Walmart
TINA.org investigations into Walmart have revealed that the retail giant repeatedly engaged in false and deceptive Made in USA marketing on its website, and used undisclosed stealth marketing directed at…
Walmart’s Bill Payment Services
December 2019: This case was transferred to federal court. (Case No. 19-cv-10983, C. D. Cal.)
August 2019: A class-action lawsuit was filed against Walmart for allegedly falsely advertising that customers who use its bill payment service to pay third parties will be notified if payments are unsuccessful when, according to plaintiffs, such notification does not occur. (Adolphus et al v. Wal-Mart, Inc., Case No. 19STCV28638, California State Court – Los Angeles)
For more of TINA.org’s coverage of Walmart, click here.
Legal Action
Class-Action Tracker
Great Value and Sam’s Choice Seafood
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as sustainable
equate Sunscreens
Allegations: Falsely marketing sunscreens as “Reef Friendly”
Great Value Macaroni & Cheese Original Cups
Allegations: Falsely marketing that products contain no artificial flavors or preservatives
Great Value Mac and Cheese Cups
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that products are made with real cheddar cheese
equate Sport Sunscreen Spray
Allegations: Falsely marketing sunscreens as “Reef Friendly”
Toddler Beginnings
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as nutritionally appropriate for children who are nine months and older
Great Value Diced Peaches
Allegations: Falsely marketing that the peaches come in “100% Juice”
Mainstays and Expert Grill Aluminum Products
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as “Made in USA”
Parent’s Choice Yogurt Bites
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing “No Preservatives”
Walmart’s Shelf Prices
Allegations: Charging consumers more than the price advertised on store shelves
Parent’s Choice Baby Petroleum Jelly Skin Protectant
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as hypoallergenic
Several Brands of Frozen Waffles and Pancakes
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products are contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes
Great Value Refined Avocado Oil
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as avocado oil
2019-2022 Onn Surf and Pro Tablets
Allegations: Marketing products as high quality, durable and appropriate for children to use when the display screens crack and malfunction during ordinary use due to a defect
Great Value Coffee Creamer
Allegations: Products contain fewer servings than advertised
Great Value Apple Juice
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain, or are at risk of containing, more inorganic arsenic than the FDA allows in apple juice
Equate Acne Products
Allegations: Misleadingly representing that products were safe when they contain, or were at risk of containing, the carcinogen benzene
Prices at Walmart
Allegations: Charging consumers more than the prices advertised in store aisles
Spring Valley Fish Oil Omega-3 Dietary Supplements
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that products support heart health without scientific evidence to support such claims
100% Grated Parmesan Cheese Claims
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing parmesan cheese products as “100%” grated parmesan cheese
Equate Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as non-drowsy
Spring Valley Glucosamine Sulfate
Allegations: Falsely representing that products contain glucosamine sulfate when they actually contain glucosamine hydrochloride
equate Upper Arm Blood Pressure Monitors
Allegations: Falsely marketing that devices accurately measure blood pressure
Sudafed, Tylenol, NyQuil, Theraflu, Mucinex, and Several Store Brands
Allegations: Falsely marketing that phenylephrine products treat congestion and other cold and flu symptoms
Sudafed, Tylenol, DayQuil, NyQuil and Store Brand Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that phenylephrine products treat congestion and other cold and flu symptoms
Walmart’s Return Policy
Allegations: Misrepresenting that customers may return items for a refund within 90 days unless they fall under one of the categories of exceptions without disclosing that customers who paid using…
NyQuil, Tylenol, Sudafed, Mucinex, and Several Store Brands
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal congestion
Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing the products treat nasal congestion
Hefty and Great Value Recycling Bags
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “recycling” bags
Herbal Essences Dry Shampoos and Conditioners
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain the carcinogen benzene
Mucinex, Tylenol, Sudafed PE, Robitussin, Theraflu, Vicks, and Other Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal congestion
Tylenol, TheraFlu, Mucinex, and Several Store Brands of Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing medicines as nasal decongestants
Sudafed, Benadryl, Vicks NyQuil, Mucinex, and Walmart’s Equate
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat congestion
Sudafed, Benadryl, Mucinex Robitussin, and Walmart’s Equate Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines relieve nasal congestion and sinus pressure
Equate Phenylephrine Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines combat congestion and other sinus issues
Several Brands of Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that phenylephrine products treat congestion and other cold and flu symptoms
DayQuil, NyQuil, and Walmart’s Equate
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines relieve nasal decongestion
Theraflu, Sudafed, Tylenol, and other Cold & Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing medicines as decongestants
Mucinex, Sudafed, Tylenol, Benadryl and Other Cold & Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing medicines as decongestants
Sudafed, CVS, Advil, Up & Up, Signature Care, Equate, and Tylenol Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Falsely marketing that medicines treat nasal congestion
Great Value Peach Tea Drink Enhancer
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products using the phrase “Natural Flavor With Other Natural Flavors”
Spark Toys
Allegations: Marketing that toys are appropriate for children under the age of three when the toys contain dangerous levels of a toxic substance
Great Value Mixed Fruit Cups
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “Mixed Fruit in 100% juice”
Ottomanson, Sweet Home Collection, LUXE Life, and Other Bamboo Products
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as rayon, eco-friendly, and sustainable
Sunrise Growers Frozen Fruit Products
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a bacterium that could lead to serious adverse health consequences
Walmart’s Hotel Style Bed Sheets
Allegations: Falsely marketing that sheets have a higher thread count than they actually do
Great Value Whole Grain Saltine Crackers
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing crackers as “Made With Whole Grain”
Great Value Fruit & Grain Cereal Bars
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that products contain an artificial ingredient that enhances the characterizing fruit flavors
Artnaturals and Other Hand Sanitizers
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain a dangerous amount of the carcinogen benzene
Great Value Fruit and Grain Cereal Bars and Great Value Drink Enhancers
Allegations: False natural claims
Onn Surf and Pro Tablets
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as dependable, versatile, and high-quality
Great Value Apple Juice
Allegations: Failing to disclose that products contain chemical preservatives
Great Value Recycling Drawstring Bags
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as “recycling” bags that are “designed to handle everyday recycling loads around the house” and “easy sorting for municipal recycling programs” when the bags are made…
Equate “Non-Drowsy” Cold and Flu Medicines
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing medicines as “non-drowsy” when an ingredient in them causes drowsiness
Equate Kids Sunscreen Stick and Other Sunscreens
Allegations: Falsely marketing sunscreens as “hypoallergenic” when they contain a significant amount of allergens, irritants, and other damage-causing chemicals
Several Brands of Baby and Infant Formula Powders
Allegations: Products make fewer bottles of formula than advertised
Several Store Brand Acetaminophen Products
Allegations: Marketing products as safe pain relievers for pregnant women without warning consumers that scientific evidence shows prenatal exposure to APAP can cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children
Great Value Veggie Straws
Allegations: Falsely marketing products as containing “No Artificial Flavors or Preservatives” when they contain a chemical preservative and a synthetic flavoring ingredient
Parent’s Choice Baby Food Products
Allegations: Failing to disclose baby foods contain toxic heavy metals
equate Hydrogen Peroxide
Allegations: Falsely marketing the product treats minor cuts and abrasions when scientific evidence shows it does not have such treatment capabilities
Walmart+ Subscriptions
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the terms of subscriptions
Great Value Fudge Mint Cookies
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing ingredients in cookies
Great Value Honey Mustard
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing that honey is the primary sweetener
Great Value Coffee Creamer
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing the product as coffee creamer
Spring Valley Garcinia Cambogia
Allegations: Falsely advertising that supplements provide “weight management support” when scientific evidence shows the active ingredients are incapable of providing weight-loss benefits
Great Value Oats & Honey Crunchy Granola Bars
Allegations: Falsely marketing the ingredients in granola bars
Great Value Reduced Fat Mayo With Olive Oil
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing products as made with olive oil when the ingredients list shows they contain more soybean oil than olive oil
Sale Prices of Walmart’s Weighted Foods
Allegations: Charging more than the advertised sale price of food that is priced based on weight
Equate Lidocaine Patches
Allegations: Misleadingly marketing lidocaine pain relief patches
Walmart’s Parent’s Choice Pediatric Shakes
Allegations: False natural claims
Equate Dry Spray
Allegations: Failing to disclose products contain the carcinogen benzene
Linksys Dual Band AC1000 WiFi Router
Allegations: Internet routers operate at slower speeds than advertised
Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder
Allegations: Failing to adequately disclose that powders contain a dangerous ingredient
Folgers Ground Coffee Sold at Walmart
Allegations: Products do not make the number of cups advertised on the label
Equate Oil-Free Cosmetics
Allegations: False “oil-free” claims
Parent’s Choice Baby Foods
Allegations: Failing to disclose baby foods contain toxic heavy metals
Folgers Classic Decaf Medium Roast Ground Coffee
Allegations: Products do not make the number of cups of coffee advertised on the label
Several Brands of Baby Foods
Allegations: Failing to disclose baby foods contain toxic heavy metals
Onn Power Banks
Allegations: Deceptively inflating the mAh ratings for Onn power banks
Store-Brand Hand Sanitizers
Canisters of Great Value Ground Coffee
Equate Infant’s Pain & Fever Acetaminophen
Walmart’s Lifetime Tire Balancing and Rotation Policy
Equate Infant’s and Children’s Pain & Fever Acetaminophen
Several Store-Brand Hand Sanitizers
Equate™ Rapid Release Products
Prices in the Walmart App
Kona Coffee
Great Value Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Great Value LED Light Bulbs
Murphy Oil’s Price of Gasoline
Great Value Graham Crackers
Lang Pharma Nutrition’s CoQ-10 Softgels
Equate High Absorption CoQ-10
Sam’s Club Freshness Guarantee
“Independent Doctors of Optometry” at Walmart
Parent’s Choice Organic Rice Rusks
Welspun India’s “100% Egyptian Cotton” Bed Linens
Equate Migraine
Walmart’s Equate Migraine
Equate Migraine Pain Reliever
Thread Counts of Bed Linens at Walmart
Spring Valley Glucosamine Sulfate
Nest Fresh Eggs
Organic Marketside “farm fresh” Eggs
Several Brands of Flushable Wipes
Various Parmesan Cheese Products
Walmart’s Equate Co-Q10
Great Value 100% Grated Parmesan Cheese
100% Parmesan Cheese Products
Walmart’s Arm & Hammer Fresh-N-Natural Baking Soda
Great Value 100% Cranberry Pomegranate Juice
Brew & Save Carafe Filters
Cottonelle Flushable Wipes and More
Equate Flushable Wipes
Wal-Mart’s Rollback Prices
Great Value All Natural Pita Chips
Great Value Pork & Beans in Tomato Sauce
Walmart’s Craft Beers
Walmart’s Warranties for Car Batteries
Walmart’s “Made in USA” Labels
Straight Talk Cellular Phone Plans
Great Value Cornstarch Food Products
Various Lines of Herbal Supplements: Finest Nutrition, Spring Valley, and Others
Walmart’s Great Value 100% Cranberry Pomegranate Juice
Walmart’s Banzai Inflatable Water Slides and Pools
The Latest
TINA.org Supports FTC’s ‘Click to Cancel’ Rule against Industry Challenge
Companies should not be able to trap consumers into subscriptions that they do not want.
NCPW 2025: Fighting against Deceptive Marketing
If you’ve been misled by an ad, regulators want to hear from you. We do too.
CATrends: Packed in ‘100% Fruit Juice’
Lawsuits allege “100%” marketing on front label is misleading.
2024 Reasonable Consumer Quiz
See how you stack up.
Holiday Shopping: Separating the Real Deals from the Fake Ones
TINA.org offers some tips on how to avoid a shopping mishap this season.