Federal Class-Action Lawsuits Filed Against Leading Manufacturers of Baby Bottles for Exposing Babies to Harmful Microplastics with Deceptive Branding
Today, Clarkson Law Firm, the prominent California-based public interest firm, filed two class action lawsuits in the Northern District of California against Philips North America and the Handi-Craft Company. The suits allege that both of these companies have failed to properly warn parents and caregivers that their baby bottles and other plastic cups leach harmful microplastics when heated, seeping directly into the food and drink of vulnerable babies and toddlers.
“Make no mistake, both of these companies are well aware of the dangerous microplastics that children are being exposed to when using their products, but have given parents a false sense of comfort and security by failing to disclose this material information and representing their products as ‘BPA free’ which furthers consumer deception,” said Ryan Clarkson, managing partner of Clarkson Law Firm. “When companies market their products as safe for infants, parents are entrusting that they are designed with their child’s health and wellbeing in mind. By not warning parents about the dangers of these products they not only deceive them, but put the safety of millions of children at risk.”
The bottles are made from polypropylene plastic, which leaks dangerous microplastics especially when exposed to heat, such as microwaves or warm liquids. These harmful microplastics then contaminate the contents inside of the bottle like breast milk or formula. These microplastics have been known to cause severe health complications for children and a host of long-term health issues, including a negative impact on their digestion and reproductive systems.
“Philips and Handi-Craft baby bottles are some of the most popular on the market, with millions of parents and caregivers relying on them to be the convenient, affordable, and safe product they claim to be,” said Bahar Sodaify, partner of Clarkson Law Firm. “But by hiding the fact that their products are ridden with harmful microplastics these companies are putting profits over the safety of the youngest and most vulnerable amongst us who are using them.”
“A bare minimum expectation of the world’s leading manufacturers of baby bottles is to inform parents and caregivers that their products leach harmful microplastics upon warming,” said Shireen Clarkson, partner of Clarkson Law Firm. “As a mother, it’s incredibly concerning that companies that claim to have children’s and families’ best interests at heart are shielding the dangerous impact that their products could have on babies in order to make more money. Putting profits over the health of babies is reprehensible. These companies need to be held accountable and parents need to be informed of the dangers of these products.”
Both lawsuits seek monetary and injunctive relief, asking both companies to be forthright and truthful about the dangerous microplastics in their products. Members of the class are asking that the companies clearly share with their consumers the chemicals that infants could be exposed to when using their baby bottles and other plastic cups and provide compensation for individuals who purchased unsafe, dishonestly marketed products from either company.
