Lawsuit Investigation: Do Bolthouse Farms Smoothies Contain Toxic PFAS Chemicals?
Last Updated on July 5, 2023
Investigation Complete
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have finished their investigation into this matter.
Check back for any potential updates and take a look at our open investigations here. The information on this page is for reference only.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects
- Anyone who purchased certain Bolthouse Farms smoothies.
- What’s Going On?
- Attorneys working with ClassAction.org have reason to suspect that certain Bolthouse smoothies may contain toxic chemicals known as PFAS despite being advertised as “100% Fruit Juice” or “100% Fruit and Vegetable Juice.” They’re looking into whether a class action lawsuit can be filed on behalf of buyers.
- What Are PFAS?
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals linked to cancer, decreased fertility, thyroid disease and more.
- How Could a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
- If successful, a class action lawsuit could help customers get their money back and force Bolthouse to change how it makes or advertises the beverages.
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org would like to speak to people who purchased the following Bolthouse smoothies:
- Amazing Mango
- Green Goodness
- Blue Goodness
- Mango Cherry C-Boost
- Berry Superfood Boost
They have reason to suspect that these beverages – which Bolthouse advertises as either “100% Fruit Juice” or “100% Fruit and Vegetable Juice” and free of artificial flavors – may contain PFAS, a group of synthetic chemicals that have been linked to various health and environmental problems.
The attorneys are now investigating whether a class action lawsuit can be filed against the company over possible false advertising.
What Are PFAS?
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used since at least the 1940s to make consumer and industrial products resistant to water, stains, oil and heat. They can be found in a wide variety of everyday items like non-stick cookware, makeup, clothing and food packaging.
Commonly referred to as "forever chemicals,” PFAS do not break down easily in the environment and can accumulate over time in soil, water, wildlife and even the human body. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, most Americans have been exposed to these chemicals by eating foods, drinking water or breathing air contaminated with PFAS. Forever chemicals can also build up in the bodies of people who use products made with PFAS or that are packaged in materials containing PFAS.
What Are the Health Risks Associated with PFAS Chemicals?
The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry warns that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to the following health effects:
- Higher cholesterol levels
- Decreased vaccine response in children
- Liver damage
- Kidney and testicular cancer
- Increased risk of high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia in pregnant women
Other negative health effects associated with PFAS exposure include decreased fertility, thyroid disease and suppressed immune function.
How Could a Class Action Lawsuit Help?
If filed and successful, a class action lawsuit could help customers get back some of the money they spent on the smoothies, especially since attorneys suspect that many consumers would not have bought the beverages had they known they might contain PFAS chemicals. A lawsuit could also force Bolthouse to make changes to its manufacturing or marketing practices.
This is not the first time Bolthouse’s supposedly “100% Fruit Juice” smoothies have come under fire for possibly containing forever chemicals. In a proposed class action filed earlier this year, independent testing of Bolthouse’s Green Goodness smoothie allegedly detected levels of PFAS approximately 95 times the recommended lifetime health advisory for drinking water. The lawsuit has since been dismissed but highlighted the potential for Bolthouse to be taken to task over its healthy and natural advertising claims.
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