GSK Consumer Health, Inc. makes a Robitussin Naturals “Cough Relief” product that it promotes as a dietary supplement that contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives but relieves coughs. The complaint brings suit against the company for three reasons—for its “natural” claims, for its druglike claims, and for claims that honey and ivy extract can relieve coughing.
Two classes have been proposed for this action:
- The Illinois Class is all persons in Illinois who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
- The Consumer Fraud Multi-State Class is all persons in Arkansas, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Idaho, and Alaska who bought the product during the applicable statutes of limitations.
According to the complaint, many consumers are looking for natural products and may even seek out natural remedies rather than traditional over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for things like coughs. This may be because they distrust OTC medicines for young children, the complaint alleges, or because they “believe standard OTC and prescription products merely suppress symptoms, while natural alternatives work in concert with the body’s healing mechanisms.”
Natural Claims
Page 1 of the complaint shows an image of the product bottle, its label showing the statement “Free from artificial colors, flavors & preservatives.” However, the complaint alleges that this statement is false, because the product contains citric acid, a synthetic preservative.
Citrus acid was originally natural, derived from citrus fruit. However, the complaint alleges, “For over a hundred years, the production of citric acid has not been natural because it is made beginning with fermentation from the Aspergillus niger mold.” Fermentation can in some instances be a natural process, the complaint alleges, but “the multiple chemical reactions, synthetic mineral salts and synthetic reagents required for extracting citric acid mean it is not a natural preservative, but an artificial one.”
Druglike Claims
In addition, the claim of “cough relief” on the front label, the complaint alleges, is a “disease claim” that dietary supplements are not permitted to make. “By promoting the Product as providing ‘cough relief,’” the complaint claims, “it tells purchasers that it is effective for treating an upper respiratory infection (‘URI’), which is the cause of the common cough.”
Even the placement of the product in stores, alongside regular OTC cough medicines, the complaint claims, leads consumers to think that it is equally effective at stopping coughs.
Honey and Ivy Ingredients
Finally, the honey and ivy extract are supposedly the ingredients included to provide relief from coughing, but the complaint alleges that these substances cannot do this “because they are unable to act on the areas causing coughs.”
Topic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Robitussin Naturals Honey and Ivy Cough Relief Claims Complaint
February 18, 2023
GSK Consumer Health, Inc. makes a Robitussin Naturals “Cough Relief” product that it promotes as a dietary supplement that contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives but relieves coughs. The complaint brings suit against the company for three reasons—for its “natural” claims, for its druglike claims, and for claims that honey and ivy extract can relieve coughing.
Robitussin Naturals Honey and Ivy Cough Relief Claims ComplaintCase Event History
Robitussin Naturals Honey and Ivy Cough Relief Claims Complaint
February 18, 2023
GSK Consumer Health, Inc. makes a Robitussin Naturals “Cough Relief” product that it promotes as a dietary supplement that contains no artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives but relieves coughs. The complaint brings suit against the company for three reasons—for its “natural” claims, for its druglike claims, and for claims that honey and ivy extract can relieve coughing.
Robitussin Naturals Honey and Ivy Cough Relief Claims Complaint