Federal environmental regulators sue North Face over claims footwear was anti-bacterial

EPA sues North Face over anti-bacterial claims

SAN LEANDRO, Calif. — Environmental regulators are suing the parent company of outdoor apparel maker The North Face, alleging that footwear marketed as anti-bacterial violated federal pesticide laws.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency filed a lawsuit Tuesday against San Leandro-based VF Outdoor Inc. over company claims that North Face footwear containing a specially treated footbed would prevent disease-causing bacteria and fungus.

The EPA says the company shouldn’t have claimed the footbed would prevent the bacteria, and the lawsuit accuses the company of 162 counts based on the allegedly misleading claims.

The company says all anti-bacterial claims on hang tags and its Web site were removed early last year after appearing for a few months.