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Cosmetics companies sued over 'organic' labels
Maria Perez selects products from Avalon Natural Products inventory to box up and ship out in in 2004.
PD FILE, 2004Published: Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 11:57 a.m.
Last Modified: Thursday, June 16, 2011 at 11:57 a.m.
SAN FRANCISCO — An environmental group is suing Kiss My Face and about two dozen other cosmetic companies on accusations that they falsely label products as organic.
The Center for Environmental Health filed a class-action lawsuit Thursday in Alameda County Superior Court. The center alleges the companies are violating a California labeling law requiring organic products to contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients.
The Oakland-based group estimates more than 70 percent of U.S. households use some type of organic product, which typically cost more than traditional competitors. Organic labels promise consumers the product was created without the use of pesticides and other chemicals.
The companies named in the suit include Kiss My Face and Hain-Celestial, which makes such popular organic brands as Alba Botanica and Avalon Organics.
Phone calls to both companies were not immediately returned Thursday.
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