where: The Target class actions were filed in U.S. federal courts. 

Consumers recently filed class action lawsuits against Target Corp. over claims involving false advertising, product misrepresentation and biometric data collection.

The Target class actions argue Target falsely advertised the strength of its gas relief products, the purity of its avocado oil and the cleanliness of its beauty products labeled “Target Clean.” 

Target recently failed in an effort to get the Target Clean class action dismissed by a California federal court, with the judge overseeing the case ruling the complaint had complained the Target Clean program as a whole was “inherently deceptive.” 

It also filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit over customer biometric data collection. 

Target falsely advertises gas relief product as ‘maximum strength,’ class action claims

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Target Corp. earlier this month over claims the company falsely advertised its 250-milligram simethicone gas relief product as “maximum strength.” 

The class action lawsuit argues that, despite the maximum strength claims, there are gas relief products available over the counter in doses up to 500 milligrams. 

“A reasonable consumer would conclude that a simethicone product labeled as ‘maximum strength’ would contain the maximum amount of simethicone available in pill form,” the Target class action says. 

The consumer argues he paid a premium price for Target’s Up & Up Maximum Strength Gas Relief Simethicone Softgels and would not have done so had he known the product was not actually maximum strength. 

Target avocado oil not ‘100% pure” as advertised, class action says

A consumer filed a class action lawsuit against Target this month over claims the company misrepresented its Good & Gather brand avocado oil as “100% pure.”

The class action lawsuit argues recent testing conducted by scientists from the University of California, Davis found the Target avocado oil, along with other commercially available avocado oil products, adulterated and impure. 

Specifically, the testing found nearly 70% of the avocado oil products tested, including Target’s avocado oil product, were “rancid or mixed with other oils,” according to the Target class action.

“Because avocado oil is more expensive to produce, some makers cut corners. They substitute other oils, or mix avocado oil with cheaper seed oils. They sell avocado oil that is impure and adulterated. Consumers are harmed,” the Target class action says.

The class action lawsuit argues Target is either aware or “willfully blind to or negligent” that the avocado oils it sells are impure because any “reasonable maker, seller or distributor of avocado oil would test its own products” given the “pervasive problems” with avocado oil adulteration. 

Target misled consumers about ‘Target Clean’ beauty products, class action claims

A group of consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Target in late August over claims the company misled consumers about the actual cleanliness of many beauty products it labels as “Target Clean.” 

The class action lawsuit argues the beauty products labeled as Target Clean actually contain “harmful or unwanted” ingredients “known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.” 

A federal judge in California ruled last month that Target must face the claims, determining the class action lawsuit claimed the Target Clean program as a whole is “inherently deceptive” and was not about one claim about any one product. 

In an unsuccessful effort to get the complaint dismissed, Target argued the claims would have to assume what a consumer knew about the program as a whole. 

Target files motion to dismiss biometric data class action

On Sept. 4, Target filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging it collects its customers’ biometric data via facial recognition technology without their consent. 

In the motion, the retailer alleges the complaint contains “conclusory and unsupported assertions” that are not based on fact but rather online conjecture and rumors.

In August, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint that added claims from an additional consumer. 

The class action lawsuit alleges Target violates the Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act through the data collection. Target has said it uses biometric technology to prevent shoplifting. 

Are you affected by these Target class actions? Let us know in the comments.

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