SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (Legal Newsline) - Ricola cough drops are pointlessly made with "Swiss Alpine Herbs," a new class action lawsuit claims.
Plaintiff Lacie Davis sued Ricola USA on May 8 in Illinois federal court. She and lawyer Spencer Sheehan say the company boasts its product is made with Swiss Alpine herbs and shows 10 herbs on packaging.
But the packaging also notes menthol is the active ingredient.
"Consumers seeing the product's front label will expect its cough suppressant and oral anesthetic functionality will be provided by its herbal ingredients," the lawsuit says. "It is false, deceptive and misleading to claim or imply that the product's inactive ingredients provide a therapeutic benefit."
An herb mixture is listed as an inactive ingredient. Herbs in the mixture include elder, horehound, hyssop, lemon balm, linden flowers, mallow, peppermint, sage, thyme and wild thyme.
"Competitor products contain substantially similar ingredients to the product," the suit says. "However, only Defendant's product conveys the message that its herbal ingredients are responsible for the cough suppressant and oral anesthetic properties it provides."