The district attorneys of nine California counties have asked the court to bar 74 vitamin manufacturers from selling their supplements until proper warnings are placed on the products. Currently, there is no warning that these products contain lead, a highly carcinogenic substance.
Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. filed the original complaint, which argues that the vitamin manufacturers have not provided the warnings required by the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986. The Attorney General is also asking the courts to impose a $2,500 a day penalty for each company that continues to violate the policy.
California law mandates that businesses provide a “clear and reasonable warning” when exposing consumers to substances that are known to cause cancer or reproductive harm. Lead, which is found in these vitamin supplements, has been proven to potentially damage the nervous system, especially in young children.
State officials discovered these violations last July when the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released reports indicating that many multivitamin and mineral products contained excessive quantities of lead.
Manufacturers have an obligation to properly warn consumers about any hazardous or toxic substances in their product that may potentially cause harm. When they fail to do so, they are guilty of product liability and may be held accountable for their actions.
If you have a product liability claim in the Phoenix, Arizona area, please contact the Law Offices of Snyder & Wenner, P.C. today to schedule a consultation.
