B&G Foods, Inc. offers herbs and spices under the brand names Spice Islands and Tone’s. But the complaint for this class action alleges that some of those herbs and spices have been found to contain substances such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The complaint claims that B&G does not warn consumers that its herbs and spices might contain these heavy metals.
The class is all persons in the US who bought the products. A California Subclass has also been defined for those in the class who bought the products in California.
The products at issue include the following:
- Spice Islands’ Sweet Basil
- Spice Island’s Ground Ginger
- Tone’s Ground Thyme
The consumer advocacy group Consumer Reports conducted an investigation of different brands of herbs and spices. In November 2021, it put out a report disclosing that certain brands, including Spice Islands and Tone’s, and certain spices of those brands, contain significant levels of toxic heavy metals.
The complaint alleges, “Heightened levels of toxic heavy metals in foods can cause cancer and serious and often irreversible damage to brain development as well as other serious health problems.”
As to B&G’s spices, the complaint claims, “No reasonable consumer would know, or have reason to know, that the Products contain heightened levels of heavy metals. Worse, as companies across the industry have adopted methods to limit heavy metals in their herbs and spices, [B&G] has stood idly by with a reckless disregard for its consumers’ health and well-being.”
The complaint reviews the effects of exposure to heavy metals: “Exposure puts children at risk for lowered IQ, behavioral problems (such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), type 2 diabetes, and cancer, among other health issues. Heavy metals also pose risks to adults. Even modest amounts of heavy metals can increase the risk of cancer, cognitive and reproductive problems, and other adverse conditions.”
Lead, in particular, is a problem, the complaint alleges, quoting a National Public Radio piece as saying, “No amount of lead is known to be safe.” Cadmium and arsenic also pose problems even in small amounts.
According to the complaint, Consumer Reports investigated “126 individual products from national and private-label brands, such as Great Value (Walmart), La Flor, McCormick, Penzeys, Spice Islands, and Trader Joe’s.” The complaint quotes the report as saying, “Roughly one-third of the tested products, 40 in total, had high enough levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium combined, on average, to pose a health concern for children when regularly consumed in typical serving sizes. Most raised concern for adults, too.”
The packaging for the herbs and spices do not warn consumers about the heavy metal content. The complaint alleges that B&G knew “that if the elevated levels of toxic heavy metals in its herbs and spices [were] disclosed to [consumers], then [consumers] would be unwilling to purchase them.”
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Spice Islands, Tone’s Spices Heavy Metals Content Complaint
January 31, 2022
B&G Foods, Inc. offers herbs and spices under the brand names Spice Islands and Tone’s. But the complaint for this class action alleges that some of those herbs and spices have been found to contain substances such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The complaint claims that B&G does not warn consumers that its herbs and spices might contain these heavy metals.
Spice Islands, Tone’s Spices Heavy Metals Content ComplaintCase Event History
Spice Islands, Tone’s Spices Heavy Metals Content Complaint
January 31, 2022
B&G Foods, Inc. offers herbs and spices under the brand names Spice Islands and Tone’s. But the complaint for this class action alleges that some of those herbs and spices have been found to contain substances such as arsenic, cadmium, and lead. The complaint claims that B&G does not warn consumers that its herbs and spices might contain these heavy metals.
Spice Islands, Tone’s Spices Heavy Metals Content Complaint