Garden of Life has been the subject of multiple lawsuits and regulatory actions over the past two decades, including a 2025 class action over lead in its plant-based protein powders, pending consumer suits over a data breach and deceptive online pricing, and two rounds with the Federal Trade Commission over health claims dating back to 2006. Any Garden of Life lawsuit filed against the Florida-based supplement maker, now a Nestlé subsidiary, has either been dismissed, settled, or remains pending. Here is where each of the major cases stands.
Lead Contamination Class Action Dismissed in 2026
The most recent case was DeHerrera v. Garden of Life LLC, filed in December 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California (Case No. 5:25-cv-03118). California consumer Ann-Marie DeHerrera alleged that Garden of Life’s Organic Plant-Based Protein products were marketed as “clean and certified” and “rigorously tested for banned substances” while containing what her complaint called “excessive and dangerous levels” of lead.1Top Class Actions. Garden of Life Faces Lawsuit Over Dangerous Lead Levels in Organic Plant-Based Protein
The complaint pointed to a Consumer Reports finding that a single serving contained 2.76 micrograms of lead, roughly 564 percent of the publication’s recommended daily limit of 0.5 micrograms. DeHerrera raised claims of unjust enrichment, breach of implied warranty, and violations of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law, seeking to represent California buyers from the prior four years.1Top Class Actions. Garden of Life Faces Lawsuit Over Dangerous Lead Levels in Organic Plant-Based Protein
The case did not go far. On May 26, 2026, Judge John F. Walter granted Garden of Life’s motion to dismiss the First Amended Complaint with prejudice in its entirety. Judgment was entered for Garden of Life on June 2, 2026, and the case was closed.2Justia. Anne-Marie DeHerrera v. Garden of Life LLC, Judgment
The Consumer Reports Testing Behind the Suit
The complaint drew on a Consumer Reports investigation published in October 2025 and updated in January 2026. The publication tested 23 protein powders and ready-to-drink shakes and found that more than two-thirds contained more lead per serving than what it considers safe for daily consumption. Its 0.5-microgram threshold comes from California’s Proposition 65 maximum allowable dose level.3Consumer Reports. Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead
Garden of Life Sport Organic Plant-Based Protein (Vanilla) tested at 400 to 600 percent of that threshold. Consumer Reports advised limiting consumption to once a week rather than avoiding the product entirely. A Garden of Life spokesperson said the company’s products are safe for daily use and that its internal heavy-metal limits follow guidance from the FDA, EPA, World Health Organization, and European Food Safety Authority.3Consumer Reports. Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead
Plant-based products averaged nine times the lead levels of dairy-based ones. The FDA does not set specific limits on heavy metals in protein powder supplements and does not review or approve them before sale.3Consumer Reports. Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead
A related Proposition 65 notice of violation was filed in October 2024 alleging that Garden of Life Raw Organic Protein and Greens contained lead without the required warning. The filer, Environmental Health Advocates, Inc., withdrew the notice on November 5, 2024, without giving a reason.4California Office of the Attorney General. Proposition 65 Withdrawal Notice AG 2024-04316
Deceptive Pricing Class Action
In October 2024, California consumer Paige Vasseur filed a class action in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California alleging a “false and deceptive pricing scheme” on the Garden of Life website. According to the complaint, the company displayed crossed-out reference prices next to lower “sale” prices on Vitamin Code, Primal Defense, Raw Probiotics, and other lines to create the illusion of a discount. Vasseur alleged the reference prices were fictitious and that the products were “always or nearly always” sold at the supposedly discounted price, which she said was often higher than what other retailers such as Amazon charged.5Truth in Advertising. Vasseur v. Garden of Life LLC, Complaint
Data Breach Class Actions
Three class actions filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida in early 2025 accuse Garden of Life of a data breach that exposed customers’ payment card information. They are Flick v. Garden of Life LLC (Case No. 9:25-cv-80090), Grove v. Garden of Life LLC (Case No. 9:25-cv-80113), and Williams, et al. v. Garden of Life LLC (Case No. 9:25-cv-80216). The plaintiffs seek class certification, damages, and a jury trial. No settlement, consolidation, or dismissal has been reported.6Top Class Actions. Garden of Life Class Actions Allege Data Breach Exposed Payment Card Info
The 2006 FTC Settlement Over Health Claims
Garden of Life’s first major legal fight was with the Federal Trade Commission. In 2006, the agency charged the company and founder Jordan Rubin with making unsubstantiated health claims about four supplements: Primal Defense, RM-10, Living Multi, and FYI (For Your Inflammation).7Federal Trade Commission. Dietary Supplement Maker Garden of Life Settles FTC Charges
According to the FTC, Primal Defense was marketed as a treatment for immune disorders, Crohn’s disease, arthritis, lupus, and asthma, with a claim that clinical studies proved it could lower cholesterol by 25 percent or more. RM-10 was marketed for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Living Multi was said to reduce the risk of diabetes and obesity. FYI was promoted for inflammation tied to arthritis, fibromyalgia, and lupus. The FTC said none of the claims were backed by competent and reliable scientific evidence.8Federal Trade Commission. FTC Complaint for Permanent Injunction, Garden of Life Inc.
Garden of Life and Rubin settled without admitting wrongdoing. They agreed to pay $225,000 to consumers, an amount tied to the company’s ability to pay. If the defendants had misrepresented their finances, the judgment would jump to $47 million, the total gross sales of the four products.9Sun Sentinel. WPB Firm Settles Case With FTC The order also barred future deceptive claims about testing or studies and required scientific support for any health or efficacy claims going forward.7Federal Trade Commission. Dietary Supplement Maker Garden of Life Settles FTC Charges
The 2011 FTC Contempt Proceeding Garden of Life Won
The consent decree came back into play in August 2011, when the FTC opened contempt proceedings alleging that Garden of Life had violated it with unsupported health claims about newer products, including OceansKids, Vitamin Code RAW calcium supplements, and the Grow Bone System.10Newswire.ca. United States District Court Rules in Favour of Garden of Life in Its Proceedings Against the FTC
The U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida denied the motion. The court found that the FTC had not met the clear and convincing evidence standard required for civil contempt, and held that “competent and reliable evidence” under the consent decree did not require uncontroverted proof. Garden of Life was allowed to rely on independent expert opinions and published research rather than conducting its own clinical studies.10Newswire.ca. United States District Court Rules in Favour of Garden of Life in Its Proceedings Against the FTC
Prenatal Vitamins Case and Earlier Regulatory Actions
In 2020, the Clean Label Project Foundation sued Garden of Life in D.C. Superior Court under the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act, alleging its prenatal vitamins were contaminated and mislabeled. Garden of Life removed the case to federal court, where Judge Rudolph Contreras dismissed it in September 2021 for lack of Article III standing and later remanded it to D.C. Superior Court.11Midpage. Clean Label Project Foundation v. Garden of Life LLC
Earlier, in 2004, the FDA sent Garden of Life a warning letter over labeling that the agency viewed as disease claims. The company removed the claims, pulled the book Patient Heal Thyself from distribution, and eliminated all references to medical foods.12Nutritional Outlook – SupplySide. Garden of Life Responds to FDA Warning Letter In September 2017, the company issued a voluntary recall of its Baby Organic Liquid supplement over a potential choking hazard tied to the liquid’s thickness and possible misreading of administration instructions. The FDA has since terminated that recall.13U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Garden of Life LLC Issues Recall of Baby Organic Liquid Formula
Who Owns Garden of Life Now
Jordan Rubin founded Garden of Life in 2000 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Canadian supplement conglomerate Atrium Innovations acquired the company in 2009 for $35 million. In December 2017, Nestlé SA bought Atrium for $2.3 billion, making Garden of Life a Nestlé subsidiary.14Palm Beach Post. Gardens Vitamin Maker Garden of Life Rubin has no continuing involvement with the company. Nestlé Health Science US Holdings has been named alongside Garden of Life in more recent regulatory filings, including the 2024 Proposition 65 notice.