A group of consumers files a proposed class-action lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corporation, alleging that Costco sells Orgain Organic Protein Powder contaminated with toxic heavy metals without adequate warnings. The plaintiffs say the product contains significant levels of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, and arsenic, and that Costco failed to disclose the presence of these substances or any associated health risks. According to the lawsuits described by multiple outlets, the plaintiffs bring claims under consumer-protection and false-advertising theories, arguing that Costco’s marketing and labeling misleads shoppers. The complaints are filed in federal court in Washington state and name seven consumers as plaintiffs, seeking class-action status on behalf of similarly affected purchasers.
One source notes that protein powders are not subject to FDA review in the same way as some other regulated products, and contends that consumers rely on retailers to market items truthfully and not to mislead them regarding safety or contamination. Costco has not been shown to admit wrongdoing in the reports, and the allegations are being contested as the case proceeds.
