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Purple is one of the most popular mattress brands in the world. If you’ve been researching the brand and considering buying one for yourself, you’ve likely come across info on the Purple Mattress lawsuit. The lawsuit was triggered by a negative review of the brand that was posted on a website that the company viewed as having inaccurate information. The review claimed that the company was using “toxic white powder” in their mattresses. Were the claims true or were they false information? In this article we’ll give you updated information about the so-called “Purple powder lawsuit”.
Why Did Purple Sue Honest Mattress Reviews? (2023 Update)
The Honest Mattress Reviews website published a study in 2016 that claimed that Purple included white powder in their mattresses. According to their research, they believed that the powder could cause serious health issues in people who came into contact with it. The website posted a series of videos and articles that they believed supported the research findings.
Purple denied the claims that were posted on the Honest Mattress Reviews site, claiming that the owner had connections to rival mattress manufacturer Ghostbed. Purple believed that Honest Mattress Reviews was trying to intentionally tarnish the brand’s reputation by making a misleading claim about the white powder.
Unlike other cases, in this situation Purple was the one who sued rather than being the defendant.
Purple Mattress Powder: What Exactly is it?
Purple uses a polyethene-based powder in the packaging and shipping components of their mattresses. The purpose of the infamous white powder is to make sure that the Purple mattress stays intact while compressed inside the shipping box.
This powder is at the heart of the Purple mattress controversy. Some studies claim that the fine particulate matter in the powder is toxic, while Purple claims that it is not. According to Purple, the white powder does not penetrate the mattress cover and never affects the skin of the customer. See our Purple mattress complaints article for more information.
Despite the claims that Purple made, Honest Mattress Reviews decided to claim in their review of the company’s mattresses that the powder could have an adverse effect on human health. Purple responded to the allegations by filing a lawsuit against Ryan Monahan, the owner of the Honest Mattress Reviews website in February 2017.
The details behind the lawsuit show just how intense the competition between mattress companies has become.
Details of the Case
Both Ryan Monahan and the CEO of Ghostbed received a restraining order in February 2017. The court order told them that they needed to remove the review from the website until the case was determined.
In the filing, Purple claimed that the powder was safe and submitted the findings from a study indicating that their claim was true. Purple also conducted a private investigation to prove that Ryan Monahan posted the review as an act of deception.
Both Ryan Monahan and the Ghostbed CEO opposed the order, claiming that they were not business partners.
There are many mattress brands facing fiberglass lawsuits, but Purple isn’t one of them. This lawsuit is specifically about the powder used in their mattresses. Purple doesn’t contain any fiberglass whatsoever.
Outcome of the Purple Mattress Lawsuit
Purple submitted their findings from their private investigation to Judge Bee Denson, who granted them a preliminary injunction. The judge also claimed that both Ryan Monahan and Ghostbed’s CEO were dishonest and that they shared false information about Purple mattresses in the review on the Honest Mattress Reviews site. Purple was awarded judicial attorney fees as well as the amount of money that they paid in pursuing the lawsuit.
Bottom Line: Is the Powder in Purple Mattress Dangerous?
Purple submitted a toxicology report during the mattress lawsuit that proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the white powder they use is non-toxic. The polyethylene-based powder is made out of the same hyper-elastic polymer that other manufacturers use when making plastic bottles, food containers, cosmetics, and other products that consumers trust and use regularly.
Powder made from polyethylene copolymer is also used in medical device manufacturing. Most products that have “hyper-elastic polymer” listed as one of their components are using the exact same plastic powder that Purple uses in their mattresses. Pacifiers used by babies as well as pet chew toys contain the exact same polyethylene-based powder.
The lawsuit spawned by the Purple mattress controversy made it abundantly clear that the powder does not have any toxic effects on human or environmental health. If you’re worried about it, you can choose a brand from our list of alternatives to the Purple mattress. All of these brands are very similar but haven’t had any legal issues that we’re aware of. There are brands other than Purple who are being sued. You can read our guide to the Vibe mattress lawsuit, Ashley mattress lawsuit, Avocado lawsuit, and the Zinus lawsuit for more info about similar cases.
Other Purple Mattress Complaints
Customers who initially claimed that the powder is harmful
Initially, some users on the Honest Mattress Reviews site claimed that powder had toxic effects on their health. After the court delivered its verdict Ryan Monahan unpublished all of the false content and misleading Purple mattress reviews on the HMR website. Many of the claims were unverifiable, and it’s unknown if some of them were even genuine Purple mattress customers.
Based on the findings from the lawsuit, it’s safe to assume that the Purple mattress controversy is over and that you can trust that their products are non-toxic.
Comfort issues
This comes down to personal preference, but some people feel that the Purple mattress isn’t comfortable enough. This is particularly common among side sleepers who prefer softer mattresses like the AS5 from Amerisleep. If you’re a back sleeper then you’ll likely enjoy the level of firmness that Purple mattresses provide. If you’re a stomach sleeper, then it all depends on your preferences but most claim that they enjoy their new Purple mattress.
The gel-like texture is also not something that everyone enjoys. Fortunately Purple offers a free sleep trial so you can try it out for yourself and see if it’s the best mattress for your needs or if you’d prefer to return it or exchange it for a different Purple mattress.
We recommend reading our mattress firmness guide for more information.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that Purple mattresses are safe and non-toxic. The outcome of the so-called “Purple Powder Lawsuit” proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that the Purple mattress controversy is a non-issue, unlike the Nectar mattress lawsuit.
Was it really part of a smear campaign conducted by a rival company or just an honest misunderstanding? That’s up for you to decide.
If you’re worried about defects in your Purple mattress, make sure you understand the warranty terms before buying.
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He's been involved in the mattress industry for almost a decade and is dedicated to using his expertise to help you choose the right mattress.
Robert's main goal is to give you straightforward info on what works - and what doesn't - so you can spend less time stressing about sleep and more time living your life (that's what we're all here for, right?).
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