A lot has transpired in the last week and a half. Here is a breakdown of the situation:
Last week, I shared several videos highlighting alarming levels of lead found in some of the outer coatings of a popular children's vitamin bottle made by Hiya Health Products.
I urged owners of these bottles to test their own and file a Dangerous Product Report with the CPSC to initiate a recall.
After reaching out to Hiya directly numerous times, I received no response. Instead, I was met with a scathing Cease-and-Desist letter from Hiya’s corporate legal team denying any wrong doing. This letter is meant to intimidate me into silence. So I wrote them one back...(scroll to read both)
Read the highlights of Hiya's Cease and Desist letter below:
I tested the bottle in question with both Fluorospec and XRF, and documented both tests in my very first video about Hiya. Both of these technologies are completely legitimate and scientifically-proven. I made these videos with the intention of getting this highly dangerous product recalled, and I discounted FluoroSpec significantly for anyone who wanted to test their child's Hiya bottle. This opening statement from Hiya features the first of many attempts to disparage and minimize Fluorospec, an extremely powerful tool for lead detection, by using quotation marks around "lead test kits", a tactic that persists throughout the letter.
Hiya continues:
I stand by each one of these statements, 100%.
Hiya:
The positive results for lead I recieved from FluoroSpec and XRF are absolutely "verifiable evidence". In one of my videos, I clearly show the XRF gun detecting 8781 parts lead per billion on a yellow Hiya bottle. It is also quite clear in my videos that I am conducting these tests in a warehouse laboratory, and not in my home.
Hiya:
The legal language here is quite deceiving—pay special attention to the lack of specificity in the second sentence, "The company does not and has never used lead in the coating of the bottles ... ". They (intentionally) fail to mention which company has never used lead in their bottles.
The reference of "validated third party laboratory testing" is also misleading. Hiya refers here to results from a test they conducted on their bottles that is designed for hollow-ware, in which the inside and the rim of the bottle were tested for lead. See these test results below:
Hiya has not made public any test that has been conducted on the outer coating of their bottles from the time period in question (late 2023-early 2024).
I feel strongly that both of these statements together portray a very real and calculated attempt to cover the fact that Hiya is aware that a significant number of their yellow bottles contain dangerous amounts of lead.
Hiya:
A mother sent me a yellow Hiya vitamin bottle, along with background information that she tested it with FluoroSpec after noticing her baby had teethed on it and had removed some of the yellow coating in the process. Frighteningly for her, the bottle glowed bright green indicating lead, as per the directions of FluoroSpec. Of course, I believe this mother—babies love to mouth things, and Hiya's brightly-colored bottles appeal strongly to children. She was the fourth person to bring these glowing bottles to my attention, but she did something no one else did- she mailed it to me. I am very grateful she did because she didn't have to, she could of just thrown it in the trash, but she wanted to help. I shared her story on my platform because I felt this information would benefit others, and could possibly prevent something similar from happening to another family. This is why I make FluoroSpec—to help people discover lead hiding in plain sight.
Hiya is trying to flip the narrative, denying my factual statements and attempting to portray me as a sensationalist social media influencer, or part of a cabal of lead influencers who profit from lead fear mongering, instead of someone who uses their platform to share information and spread awareness about the dangers of lead while providing the best value, most sophisticated lead tests on the market..
going on..
Hiya:
I have been very open about my former smelling salts company, Atomic Rhino, and have ceased all production and sales of the product after receiving the FDA's letter. I find this threat oddly hypocritical, coming from Hiya co-founder Adam Gillman, who's other capitalist venture is a premium cannabis business called F/ELD. Cannabis, of course, is a Schedule I drug, of which all production and sales are illegal according to Federal Law. Ironically, (because we have to laugh) the parent-company of F/ELD is the Glass House Group—Someone should tell Adam that those who stand in direct violation of the Controlled Substances Act shouldn't throw stones.
Hiya's closing remarks:
The blatant lies in this closing paragraph are so far beyond how I ever imagined a company like Hiya would respond to the discovery of lead on their product.
Hiya is making disparaging claims about me by insinuating that FluoroSpec is inaccurate and/or unreliable.
Hiya is unfairly deceiving customers into buying their vitamin bottles thinking they have been properly vetted!
My business model is to end lead poisoning.
Hiya's business model is to turn a profit selling subscription vitamins.
After reflecting on this letter for several days, I decided that the most appropriate course of action would be to send Hiya my own Cease and Desist letter . . .
A Cease and Desist Letter to Hiya:
I believe this letter is more along the lines of what an effective Cease and Desist letter constitutes- these are real, factual arguments that I would (and will) gleefully make in front of a judge, who I am certain will side in my favor.
In short, Hiya's reaction to this situation is shameful. Rather than taking responsibility and issuing a recall of their yellow vitamin bottles, Hiya has chosen to prioritize its own interests, taking no responsibility for their negligence and showing zero regard for the children whose health may be jeopardized by their product.
I'm committed to getting this product recalled and out of the hands of children.
Don't let Hiya play the victim!
Use code DoesMyHiyaHaveLead for 75% off Fluorospec
Test your own Hiya bottle and spread the word.
Remember, lead poisoning is 100% preventable.
Redacted versions of both letters in their entirety, below.
We recived a complaint about a message that had a toilet bowl filled with lead tests. Theres a lot of lead on the toilet seats in my home in seattle.
Why are your videos playing loop in my apartment elevator
My dog tests positive like the instructions in the youtube vids. Are you sure this works well for dogs?
Great work and I hope this gets more attention. It is despicable how this company cares more about its image than the health and future of the families they profit from
Funny, isn’t it the vitamin industry that lacks evidence of producing expected results?