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Update:
- Some claims in a lawsuit against Young Living Essential Oils LC were reinstated May 2 by the three-panel 2nd Circuit, which determined a trial court must decide whether the company’s health claims are plausible enough to fool consumers.
- A proposed class action lawsuit filed in December 2021 by plaintiff Lori MacNaughton alleges Young Living charges $36 for oils when similar products are $13 with the company claiming its “therapeutic grade” oils have health benefits when they may not.
- The 2nd Circuit wrote the district court dismissed MacNaughton’s claims based on challenged statements that were “nonactionable puffery.”
- A recent 2nd Circuit more strictly defines puffery and misleading statements.
- Because of this decision, the 2nd Circuit wrote the trial court must go to discovery to determine if Young Living’s statements are likely to mislead consumers.
(May 3, 2023)
Young Living Essential Oils are not giving consumers the therapeutic treatment the company promises and now it will have to defend its claims in court.
That’s according to a class action lawsuit, filed by Lori MacNaughton, challenging the company’s marketing of its “therapeutic-grade” essential oils. Young Living allegedly makes a variety of specific medicinal promises about its products, including relieving consumers’ anxiety, reducing stress, helping maintain energy, and treating depression symptoms.
The plaintiff argues the promises are not only deceiving, but are also violating multiple federal laws. She’s looking for other U.S. consumers who bought the essential oils labeled “therapeutic,” but didn’t experience any of the health-related benefits to join the class action lawsuit.
Young Living Essential Oils Class Action Lawsuit Alleges False Promises
Young Living depends on its marketed “therapeutic-grade” labels to sell its products at a premium. Essential oil blends from Young Living will cost you $36, which is twice the price of similar products, according to the complaint.
The plaintiff asserts the company is taking advantage of her and other health-conscious consumers who paid big bucks for the benefits, but received none. Consumers aren’t the only ones taking issue with the alleged false advertisements.
Young Living was also in the hot plate with the National Advertising Division (NAD), which monitors and reviews advertising and complaints about misleading ad campaigns. NAD challenged the company’s “truthfulness and accuracy of its health-related claims about the Products,” according to the class action lawsuit.
NAD determined Young Living failed to support its claims with scientific evidence and ordered the company to stop describing its products as therapeutic. While Young Living agreed to the terms, it did not follow through with its side of the deal, according to the complaint.
“Nevertheless, Young Living’s website continues to reference ‘therapeutic-grade essential oils’ in its marketing,” the class action lawsuit asserts. “Moreover, bottles of various Young Living products deceptively labeled as ‘therapeutic-grade essential oils’ can still be purchased through numerous third party vendors.”
Young Living Essential Oils in the hot seat with consumers, feds
This isn’t the first Young Living class action lawsuit alleging the company falsely advertises its essential oils. A plaintiff in Minnesota claims she’s bought bottles of Young Living Essential Oils labeled “therapeutic grade” at a premium price for years and experienced none of the promised benefits.
“Contrary to the express representations made on its label, the products, which claim to be ‘therapeutic’ and provide a number of health related benefits, provide no healthy or medicinal benefit whatsoever,” Shannon Branchaud’s class action lawsuit claims.
In September 2014, the company was also issued a warning by the Food and Drug Administration over its essential oil being marketed for conditions like Parkinson’s disease, autism, cancer and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the complaint.
Do you use Young Living Essential Oils? Do you experience any of the health-related benefits claimed by the company? Tell us about your experience in the comment section below.
Macnaughton is represented by Aaron Siri and Mason A. Barney of Siri & Glimstad LLP and Gary M. Klinger and Gary E. Mason of Mason Lietz & Klinger LLP
The Young Living Essential Oils class action lawsuit is MacNaughton, et al. v. Young Living Essential Oils LC, Case No. 5:21-cv-00071, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
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13 thoughts on2nd Circuit rules trial court must decide essential oils false ad class action
This suit is ridiculous. I got the email knowing nothing about it, but did order one of the Ningxia Red starter kits and a few oils through someone in our BNI group. I don’t really plan to continue, but gave it a try. With that said, if someone uses a nice smelling oil and it puts them in a better mood, I would call that a therapeutic benefit (especially if they’re fighting depression, PTSD, etc). Do they really need to see a psychological study? Then we have antioxidants in the Ningxia – of course that’s going to help deal with free-radicals in the body, like all antioxidants do. Don’t like Young Living? Eat some blueberries or dark chocolate instead, but don’t launch a class action lawsuit claiming zero benefit.
100%! This is a frivolous lawsuit
If the suit had have had anything to do with the purity they would have had a case, a very weak losing case, but a better case than this one. This is clearly an ambulance chaser in search of her trip and fall lawsuit. Stop being an idiot Lori, you are wasting everyone’s time, energy, and money. I purchased YL and IMMEDIATELY noticed the benefits. Buyer beware, what happened to the days when consumers did their research before buying. Probably a snowflake that just has no idea how to survive in the REAL WORLD. Honestly, I got this email to join her lawsuit and ended up supporting YL MORE!!! Lolol Your safe space isn’t in the courts Lori. Smh YL didn’t make any claims that are untrue or incorrect, your contention isn’t with YL it is with whether or not essential oils are right for you. Sheesh