Edgewell Sunscreen ‘Reef Friendly*' Label Suit Revived on Appeal

Edgewell Personal Care LLC’s “Reef Friendly*" label statement on Hawaiian Tropic sunscreen could fool consumers about whether the products can harm coral reefs and marine life, a federal appeals court said Monday, reinstating false-ad litigation.

Sherise Richardson filed a proposed class suit alleging that Edgewell violated New York consumer protection laws and breached an express warranty. She challenged sunscreen products that said “Reef Friendly*” on the front label and “*No Oxybenzone or Octinoxate” or “*Hawaii Compliant: No Oxybenzone or Octinoxate” on the back. Oxybenzone and octinoxate have been banned by Hawaii.

The Hawaiian Tropic products contain other reef-harming ingredients, Richardson ...