Case Name:
CAG v. Whole Foods Market California, Inc., et al.
Court Name:
Alameda County Superior Court
Court Docket Number:
RG19006870 [Consolidated with RG21094630]
Plaintiff:
Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc.
Defendant:
WHOLE FOODS MARKET CALIFORNIA, INC.
MRS. GOOCH'S NATURAL FOOD MARKETS, INC.
Injunctive Relief:
3.1 After the Effective Date, Defendant shall not sell in California, offer for sale in California, any Covered Products unless the level of Lead , Cadmium, and Arsenic do not exceedthe levels (“reformulation level(s)”) specified below unless Proposition 65 compliant warnings are displayed as set forth in the following paragraphs. 3.1.1 Level of Lead, in Seaweed: 75 parts per billion (“ppb”), 3.1.2 Level of Cadmium in Seaweed: 85 ppb, and 3.1.3 Level of Inorganic Arsenic Oxides in Seaweed: 15 ppb. 3.2 For any Covered Products that exceed their respective reformulation levels oi Listed Chemicals that are manufactured for distribution and/or sale into California after the Effective Date, Defendant must provide a Proposition 65 compliant warning for cancer and reproductive toxicity for the Covered Products as permitted by Proposition 65 and its implementing regulations. The language of the warnings and method for providing any warnings for the Covered Products shall be compliant with Title 27, California Code of Regulations, § 25600, et seq and Title 27, California Code of Regulations, £ 25607.2. Any warning provided pursuant to this section shall be affixed to the packaging of, or directly on, the Covered Products, and be prominently placed with such conspicuousness as compared with other words, statements, designs, or devices as to render it likely to be read and understood by an ordinary individual under customary conditions before purchase or use. The warning must be set off from other surrounding information, enclosed in a box. Where the packaging of the Covered Product or a sign referring to the Covered Product includes consumer information as defined by California Code of Regulations title 27 §25600.1(c) in a language other than English, the warning must also be provided in that language in addition to English. Should Defendant sell any Covered Product through the internet, the warning will be posted in the maimer provided for with respect to internet sales, as provided for in 27 CCR sections 25601 and 25602, as they may be subsequently amended, for sales to consumers in California. 3.3 Changes in the law and regulations applicable to Proposition 65, including changes resulting from federal and/or state court rulings, occurring after this date may be incorporated into the terms of this Consent Judgment, pursuant to the modification provisions set forth in Section 7.
Payment in Lieu of Penalty:
$ 8,564.00 (Defendant shall make a separate payment, in the amount of eight thousand five hundred and sixty-four dollars ($8,564.00) as an additional settlement payment to “Consumer Advocacy Group, Inc.” pursuant to Health & Safety Code § 25249.7(b) and California Code of Regulations, Title 11 § 3203(d). Defendant will issue a separate check to CAG for the Additional Settlement Payment. CAG will use this payment as follows, eighty percent (80%) for fees of investigation, purchasing and testing for Proposition 65 listed chemicals in various products, and for expert fees for evaluating exposures through various mediums, including but not limited to consumer product, occupational, and environmental exposures to Proposition 65 listed chemicals, and the cost of hiring consulting and retaining experts who assist with the extensive scientific analysis necessary for those files in litigation and to offset the costs of future litigation enforcing Proposition 65 but excluding attorney fees; twenty percent (20%) for administrative costs incurred during investigation and litigation to reduce the public’s exposure to Proposition 65 listed chemicals by notifying those persons and/or entities believed to be responsible for such exposures and attempting to persuade those persons and/or entities to reformulate their products or the source of exposure to completely eliminate or lower the level oi Proposition 65 listed chemicals including but not limited to costs of documentation and tracking of products investigated, storage of products, website enhancement and maintenance, computer and software maintenance, investigative equipment, CAG’s member’s time for work done on investigations, office supplies, mailing supplies and postage. Within 30 days of a request from the Attorney General, CAG shall provide to the Attorney General copies of documentation demonstrating how the above funds have been spent. CAG shall be solely responsible for ensuring the proper expenditure of such additional settlement payment.)
Address:
9100 Wilshire Blvd Suite 240W
