60 Day Notice 2022-02786

AG Number: 
2022-02786
Notice PDF: 
Date Filed: 
11/18/2022
Noticing Party: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc.
Plaintiff Attorney: 
Environmental Research Center
Alleged Violators: 
KOS Naturals LLC
KOS, Inc.
Chemicals: 
Lead and lead compounds
Mercury and mercury compounds
Source: 
Dietary supplements

60-Day Notice Document

Supplemental Complaint
AG Number:
2022-02786
Complaint PDF: 
Date Filed:
03/24/2025
Case Name: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc. vs. KOS Naturals, LLC
Court Name: 
Alameda County Superior Court
Court Docket Number: 
RG20075140
Plaintiff: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc.
Plaintiff Attorney: 
Environmental Research Center
Defendant: 
KOS Naturals, LLC
KOS, Inc.
Excelsior Nutrition Inc., individually and dba 4Excelsior
Type of Claim: 
Failure to Warn
Relief Sought: 
Warning
Civil Penalty
Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
Contact Name: 
Charles Poss
Contact Organization: 
Environmental Research Center
Address: 
3111 Camino Del Rio North, Ste 400
City, State, Zip:
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone Number:
(619) 500-3090
Comments: 
This Supplemental Complaint includes AG Numbers 2020-01039, 2020-01240, 2020-01629, 2020-01796, 2021-00587, 2021-00718, 2023-01127, 2023-01360, 2024-04343, 2024-04344, 2024-04345, 2024-04346, 2024-04347, 2024-04348, 2024-04349, 2024-04350, and 2024-04351.
Supplemental Complaint
AG Number:
2022-02786
Complaint PDF: 
Date Filed:
07/28/2023
Case Name: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc. vs. KOS Naturals, LLC
Court Name: 
Alameda County Superior Court
Court Docket Number: 
RG20075140
Plaintiff: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc.
Plaintiff Attorney: 
Environmental Research Center
Defendant: 
KOS Naturals, LLC
Otimo, LLC, individually and dba KOS Naturals
KOS, Inc.
Type of Claim: 
Failure to Warn
Relief Sought: 
Warning
Civil Penalty
Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
Contact Name: 
Charles Poss
Contact Organization: 
Environmental Research Center
Address: 
3111 Camino Del Rio North, Ste 400
City, State, Zip:
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone Number:
(619) 500-3090
Comments: 
This Supplemental Complaint includes AG numbers 2020-01039, 2020-01240, 2020-01629, 2020-01796, 2021-00587, 2021-00718, 2023-01127, and 2023-01360.
Supplemental Complaint
AG Number:
2022-02786
Complaint PDF: 
Date Filed:
02/07/2023
Case Name: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc. vs. KOS Naturals, LLC
Court Name: 
Alameda County Superior Court
Court Docket Number: 
RG20075140
Plaintiff: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc.
Plaintiff Attorney: 
Environmental Research Center
Defendant: 
KOS Naturals, LLC
Otimo, LLC, individually and dba KOS Naturals
KOS, Inc.
Type of Claim: 
Failure to Warn
Relief Sought: 
Warning
Civil Penalty
Injunctive and Declaratory Relief
Contact Name: 
Charles Poss
Contact Organization: 
Environmental Research Center
Address: 
3111 Camino Del Rio North, Ste 400
City, State, Zip:
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone Number:
(619) 500-3090
Comments: 
This Supplemental Complaint includes AG numbers 2020-01039, 2020-01240, 2020-01629, 2020-01796, 2021-00587, and 2021-00718.
Settlement
AG Number:
2022-02786
Settlement PDF: 
Settlement Date:
12/02/2025
Case Name: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc. vs. KOS Naturals, LLC
Court Name: 
Alameda County Superior Court
Court Docket Number: 
RG20075140
Plaintiff: 
Environmental Research Center, Inc.
Plaintiff Attorney: 
Environmental Research Center
Defendant: 
KOS Naturals, LLC
Excelsior Nutrition Inc., individually and dba 4Excelsior
Target Brands, Inc.
Target Corporation
CVS Pharmacy, Inc.
CVS Health Corporation
Vitacost.com, Inc.
KOS, Inc.
Injunctive Relief: 
Beginning on the Effective Date, 4Excelsior shall be permanently enjoined from manufacturing for sale in the State of California, “Distributing into the State of California,” or directly selling in the State of California, (a) any Lead Covered Product that exposes a person to a “Daily Lead Exposure Level” of more than 0.5 micrograms of lead per day (the current Maximum Allowable Dose Level (“MADL”) for lead as established by Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (“OEHHA”)) and/or (b) any Mercury Covered Product that exposes a person to a “Daily Mercury Exposure Level” of more than 0.3 micrograms of mercury per day and/or (c) any Cadmium Covered Product that exposes a person to a “Daily Cadmium Exposure Level” of more than 4.1 micrograms of cadmium per day, all pursuant to the testing methodologies and levels of quantification set forth in Section 3 unless such Covered Product meets the warning requirements under Section 3.2. In the event OEHHA establishes an MADL for lead that is different from the current MADL of 0.5 micrograms of lead per day, and that is applicable to the Lead Covered Products, 4Excelsior shall be entitled seek a modification of this Consent Judgment pursuant to Section 5, and such modification shall not be unreasonably withheld by ERC. Likewise, in the event OEHHA establishes an MADL for mercury that is different from the Daily Mercury Exposure Level of 0.3 micrograms of mercury per day, and that is applicable to the Mercury Covered Products, 4Excelsior shall be entitled seek a modification of this Consent Judgment pursuant to Section 5, and such modification shall not be unreasonably withheld by ERC.
*Non-Contingent Civil Penalty:
$ 48,000.00
Attorney(s) Fees and Costs:
$ 462,000.00
Payment in Lieu of Penalty:
$ 0.00
Total Payments:
$ 510,000.00
Will settlement be submitted to court?
Yes
Contact Name: 
Charles Poss
Contact Organization: 
Environmental Research Center
Address: 
3111 Camino Del Rio North, Ste 400
City, State, Zip:
San Diego, CA 92108
Phone Number:
(619) 500-3090
Comments: 
This Settlement includes AG Numbers 2020-01039, 2020-01240, 2020-01629, 2020-01796, 2021-00587, 2021-00718, 2023-01127, 2023-01360, 2024-04343, 2024-04344, 2024-04345, 2024-04346, 2024-04347, 2024- 04348, 2024-04349, 2024-04350, 2024-04351, 2024-00065, 2024-00260, 2024-00414, and 2023-03966.


* A non-contingent civil penalty is the civil penalty that must be paid pursuant to the settlement, regardless of future events or actions of the defendant. If a settlement includes a contingent penalty, the plaintiff should report the additional penalty amount when it becomes due.