Bigelow Tea, the number two selling brand of tea in the United States, is being sued by the Organic Consumers Association. Bigelow Tea advertises their Bigelow Classic Green Tea is “natural,” but the Organic Consumers Association alleges that the herbicide, glyphosate, was found when they tested the tea. Glyphosate is found in Round-Up and is considered a probable carcinogen.
Lawsuit States Bigelow Tea Deceived Customers
In the lawsuit, the Organic Consumers Association alleges that Bigelow Tea essentially charges more for their product and takes their spot as the number two selling brand because they’ve made it a point to deceive customers into believing they’re getting an all-natural product. Bigelow Tea does not disclose the presence of glyphosate in their Classic Green Tea. Organic Consumers Association is asking the court to issue an order that stops Bigelow from “false marketing.”
Bigelow Tea CEO: Frivolous Lawsuit
Cindi Bigelow, the CEO of the company and granddaughter of the founder, fired back at the claims made by the Organic Consumers Association. She stated that the claims made in the lawsuit are “frivolous” and “illogical” and stated that the glyphosate is “far below” the government standard of what’s allowed. Bigelow also pointed out that the testing completed by the Organic Consumers Association revealed levels of glyphosate for dried tea instead of the level once the tea is brewed. She believes that the plaintiff is attempting to establish (and sue) on their own standard instead of what the federal government has set forth.
