The Honest Company, Jessica Alba's organic brand, stated that it voluntarily recalled its Organic Baby Powder. Tests have showed that the product could potentially cause eye and skin infections. In 2015, other products from The Honest Company came under fire. A $5 million suit was filed against the company by consumer Jonathan D. Rubin. Products that were labeled as natural actually contained synthetic chemicals.
In a video released by the company, co-founder Christopher Gavigan stated that possible contamination with organisms in the brand's Organic Baby Powder has been found after routine safety and quality testing was done. It was found out that possible skin and eye infection can be caused microorganisms that were discovered in the product.
Gavigan went on to state that the company decided to do a voluntary recall under the guidance of the FDA as a precautionary measure. Gavigan also noted that although the company is recalling its baby powder, he states that no other product by the company is undergoing a recall according to a report by NYMAG.
In 2015, it was found that Jessica Alba products contained synthetic preservatives methylisothiazolinone and phenoxyethanol, a synthetic surfactant called cocamidropropyl betaine and sodium polycrylate, an addictive that is petroleum based. According to the suit the products are being labeled and marketed deceptively and misleadingly. The suit also claimed that the The Honest Company's sunscreen is ineffective in protecting consumers against unhealthy UV ray exposure.
Although there were many who claimed that the company sunblock was ineffective, many medical professionals specializing in the field of dermatology came to the defense of the product. Dr. Joshua Zeichner, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital stated that zinc oxide which is found in the company's sunblock, is an extremely effective protecting agent against UVA and UVB.
He further went on to say that companies who use zinc oxide in their products are required to pass a critical wavelength test. This ensures that the product has a broad spectrum coverage. The Honest Company has passed this test as reported in Refinery29.
