Unilever United States, Inc. and Schmidt’s Deodorant Company, LLC are the companies responsible for a line of Schmidt’s deodorant sticks that they advertise as being “Natural Deodorant.” However, the complaint alleges that the deodorants in fact contain the artificial ingredient Jojoba Esters.
The class for this action is all persons in the US who bought the products between January 13, 2018 and the date the class is certified in this case. A subclass has also been proposed for those in the above class who are in Illinois. The products at issue include the following:
- Schmidt’s Bergamot & Lime
- Schmidt’s Lavender & Sage
- Schmidt’s Rose & Vanilla
- Schmidt’s Charcoal & Magnesium
- Schmidt’s Fresh Fir & Spice
- Schmidt’s Sandalwood and Citrus
- Schmidt’s Fresh Cucumber
- Schmidt’s Clean Powder
- Schmidt’s Clean Coconut
Referring to information found at the website for the Environmental Working Group, the complaint alleges, “Jojoba Esters is a complex mixture of esters produced by the transesterification/interestification of Simmonodsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, or a mixture of the two.”
The complaint defines transesterification as “the chemical conversion process of triglycerides with alcohol into alkyl esters with the help of a catalyst” and declares, “Transesterificaiton is not a natural process.”
It also explains hydrogenation process, during which “unsaturated double bonds in the fatty acids of vegetable oils react with hydrogen atoms in the presence of a metal catalyst[;] typically nickel catalysts are used in commercial hydrogenation of edible oils.” It provides a chemical diagram of the process and declares that “hydrogenation is not a natural process.”
According to the complaint, this means that Jojoba Esters are not natural ingredients.
Pages 4 through 6 of the complaint show images of the products, bearing on their front labels the words “Natural Deodorant.”
“By making false and misleading claims about the Products,” the complaint alleges, the companies interfered with the ability of the plaintiff in this case “to choose the type and quality of the products he chose to buy.”
Consumers do not have a means to know whether products are natural or not when they buy them, the complaint alleges, except for what the makers tell them. The complaint suggests that Unilever and Schmidt use professional chemists to develop the chemical formulas for their products, and claims that the companies therefore knew or should have known that the addition of Jojoba Esters to the products would render them no longer natural.
“Worse than the lost money,” the complaint alleges, the plaintiff and other purchasers of the deodorant sticks “were deprived of their protected interest to choose the type and quality of products they use on their skin.”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Schmidt’s “Natural” Deodorant Sticks Contain Jojoba Esters Complaint
January 13, 2023
Unilever United States, Inc. and Schmidt’s Deodorant Company, LLC are the companies responsible for a line of Schmidt’s deodorant sticks that they advertise as being “Natural Deodorant.” However, the complaint alleges that the deodorants in fact contain the artificial ingredient Jojoba Esters.
Schmidt’s “Natural” Deodorant Sticks Contain Jojoba Esters First Amended ComplaintCase Event History
Schmidt’s “Natural” Deodorant Sticks Contain Jojoba Esters Complaint
January 13, 2023
Unilever United States, Inc. and Schmidt’s Deodorant Company, LLC are the companies responsible for a line of Schmidt’s deodorant sticks that they advertise as being “Natural Deodorant.” However, the complaint alleges that the deodorants in fact contain the artificial ingredient Jojoba Esters.
Schmidt’s “Natural” Deodorant Sticks Contain Jojoba Esters First Amended Complaint