A California woman has filed a putative class action lawsuit against baby wipes manufacturer WaterWipes (USA) Inc., challenging the company’s claims that its products are plastic-free and the “world’s purest baby wipes.” The complaint, lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, alleges that independent laboratory testing found significant levels of microplastics in the wipes, contradicting WaterWipes’ marketing representations.
Deverly Merlo of San Jose alleges that WaterWipes misleads environmentally conscious consumers by promoting wipes made with “just 2 ingredients” — water and fruit extract — while the products actually contain microplastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters. Merlo’s lawsuit claims that WaterWipes’ advertising falsely suggests the wipes are pure, plastic-free, and “purer than cloth and water,” capturing a growing market concerned with plastic pollution and health impacts.
According to the complaint, microplastics were detected throughout the wipes at levels 387 times higher than a laboratory-grade control sample. The presence of microplastics is especially troubling given the wipes are designed for use on newborns and young children, populations particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of microplastic exposure, which may accumulate in the body and increase health risks over time.
Merlo seeks to represent a nationwide class of consumers who purchased WaterWipes products, including a California-specific subclass, under claims of unfair and deceptive business practices, violations of the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, and various consumer protection statutes across multiple states.
This is not the first legal challenge WaterWipes has faced. In 2023, the company settled a putative class action alleging that its “100% Biodegradable” claim and green packaging were misleading, as the wipes primarily end up in landfills or incinerators rather than biodegrading.
Merlo is represented by P. Renée Wicklund of Richman Law & Policy. WaterWipes has not yet responded to the allegations.
