Certain Amazon Happy Belly Spices Contain Undisclosed Heavy Metals, Class Action Alleges

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A proposed class action alleges at least one variety of Amazon’s Happy Belly spices contains undisclosed heavy metals, including arsenic, cadmium and lead. 

The 20-page lawsuit in Washington says that the heavy metals are found in the spices, namely Happy Belly ground thyme, at levels above what’s considered safe for adults and children. As such, the labels on the Happy Belly products are misleading, and consumers would not have bought the spices had they known this information prior to purchase, the complaint says. 

Central to the suit is a November 2021 Consumer Reports study wherein the advocacy group tested 126 herbs and spice products from a number of popular brands. Among the products tested were Amazon’s Happy Belly ground coriander, curry powder and ground thyme. Of the three spices, Happy Belly ground thyme received a ranking of “high concern” as to the levels of heavy metals present. 

According to the lawsuit, exposure to heavy metals can cause an array of adverse health effects, particularly in children. 

“A dose of lead that would have little effect on an adult can have a significant effect on a child,” the case reads. “In children, low levels of exposure have been linked to damage to the central and peripheral nervous system, learning disabilities, shorter stature, impaired hearing, and impaired formation and function of blood cells.” 

The lawsuit argues that Amazon has been “unjustly enriched” by retaining the revenues derived from sales of the Happy Belly spices supposedly contaminated with unsafe heavy metals.

The lawsuit looks to represent all consumers in the United States who bought and consumed Happy Belly spices from the beginning of the applicable statute of limitations period through the date of class certification.

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