Goop, a lifestyle brand owned by actress Gwyneth Paltrow, agreed to pay $145,000 to settle allegations it made false claims about three of its products focused on women's sexual and emotional health, CBS News reports.
Prosecutors from 10 California counties filed the lawsuit, which alleged Goop did not have scientific evidence to support health claims for two of its vaginal eggs — devices marketed as a way to "balance hormones, regulate menstrual cycles ... and increase bladder control" — and a mix of essential oils that it sells online. The oil mix was advertised as a method to "help prevent depression," CBS News reports.
"People have been selling snake oil for a long time. This is just another type of snake oil," Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas told the publication.
The lawsuit alleged the products' descriptions were "not supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence."
"There's a group of people who have problems like that and they might be vulnerable. A lot of people … might do the things that you suggest and so you can do a lot of harm by falsely advertising that something is a medical cure," Mr. Rackauckas said.
The three products are still available on Goop's website, but their descriptions have been updated. Under the settlement, Goop will also offer refunds to customers who request them.