Originally posted on FluoroSpec/Detect Lead, Oct 21, 2024. Author: Chelsea Bernstein.
I published videos showing elevated lead levels on Hiya children's vitamin bottle coatings and encouraged the FluoroSpec community to test their own bottles and request product recall.
After receiving no response from Hiya directly, I received a cease-and-desist letter from Hiya's legal team. I responded with my own cease-and-desist letter challenging Hiya's claims.
Key points from Hiya's letter
- Disputed the reliability of FluoroSpec testing methods.
- Claimed the company "does not and has never used lead in the coating" — the wording is notably vague.
- Referenced third-party testing — but only on bottle interiors and rims, not the outer coatings at issue.
My counterarguments
- XRF testing showed 8,781 parts per billion lead on yellow Hiya bottles.
- Testing was conducted in a warehouse laboratory with documented evidence.
- Hiya's third-party testing did not address outer-coating contamination during the relevant time period.
Hiya appears to be prioritizing profits over child safety. I remain committed to obtaining a product recall on the affected lots.
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Documents
Redacted versions of both letters are available on the original post.