Celtic Sea Salt Lawsuit Update 2026, Class Action Dismissed, But the Heavy Metal Controversy Isn’t Over
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit update reveals the class action was voluntarily dismissed on April 11, 2025—but with a crucial twist. While plaintiff Mark Gonzalez’s individual claims were dismissed with prejudice (can’t be refiled), the class action claims were dismissed without prejudice, meaning a new class action lawsuit alleging lead and arsenic contamination could still be filed. Celtic Sea Salt states “no court has ever found our products to have unsafe levels of lead,” though testing showed 460 ppb of lead—far exceeding safe levels for daily consumption.
Imagine sprinkling what you believed was premium, “doctor-recommended” salt on every meal, only to discover lab testing revealed it contains lead levels that could put you over California’s daily safety limit with just 2-4 pinches.
That’s the alarming reality thousands of Celtic Sea Salt customers faced when a February 2025 class action lawsuit exposed test results showing 460 parts per billion (ppb) of lead and 140 ppb of arsenic in popular Fine Ground and Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt products marketed as healthy, unrefined alternatives to table salt.
The Celtic Sea Salt Lawsuit Update: What Happened to the Case
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit update brings both closure and uncertainty for concerned consumers.
Case timeline:
February 11, 2025: Plaintiff Mark Gonzalez filed a class action lawsuit (Case No. 2:25-cv-01177) in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against Celtic Ocean International LLC.
March-April 2025: Legal news outlets and wellness publications covered the “toxic heavy metals” allegations, sparking consumer outrage and social media warnings.
April 11, 2025: The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed by the plaintiff.
Critical detail about the dismissal:
According to the notice of dismissal, Gonzalez’s individual claims were dismissed with prejudice, meaning he personally cannot refile them.
However, the class action claims were dismissed without prejudice, meaning they can be “reworked in a future suit” by other plaintiffs or attorneys.
August 2025: Celtic Sea Salt publicly stated on social media: “The lawsuit that was filed is now resolved. Celtic Sea Salt is not currently the subject of any class action lawsuit, and no court has ever found our products to have unsafe levels of lead.”
Current status: No active Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit exists as of January 2026, but the door remains open for new class action litigation since the class claims were not dismissed with prejudice.
What the Celtic Sea Salt Lawsuit Alleged
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit centered on explosive allegations that the company deceived health-conscious consumers about product safety.
The contamination claims:
Lab testing revealed Celtic Sea Salt products contained:
- 460 ppb of lead (some sources reported 420-650 ppb depending on batch)
- 140 ppb of arsenic
Why those numbers matter:
California’s Proposition 65 sets the maximum allowable daily dose of lead at 0.5 micrograms per day. According to the lawsuit, just one serving of Celtic Sea Salt exceeded that limit at 0.69 micrograms.
If someone followed the American Heart Association’s daily sodium recommendations and used Celtic Sea Salt exclusively, they’d consume 1.06 micrograms of lead per day—more than double California’s safe limit.
For comparison, the FDA allows a maximum of 5 ppb of lead in bottled water, while the EPA allows 15 ppb in tap water. Celtic Sea Salt’s 460 ppb is 30-92 times higher than those drinking water standards.
The deceptive marketing claims:
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit alleged the company misled consumers by prominently displaying labels stating:
- “Doctor Recommended”
- “Quality Certified”
- “100% responsibly sourced always”
- “Vital minerals”
- “Good manufacturing practice”
- “Inspected and approved to meet quality standards”
According to the complaint, these representations gave consumers “the net impression that the Products are healthy and do not contain significant levels of heavy metals.”
The lawsuit argued: “No reasonable consumer would buy the products if they knew the products contained toxic and harmful ingredients such as lead and arsenic.”
The Health Risks: Why Lead and Arsenic Matter
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit emphasized that public health authorities universally agree: there is no safe level of lead exposure.
Health risks from lead contamination:
- Kidney damage
- Cancer
- Anemia
- Cardiovascular disease
- Neurological issues and cognitive impairment
- Particularly dangerous for children’s brain development
The CDC explicitly states: “There are no safe levels of lead in the blood.”
Health risks from arsenic contamination:
According to the EPA, consuming arsenic above 10 ppb increases risk of:
- Cancer
- Impaired brain development
- Immune system issues
- Chronic health problems
Celtic Sea Salt’s 140 ppb of arsenic is 14 times higher than the EPA’s 10 ppb concern threshold.
Legal Claims in the Celtic Sea Salt Lawsuit
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit asserted multiple legal violations under California consumer protection laws:
Breach of implied warranty: Selling products unfit for their intended purpose (safe consumption)
Violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law (UCL): Engaging in unfair or deceptive business practices
Violation of California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA): Making false representations about product quality and safety
The lawsuit sought:
- Compensatory damages (refunds for all purchases)
- Statutory damages under consumer protection laws
- Punitive damages to punish deceptive practices
- Injunctive relief requiring corrective advertising and warning labels
- Restitution for all class members
The proposed class included “anyone who purchased Selina Naturally Fine Ground Celtic Sea Salt or Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt for personal use in the United States during the applicable statute of limitations period.”
Celtic Sea Salt’s Defense: “Naturally Occurring Trace Amounts”
Celtic Sea Salt defended its products by arguing that trace amounts of heavy metals occur naturally in virtually all sea salts.
The company’s position:
According to Celtic Sea Salt’s own published ingredients analysis, lead is present at 0.000076 percent—below the World Health Organization’s Codex limit of 0.000200 percent for lead in salt.
Celtic Sea Salt states: “Lead is present in trace amounts in virtually all sea salts because it is such a pervasive element in our world today. Lead is also present in things we come into contact with virtually every day.”
The company points to environmental sources of lead including paint, water systems, gasoline, tableware, ceramics, and foods grown in contaminated soils.
The legal counterargument:
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit didn’t dispute that trace heavy metals exist naturally. Instead, it argued Celtic Sea Salt failed to disclose these contaminants while simultaneously marketing products as exceptionally healthy and doctor-recommended.
Legal experts note that even if contamination is “natural,” companies still have a duty to warn consumers when levels exceed safety thresholds—particularly under California’s Proposition 65, which requires warnings for products containing chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm.
Why Was the Celtic Sea Salt Lawsuit Dismissed?
The voluntary dismissal raises important questions.
Possible reasons for dismissal:
Settlement negotiations: The plaintiff may have reached a confidential settlement with Celtic Sea Salt, though no public settlement announcement was made.
Weak individual claims: The plaintiff may have struggled to prove personal injury or reliance, making his individual claims difficult to win.
Strategic repositioning: Dismissing without prejudice for the class allows other attorneys or plaintiffs to file a stronger class action with better evidence, broader discovery, or refined legal theories.
Cost and complexity: Class action litigation is expensive. The plaintiff may have lacked resources to continue.
Celtic Sea Salt’s response: The company may have agreed to changes in labeling, testing, or marketing that satisfied the plaintiff’s concerns without a monetary settlement.
What “dismissed without prejudice” means:
This is crucial for the Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit update. Unlike dismissal “with prejudice” (case is permanently closed), dismissal “without prejudice” means:
- The same legal claims can be refiled by different plaintiffs
- New attorneys can take up the case with additional evidence
- The door remains open for future class action litigation
- Celtic Sea Salt hasn’t received legal protection from future lawsuits on these issues
Other Heavy Metal Food Product Lawsuits
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit update is part of a disturbing trend of heavy metal contamination allegations in natural food products.
Similar ongoing cases:
Tampax tampons class action: Alleges Procter & Gamble’s Tampax products contain unsafe lead levels
Tom’s of Maine toothpaste lawsuit: Claims Kid’s Natural Fluoride-Free Toothpaste Silly Strawberry contains unsafe lead and arsenic
Baby food heavy metals cases: Multiple lawsuits against major baby food brands for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury contamination
Dark chocolate lead lawsuits: Several chocolate brands faced litigation over lead and cadmium levels
These cases share common themes: products marketed as healthy or natural, testing revealing heavy metal contamination, companies claiming levels are “naturally occurring” and below certain thresholds, and consumers arguing they were deceived about safety.
What This Means for Celtic Sea Salt Customers
Even though the Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit was dismissed, health-conscious consumers face difficult decisions.
Should you stop using Celtic Sea Salt?
That’s a personal choice based on your risk tolerance. Consider:
Celtic Sea Salt’s position: The company maintains its products meet WHO standards and that trace heavy metals are unavoidable in natural sea salts.
Testing reality: Independent lab testing showed 460 ppb of lead—levels that could exceed California’s daily safe limit with regular use.
No “safe” lead exposure: Public health authorities agree there’s no safe level of lead, especially for children and pregnant women.
Alternatives exist: Refined salts and some other sea salt brands have lower or undetectable heavy metal levels.
FAQ: Celtic Sea Salt Lawsuit Update
Is there currently an active Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit?
No. As of January 2026, there is no active class action lawsuit against Celtic Sea Salt. The February 2025 lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed in April 2025.
Can a new Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit be filed?
Yes. The class action claims were dismissed without prejudice, meaning new plaintiffs can file another class action lawsuit with the same allegations.
Was there a settlement?
No public settlement was announced. The dismissal occurred voluntarily, but specific reasons and any confidential agreements were not disclosed.
How much lead is actually in Celtic Sea Salt?
Testing showed 460 ppb of lead (some sources report 420-650 ppb depending on batch). Celtic Sea Salt’s own analysis shows 0.000076 percent, which it claims is below WHO limits.
Is Celtic Sea Salt safe to use?
Celtic Sea Salt maintains its products are safe and meet international standards. However, independent testing showed lead levels that could exceed California’s daily safe limit with regular consumption. Consult your doctor if concerned.
Which Celtic Sea Salt products were affected?
The lawsuit specifically targeted Fine Ground Celtic Sea Salt and Light Grey Celtic Sea Salt, though testing methodology suggested contamination could affect products sourced from the same areas.
Can I get a refund if I bought Celtic Sea Salt?
With no active settlement, refund mechanisms don’t currently exist. You could try requesting a refund directly from Celtic Sea Salt or the retailer where purchased, though they’re not legally required to provide one.
What about arsenic—how much was in the salt?
Testing showed 140 ppb of arsenic, which is 14 times higher than the EPA’s 10 ppb threshold for concern in water.
Does “naturally occurring” make it safe?
Not necessarily. While heavy metals may occur naturally in sea salt, that doesn’t eliminate health risks or the legal duty to warn consumers when levels exceed safety thresholds.
What should I do if I’ve been using Celtic Sea Salt regularly?
If you’re concerned about potential lead or arsenic exposure, consult your healthcare provider. Blood tests can measure lead levels, and your doctor can assess your individual risk factors and recommend appropriate monitoring or treatment.
Resources and Next Steps
Monitor for New Litigation:
- Check ClassAction.org for updates on Celtic Sea Salt cases
- Follow Top Class Actions for consumer product litigation news
- Search court records periodically for new filings
Report Health Concerns:
- Consult your healthcare provider about heavy metal testing
- Report adverse health effects to the FDA: www.fda.gov/safety/medwatch
- File complaints with your state attorney general’s consumer protection division
Testing and Research:
- Request Certificates of Analysis (COA) from Celtic Sea Salt showing heavy metal testing results
- Research alternative salt products with publicly available testing data
- Consider refined salts which typically have lower heavy metal content
Stay Informed:
- Follow wellness and food safety publications for updates
- Join consumer advocacy groups focused on food safety
- Subscribe to class action lawsuit newsletters
The Bigger Picture: Natural Food Product Regulation
The Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit update highlights gaps in how “natural” and “unrefined” food products are regulated.
Unlike pharmaceuticals, dietary supplements, and processed foods, natural salt products face limited pre-market testing requirements for heavy metal contamination.
Companies can market products as “healthy,” “doctor recommended,” and “quality certified” without independent verification of heavy metal safety—relying instead on general food safety standards that may not address chronic low-level exposure risks.
California’s Proposition 65 requires warnings when products contain chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm above certain thresholds, but enforcement relies heavily on private litigation rather than proactive government testing.
The dismissal of the Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit doesn’t resolve the underlying question: Should companies be required to test for and disclose heavy metal levels in products marketed as healthy alternatives, even when contamination is “naturally occurring”?
Consumer advocates argue that transparency should be mandatory—if your “premium” salt contains lead levels dozens of times higher than allowed in drinking water, consumers deserve to know.
Industry defenders counter that virtually all foods contain trace heavy metals, and focusing on parts-per-billion in salt while ignoring larger dietary sources creates unnecessary panic.
The debate continues, with or without active litigation.
Disclaimer: This Celtic Sea Salt lawsuit update is based on court documents, public records, and company statements as of January 2026. The original lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed and no settlement was publicly announced. Celtic Sea Salt denies wrongdoing and maintains its products are safe. This article provides information only and is not medical or legal advice. Consult healthcare providers about heavy metal exposure concerns and attorneys about potential legal claims.
About the Author
Sarah Klein, JD, is a licensed attorney and legal content strategist with over 12 years of experience across civil, criminal, family, and regulatory law. At All About Lawyer, she covers a wide range of legal topics — from high-profile lawsuits and courtroom stories to state traffic laws and everyday legal questions — all with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and public understanding.
Her writing blends real legal insight with plain-English explanations, helping readers stay informed and legally aware.
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