A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Prime Hydration LLC, a sports drink company founded by boxer and wrestler Logan Paul, alleging that some of its products contain toxic “forever chemicals” at three times the limit of what a human should consume in an entire lifetime.
According to legal documents filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, the lawsuit accuses Prime Hydration LLC of fraudulently marketing its drinks as healthy even though one of its flavors was found to contain extremely high levels of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
The case was filed in August 2023, but a motion to dismiss hearing was heard last week. In the motion to dismiss, the company argued that the plaintiff failed to allege “cognizable injury” and lacked standing, among other factors.
Neither Paul nor KSI have made statements regarding the lawsuit nor was an email to the company immediately returned by the time of publication.
The allegations against Prime, specifically its grape-flavored drink, follow similar lawsuits and years of scientific evidence showing that PFAS chemicals are highly toxic and can cause a range of health problems in people, including cancer, changes in hormone levels, decreased fertility, liver and thyroid dysfunction, and a reduced immune system.
Since their invention in the 1930s, PFAS chemicals have been widely used for their water-resistant and grease-repellant properties. They can be found in most manufactured products, such as non-stick cookware, clothing, cleaning products, beauty products, and food packaging.
Unfortunately, PFAS chemicals persist in the environment, meaning they have seeped into our water and food supply, with 99% of people tested showing some level of these chemicals in their bodies.
“Every human on the planet has PFAS in their body,” said Dr. Keith Vorst, the Polymer and Food Protection Consortium director at Iowa State University.
While the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has banned some of the most-used PFAS chemicals from food packaging and other manufacturing processes, there are as many as 15,000 different types of PFAS chemicals, making it challenging to research them thoroughly.
Dr. Vorst, whose research focuses on the technical development and safety of food packaging, did not comment specifically on the lawsuit against Prime but suggested that when PFAS levels are extremely high, it may be because of a problem in the manufacturing process.
Prime has previously attracted attention for its marketing tactics and elevated caffeine content. In July 2023, U.S. Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer called on the FDA to investigate the company.
Prime launched in January 2022 and quickly became one of the most recognizable sports drinks brands on the market, thanks to the popularity of viral YouTube personalities Paul and co-founder KSI, also known as Olajide Olayinka Williams Olatunji.
Major sports teams and groups like Arsenal, Bayern Munich, Barcelona, the LA Dodgers, and the UFC have deals with the company. Additionally, Prime has marketing relationships with athletes like Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Manchester City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland.
