Goop Settles Lawsuit Over 'Unsupported' Vaginal Egg Health Claims With $145,000
By Cyrus Farivar for Ars Technica
On Tuesday, Gwyneth Paltrow’s company, Goop, settled a lawsuit brought by the Santa Clara County District Attorney and nine other state prosecutors, which had claimed that the company’s questionable products—including vaginal eggs—"were not supported by competent and reliable science."
The company claimed that its Jade and Rose Quartz eggs, after inserted into the vagina, "could balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles, prevent uterine prolapse, and increase bladder control," Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said in a statement. "Goop advertised that the Inner Judge Flower Essence Blend, a blend of essential oils meant to be taken orally or added to bathwater, could help prevent depression."
In addition to paying $145,000 in civil penalties, the company has now agreed to refund any customers who bought those eggs or the Inner Judge Flower Essence Blend between January 12, 2017 and August 31, 2017.
Paltrow’s company has also agreed to no longer make any claims "regarding the efficacy or effects of any of its products without possessing competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the claims."
In addition to Santa Clara County, the settlement is between Alameda, Marin, Monterey, Napa, Orange, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Shasta, Solano, and Sonoma counties. The case was originally filed last Friday in Napa County Superior Court.
"Goop provides a forum for practitioners to present their views and experiences with various products like the jade egg. The law, though, sometimes views statements like this as advertising claims, which are subject to various legal requirements," Erica Moore, Goop's chief financial officer, said in the statement sent to various media outlets, including Ars, and admitted no wrongdoing. "The Task Force assisted us in applying those laws to the content we published, and we appreciate their guidance in this matter as we move from a pioneer in this space to an established wellness authority."
Heather Wilson, a company spokeswoman, provided Ars with the statement, which characterized the legal dispute as an "honest disagreement." Wilson also noted that to date, no one has filed for a refund.
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