Kirkland Himalayan Pink Salt Place of Origin New York, Connecticut Class Action

Costco Wholesale Corporation offers, under its Kirkland brand, a Ground Himalayan Pink Salt that is purportedly from “the heart of the Himalayan Mountains.” However, the complaint for this class action alleges that the salt is not from “the heart of” the Himalayan Mountains but from Khewra, Pakistan.

The New York and Connecticut Class is all persons in New York or Connecticut who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.

Pages 1 of the complaint shows the product and its front label. The label includes what the complaint describes as “a colonial-era map of the Indian subcontinent [and] Sanskrit graphics…” The description of the salt says, “Referred to as the purest salt in the world, Himalayan Pink Salt comes from the heart of the Himalayan Mountains. With hues of pink, red, and white, these vibrant colors are a sign of the salt’s rich and varying mineral content.”

According to the complaint, consumers have certain associations and expectations related to the Himalayas. The mountain range stretches 1,500 miles, from Pakistan, through northern India, Nepal, and Bhutan, to China. But the area that’s considered the “heart” is much smaller and is not located in Pakistan.

Consumers have an impression of the Himalayas as involving nature, adventure, and spirituality, the complaint claims.

The pink color is supposedly from the salt’s iron content. The complaint alleges, “The natural harvesting process means pink salt from the Himalayas possesses up to 84 nutrients and minerals [that] are not found in regular salt.” Also, because the “heart of the Himalayas is “largely undeveloped and free from industrialization[,]” the complaint says, consumers expect that the salt will be purer.

In actuality, the complaint claims, the salt is from Khewra, Pakistan. This is revealed in small print on the side of the product. “Moreover,” the complaint alleges, “unlike traditional Himalayan pink salt, the Product lacks any mineral or nutrient content…”

Consumers nowadays value authenticity, the complaint claims, for two reasons: “(1) an expectation that a product made in the location where it was first developed will be higher quality than elsewhere due to production with original ingredients and methods and (2) a desire to support and maintain local traditions and cultures…”

The complaint contends, “The value of the Product … was materially less than its value as represented by defendant.”

The counts include violations of New York and Connecticut consumer protection laws and breaches of warranties, among other things.

Article Type: Lawsuit
Topic: Consumer
Tags: Deceptive Advertising, Deceptive Labels, Place of origin