Plant-Based Produce Coating Company Sues Wellness Influencer for Disinformation Campaign
Apeel Sciences, a California-based company specializing in plant-derived coatings to prolong the shelf life of fresh produce, has initiated legal action against wellness influencer Robyn Openshaw and her company, Green Smoothie Girl, for allegedly orchestrating a sustained disinformation campaign. The lawsuit, filed in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, accuses Openshaw of disseminating false claims about Apeel’s products, causing reputational and financial damage.
Openshaw’s alleged campaign, spanning from July 2023 to May 2025, involved numerous online posts across various platforms. These posts, according to Apeel, contained unfounded allegations about the safety and efficacy of their plant-based coatings. Openshaw reportedly labeled the coatings as “toxic” and asserted that they contained “solvents and heavy metals” such as palladium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. Apeel vehemently denies these claims, stating that Openshaw misrepresented FDA filings and that the company has never utilized the solvents mentioned in her posts. One specific post, updated as recently as September 2024 and titled “Why the Apeel Coating Is Toxic and Doesn’t Even Work,” encapsulates the core of Openshaw’s purported disinformation.
The lawsuit further contends that Openshaw leveraged these accusations to incite a boycott of Apeel products, urging her followers to pressure major retailers like Costco and suppliers like Limoneira and Driscoll’s to cease carrying Apeel-protected produce. It is also alleged that Openshaw published the personal contact information of retail executives, encouraging her audience to directly contact them. Apeel argues that this systematic campaign has not only tarnished their reputation but has also inflicted tangible financial harm on the company, its employees, and its business partners.
Apeel’s legal representation, Thomas Clare of Clare Locke LLP, characterizes Openshaw’s actions as a “deliberate smear campaign that weaponized disinformation for financial gain.” He emphasizes that while free speech is a fundamental right, it does not grant immunity from defamatory statements. Clare underscores the importance of accountability in preventing the spread of misinformation and protecting businesses from unfounded attacks that undermine public trust in safe and innovative technologies. The lawsuit seeks to hold Openshaw responsible for the alleged damage caused by her campaign and to deter the use of disinformation as a tactic to destabilize businesses and mislead consumers.
This lawsuit aligns with a larger pattern of misinformation targeting Apeel, according to the company. In a separate incident, actress Michelle Pfeiffer publicly retracted claims she had made on social media about Apeel and an alleged connection to Bill Gates. Pfeiffer admitted to inadvertently sharing inaccurate and outdated information and apologized for the dissemination of false information. This retraction, while unrelated to the Openshaw lawsuit, underscores the potential reach and impact of misinformation, particularly when amplified by individuals with large followings.
Apeel’s lawsuit against Openshaw highlights the ongoing struggle against misinformation in the digital age. The case raises crucial questions about the responsibility of influencers and content creators in verifying the accuracy of their claims, particularly when those claims have the potential to cause significant harm to individuals and businesses. The outcome of this legal battle could have broader implications for the fight against disinformation and the protection of businesses from unfounded attacks in the online sphere. It emphasizes the need for vigilance in identifying and combating misinformation, as well as the importance of accountability for those who propagate false claims.
The lawsuit underscores the importance of responsible information sharing in the digital age, especially for individuals with large platforms and influence. The case against Openshaw alleges not only the spread of false information but also the orchestration of a targeted campaign to inflict harm on Apeel’s business. Apeel argues that this coordinated effort went beyond simply expressing an opinion and constituted a deliberate attempt to damage their reputation and financial standing.
The legal action taken by Apeel serves as a reminder of the potential consequences of spreading misinformation, particularly when it involves accusations that could impact public health and safety. The claim that Apeel’s products contain toxic substances, if believed, could lead consumers to avoid healthy and sustainable food options. This highlights the need for careful fact-checking and responsible reporting, especially when it comes to topics that can influence consumer behavior and public health. The lawsuit emphasizes the importance of protecting businesses from malicious disinformation campaigns that can undermine trust in their products and damage their hard-earned reputations.
