FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 4, 2018
ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY ANNOUNCES CONSUMER PROTECTION SETTLEMENT REGARDING GOOP, INC.
*Settlement Part of a Multi-District Attorney Task Force
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The Orange County District Attorney’s office (OCDA), a part of the California Food, Drug, and Medical Device (FDMD) Task Force, settled a consumer protection action against Goop, Inc. (“Goop”) today. The FDMD task force is made up of prosecutors from the Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Solano, and Shasta. Goop sells a variety of items on its website including vitamins and dietary supplements.
The complaint, filed on Friday in Napa County Superior Court, alleged that Goop made unsubstantiated claims about three products—the Jade Egg, Rose Quartz Egg, and Inner Judge Flower Essence Blend— that were not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence. Goop advertised that the Jade and Rose Quartz eggs could balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, prevent uterine prolapse, and increase bladder control. Goop advertised that the Inner Judge Flower Essence Blend could help prevent depression.
Under the terms of the stipulated judgment, Goop has agreed to pay $145,000 in civil penalties, based on limited sales of these products in California. Goop is also barred from making any claims regarding the efficacy of its products without possessing competent and reliable scientific evidence, and from manufacturing or selling any misbranded, unapproved, or falsely-advertised medical devices.
“It’s important to hold companies accountable for unsubstantiated claims, especially when the claims have the potential to affect women’s health” said Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas.
Goop has promised to refund the full purchase price to any consumer who purchased the Jade Egg, Rose Quartz Egg, and/or Inner Judge Flower Essence Blend on or between Jan. 12, 2017 and Aug. 31, 2017 and who requests a refund. Eligible consumers can request a refund by emailing or calling Goop customer service at customerservice@goop.com or 1-844-WTF-GOOP.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Tracy Hughes of the Consumer Protection Unit prosecuted this case for Orange County.