Bubble Yum Contains Dangerous ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Hershey Lawsuit Claims

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A proposed class action lawsuit accuses the Hershey Company of failing to warn consumers that Bubble Yum original-flavor bubble gum contains “dangerous levels” of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often called “forever chemicals.”

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According to the 38-page lawsuit, independent testing has shown that the bubble gum contains excessive levels of organic fluorine, a compound that reliably indicates the presence of PFAS. Exposure to this group of synthetic chemicals has been linked to adverse environmental effects and serious health concerns such as cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, thyroid disease and increased risk of asthma, the case explains.

Per the class action suit, PFAS are often referred to as “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in the body and are extremely resistant to degradation. There is “no safe manner or level of exposure” to PFAS, the complaint stresses.

As such, the presence of PFAS in Bubble Yum is “particularly concerning” given that it’s marketed to and consumed by children, the filing charges.

The case alleges that the Hershey Company has misled consumers into believing the bubble gum is safe because there is no warning or disclosure on product packaging about the presence of PFAS.

In addition, the excessive levels of these chemicals in the bubble gum “directly contradicts” the Hershey Company’s ubiquitous self-promotions as a manufacturer “committed to transparency” about its ingredients whose products are held to the “highest quality, safety and sustainability standards,” the fraud lawsuit argues.

The case alleges that the Hershey Company has not just misrepresented Bubble Yum but also its own self-image in a bid to capitalize on growing consumer interest in environmentally and socially responsible products.

The Hershey Company lawsuit looks to represent anyone who purchased Bubble Yum original-flavor bubble gum in California at any time in the past four years.

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