Google, Alphabet Hit with Class Action Over Ad Claiming Pine-Sol Can Kill '99.9% of Germs’

New to ClassAction.org? Read our Newswire Disclaimer

Google and parent company Alphabet fraudulently advertised a Pine-Sol-brand surface cleaner as able to kill “99.9% of germs,” a claim particularly dangerous in light of the COVID-19 crisis, a proposed class action alleges.

According to the lawsuit out of Massachusetts, the coronavirus outbreak has sparked an increased interest in germ-killing products such as Pine-Sol’s multi-surface cleaner. Per the case, the defendants advertised a two-pack of the product—Pine-Sol Multi Surface Cleaner – 2 pack, 100 fl oz—on a Google web page in early March, claiming Pine-Sol could kill nearly all germs at home and work. 

Despite Google and Alphabet’s ad claims, however, no reliable studies support the representation that Pine-Sol kills 99.9 percent of germs, the lawsuit alleges. Upon information and belief, the suit says, Pine-Sol “does not kill a variety of germs and/or bacteria,” including the kinds that cause the flu, Ebola and norovirus. 

“By each Representation, reasonable consumers are led to believe that proper use of the Product will prevent the Diseases and will kill at least 99.9% of all germs that cause all illnesses in human beings,” the suit contends, alleging consumers may mistakenly believe Pine-Sol will prevent COVID-19 due to the defendants’ ads.

The lawsuit says Google and Alphabet have unlawfully increased ad revenues and profits—and gained an unjust competitive advantage—by selling Pine-Sol through their ad platform with the claim that it kills 99.9 percent of germs. Further, the defendants “designed to—and did—” deceive, mislead and defraud consumers who bought the Pine-Sol product through Google’s website, the complaint claims. 

“The Product is unable to provide the outcomes promised by the Defendants in the Representations,” the suit reads.

Had the plaintiff known Pine-Sol cannot kill 99.9 percent of germs, she would not have bought the product, or would have paid less for it, the complaint says.

Get class action lawsuit news sent to your inbox – sign up for ClassAction.org’s newsletter here.