A Legacy of Trust, A Reality of Betrayal

The Hershey Company built an empire on an image of American wholesomeness. Its products are staples of childhood, holidays, and everyday treats. The company’s own website speaks of values like “Integrity,” “Making a Difference,” and a “Shared Goodness Promise” that extends to “our planet, our communities, our children.” But a class-action lawsuit filed in the Superior Court of California by plaintiff Abraham Mohamed tells a different story. It alleges that behind the sweet marketing lies a toxic reality: Hershey’s Bubble Yum Original Flavor Bubble Gum contains dangerous “forever chemicals.”

The core of the lawsuit is deception. For years, Hershey has cultivated a public image of responsibility. They claim to uphold the “highest quality, safety and sustainability standards” and promise transparency, stating they “support consumer’s right to know what is in their food.” Yet, according to the complaint, the company failed to disclose the presence of organic fluorine, an indicator of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), in a product specifically marketed to and consumed by children.

The Non-Financial Ledger: Poisoning Nostalgia

The harm here isn’t just financial. It’s a profound violation of trust. Millions of people have purchased Bubble Yum, handing it to their kids without a second thought, because they trusted the Hershey name. The lawsuit argues that this trust was exploited. The company allegedly knew, or should have known, about the composition of its products, yet chose to conceal information critical to consumer health and safety.

This is the non-financial cost: the corrosion of confidence in the food system. When a brand synonymous with “goodness” is accused of selling products with chemicals linked to cancer and developmental harm, the damage goes far beyond a single balance sheet. It forces every parent to second-guess the safety of the products on store shelves, turning a simple act of buying gum into a risk assessment. The lawsuit alleges this omission was deliberate, a calculated decision that prioritized profit over the well-being of its youngest customers.

Had Plaintiff and other consumers known the true nature of the Product and had information regarding the presence of organic fluorine in the Product not been omitted… they would not have purchased and spent money on the Product.

Societal Impact Mapping: The “Forever” Problem

Public Health Catastrophe

PFAS are not harmless additives. The lawsuit cites findings from the California legislature and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These chemicals are called “forever chemicals” because they are extremely resistant to breaking down in the environment and in our bodies. The complaint notes that scientific research has linked PFAS exposure to a horrifying list of health problems: cancer, liver damage, decreased fertility, hormone disruption, thyroid disease, and immune system disruption. The fact that these chemicals were found in bubble gum, a product chewed for long periods primarily by children, elevates the potential for harm.

Environmental Degradation

The problem doesn’t end when the gum is thrown away. As the lawsuit highlights, PFAS are “highly persistent in the environment.” They contaminate soil, air, and water. The complaint states that PFAS have been found in the drinking water of approximately 16 million Californians, often concentrated in disadvantaged communities. By using these chemicals, corporations like Hershey allegedly contribute to a permanent poisoning of our shared planet, a debt that future generations will be forced to pay.

Economic Inequality

The business model is simple: use cheap, durable, and potentially toxic chemicals to maximize profit, while the public bears the external costs. The economic burden of PFAS contamination falls on communities who must pay for expensive water filtration systems and on individuals who face staggering medical bills for PFAS-related illnesses. The lawsuit alleges that Hershey profited from this deception, selling a product for approximately $1.69 to $1.99 that carried hidden health and environmental price tags worth infinitely more.

The Poison We Paid For

The lawsuit isn’t based on speculation. It relies on independent, third-party lab testing. Under California law (Cal. Health & Safety Code § 108945 & § 109000), the presence of PFAS in juvenile products or food packaging at or above 100 parts per million (PPM), measured as total organic fluorine, is prohibited for sale or distribution. The tests commissioned by the plaintiff allegedly found levels well above this legal threshold.

(Results from first round of testing, February 20, 2024)

A second round of testing on March 5, 2024, also found organic fluorine, measuring 122 PPM in the wrapper and 75.19 PPM in the gum itself. While one measurement fell below the 100 PPM threshold, the wrapper still exceeded it, and the continued presence of these chemicals undermines any claim to “highest quality” and “transparency.”

Legal Receipts: The Case in Their Own Words

The legal filing is built on Hershey’s own marketing language, contrasting it with the scientific findings.

The existence of organic fluorine in the Product directly contradicts Defendant’s marketing… and especially representations that the Hershey family of brands and the Product are high quality, sustainable, and transparent about their ingredients.

Class Action Complaint, Para. 44(a)

Because PFAS chemicals are “forever chemicals” and accumulate in the human body and environment, there is no safe manner or level of exposure to humans. The Products are particularly concerning given the fact bubble gum is marketed to and consumed by children.

Class Action Complaint, Para. 37

Defendant had exclusive knowledge of material facts not known or reasonably accessible to Plaintiff. … Plaintiff and reasonable consumers must, and do, rely on Defendant to disclose the materials, chemicals, and ingredients in the Product and advise of the risks that may potentially affect the health and/or safety of consumers.

Class Action Complaint, Para. 44(b)(i)

What Now?: The Path Forward

This lawsuit is a critical first step, but legal battles are slow. Real change requires sustained pressure from the public. Hershey and other corporations will only change their behavior when the cost of inaction becomes greater than the cost of reform.

Corporate Roles Under Scrutiny:

The responsibility lies with The Hershey Company, which the complaint names as the owner, manufacturer, and distributor of Bubble Yum.

Regulatory Watchlist:

These are the agencies that are supposed to protect us. They need to be held accountable for allowing chemicals like PFAS to contaminate our food supply.

Take Action:

Your power is not just as a consumer, but as a citizen. Support local organizing efforts that demand stricter regulations on industrial chemicals. Get involved with mutual aid networks that assist communities already suffering from environmental contamination. Demand that your elected officials hold corporations accountable for poisoning our bodies and our planet for profit. This isn’t just about gum; it’s about our right to a safe and healthy future.