Triple Leaf Tea Class Action: Does It Cause Liver Damage?

Case Overview: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Triple Leaf Tea, alleging the company misled consumers by promoting its products as beneficial for liver health while failing to disclose that some ingredients may pose liver risks.

Consumers Affected: Individuals who purchased Triple Leaf Tea products, particularly Detox Tea, Blood Pressure Tea, and Sugar Balance Tea.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Division

Herbal tea maker Triple Leaf Tea misleads customers by promoting its products as beneficial for liver health, despite some ingredients posing liver risks, a new lawsuit alleges. 

According to the lawsuit, the company markets its Detox Tea, Blood Pressure Tea, and Sugar Balance Tea as supporting liver health and general wellness, when in fact ingredients in the teas can injure the liver and impair its functioning. 

The lawsuit claims that for at least ten years, Triple Leaf Tea “has engaged in false and misleading advertising” in order to gain a competitive edge in the market, all at the expense of unsuspecting consumers.

Triple Leaf Tea Lawsuit Alleges Liver Damage Risk From Ingredients

The proposed class action lawsuit was filed by Kevin Smith and Jamie Tarvin, who say they have been loyal customers, regularly purchasing Triple Leaf’s teas for years. 

Smith, from Oakland, began using Triple Leaf Tea products in 2018, while Tarvin, based in Los Angeles, started buying them in 2015. Both believed the teas supported liver health, influenced by packaging that suggested the products contained “potent Chinese purification herbs” aimed at improving liver, kidney, and blood function, according to the lawsuit. 

The lawsuit alleges that Triple Leaf’s teas contain Fo-ti (also known as he shou wu) root and Kudzu (pueraria) root, both of which are flagged in scientific studies for potential liver toxicity, especially when consumed regularly or in high doses. The lawsuit argues that Triple Leaf instructs customers to drink the tea frequently and to combine various products, which could intensify exposure to these liver-toxic ingredients. 

The plaintiffs argue that such daily or frequent use, as directed on the label, raises health risks that should have been disclosed. After learning that the ingredients may harm liver health, Smith and Tarvin claim they would not have bought the products or would have paid less if they had known the risks.

Triple Leaf Tea Allegedly Failed to Disclose Potential Liver Toxicity

The lawsuit claims Triple Leaf Tea failed to warn customers about potential liver toxicity linked to Fo-ti and Kudzu, and that the company should have disclosed these risks given the potential for liver injury. 

Triple Leaf, the plaintiffs argue, capitalized on consumers’ trust by presenting its products as healthful options without mentioning the liver risks associated with long-term or frequent use. The plaintiffs contend that Triple Leaf Tea’s claims of liver support misled customers, who relied on these statements when choosing the brand.

More Companies Face Lawsuits Over Misleading Health Claims

Triple Leaf Tea is not alone in facing legal action over alleged false health claims. Yogi Tea, another herbal tea brand, recently faced a class action lawsuit over claims that its immune-support tea contained pesticides, despite being marketed as organic and health-boosting. 

Walmart is also being sued for allegedly selling arsenic-contaminated apple juice without adequate warning to customers. Meanwhile, Abbott Laboratories has been accused in a class action lawsuit of selling its Glucerna shakes and nutritional powders for diabetics that contain ingredients that might actually be harmful.

In their lawsuit, Smith and Tarvin want to represent consumers nationwide in their claims of violations of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law, False Advertising Law, and breach of warranty. They are seeking restitution, injunctive relief, damages, interest, costs, and fees.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Smith, et al. v. Triple Leaf Tea, Inc., et al.
• Case Number: 3:24-cv-07386-SK
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, Oakland Division 

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• William L. Smith, Richard M. Golomb, Kevin W. Fay, and D. Patrick Huyett (Anapol Weiss)

Have you used Triple Leaf Tea products? Share your experience in the comments below.