Morton Salt, Inc. makes All-Natural Himalayan Pink Salt Products, in both coarse and fine varieties. The salt is marketed as “Himalayan” and “harvested from ancient sea salt deposits deep within the Himalayas.” But the complaint alleges that this is not true and that the salt actually comes “from salt mines hundreds of miles away in Pakistan.”
The class for this action is all people who bought any Morton Salt product that falsely advertised that the product was mined from the Himalayan Mountains during the applicable statute of limitations.
According to the complaint, Morton “is able to charge consumers more money for its Salt Products because Himalayan pink salt is supposedly mined in the pristine Himalayan Mountains, which are rich in iron. Accordingly, consumers are willing to pay more for Himalayan salt.”
The salt cannister’s front and back are depicted in the complaint, showing the “Himalayan” name in big letters on both sides, and also the blurb on the back with the claim that the salt is “harvested from ancient sea salt deposits deep within the Himalayas.”
The complaint quotes from a 2019 National Public Radio report as saying that, while pink salt has become a popular product, pink salt’s “origins are rarely highlighted or even mentioned on products—perhaps because Pakistan, where most of this salt comes from, isn’t a place one associates with pink salt. Instead, the salt is often marketed as coming from some amorphous Himalayan mountain, perhaps an icy glacier.”
In fact, it seems that Pakistan is also tired of the Himalayas getting the credit for its salt. The complaint claims that most of it comes from the Khewra Salt mine. “In fact,” the complaint alleges, “to combat the misrepresentation that this Pakistani product is Himalayan, the Pakistani cabinet is set to register Khewra salt with international trade bodies, ensuring that the product’s true origin is not obfuscated by misleading advertising.”
The complaint claims that Morton’s “marketing of the Salt Products is false and misleading and omits material information.” This, it says, violates the expectations it has set up in customers’ minds and also violates California’s consumer protection statutes.
Among the counts are violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA), which prohibits “using deceptive representations or designations of geographic origin…” and also because the statements “represent[] that the Products have characteristics that they do not have.” The complaint also claims that Morton has violated California’s Unfair Competition Law by “engaging in unfair, fraudulent, and unlawful business practices” and also its False Advertising Law. Finally it claims that Morton has breached both express and implied warranties.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: News
Most Recent Case Event
Morton “Himalayan” Pink Salt Deceptive Marketing Complaint
September 2, 2021
Morton Salt, Inc. makes All-Natural Himalayan Pink Salt Products, in both coarse and fine varieties. The salt is marketed as “Himalayan” and “harvested from ancient sea salt deposits deep within the Himalayas.” But the complaint alleges that this is not true and that the salt actually comes “from salt mines hundreds of miles away in Pakistan.”
Morton “Himalayan” Pink Salt Deceptive Marketing ComplaintCase Event History
Morton “Himalayan” Pink Salt Deceptive Marketing Complaint
September 2, 2021
Morton Salt, Inc. makes All-Natural Himalayan Pink Salt Products, in both coarse and fine varieties. The salt is marketed as “Himalayan” and “harvested from ancient sea salt deposits deep within the Himalayas.” But the complaint alleges that this is not true and that the salt actually comes “from salt mines hundreds of miles away in Pakistan.”
Morton “Himalayan” Pink Salt Deceptive Marketing Complaint