Wegmans is facing a class-action lawsuit that alleges the "reef conscious" label on its sunscreen is "false and misleading" because it contains ingredients that are harmful to coral reefs. "Unfortunately, coral reefs have been placed in peril by a variety of man-made threats and have declined by roughly half since 1950," the complaint reads. "Within the past several years, researchers determined that chemicals in sunscreen are a significant factor in their decline.
" And though it advertises itself as safe for reefs, the suit says, the sunscreen actually contains several ingredients that are harmful to them. Wegmans said it is looking into the lawsuit and does not comment on pending litigation. Fine print on the Wegmans Brand Sport Broad Spectrum sunscreen lotion bottle related to the "reef conscious" claim says the sunscreen is compliant with Hawaii state law meant to protect coral reefs.
But the lawsuit says Hawaii law does not go far enough to protect reefs. The product contains several active and inactive ingredients that have been found to harm coral reefs, the complaint says, including avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate and octocrylene. It cites a reef-safe sunscreen buying guide from snorkeling website Snorkel Around The World that called the ingredients "dangerous," and said they are not consistent with being reef conscious.
The lawsuit was filed earlier this month by Irondequoit resident Joelle Thomas in state Supreme Court in Monroe County. The law firm that filed th.
