Everlywell Faces Lawsuit Over Food Sensitivity Test Claims

Case Overview: A class action claims Everlywell's Food Sensitivity Test misleads buyers by equating elevated IgG antibody levels with genuine dietary intolerance, alleging the test lacks proven value for detecting sensitivities.

Consumers Affected: U.S. purchasers of Everlywell Food Sensitivity tests.

Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Consumers nationwide are questioning the accuracy of Everlywell’s popular Food Sensitivity Test after a new legal complaint contends the kit cannot do what marketing materials promise. 

A class action lawsuit filed in California federal court claims the test misleads buyers by equating elevated IgG antibody levels with genuine dietary intolerance, driving shoppers to spend more than $150 for results that, according to the filing, “say nothing about physical reactions and everything about last week’s menu.”

Food Sensitivity Test Marketing Oversells Science, Lawsuit Claims

Plaintiffs Benjamin Spiro, Leah Spiro, and Stephanie Andrecs argue that Everlywell’s promotions create the impression of a clinically validated diagnostic tool. Ads describe the test as a way to “learn which foods may be causing unpleasant symptoms,” yet the legal document asserts that IgG antibodies merely show exposure, not intolerance. 

In other words, a high IgG reading for almonds means a person recently ate almonds, not that almonds are triggering bloating, headaches, or fatigue.

“Everlywell exploits the understandable desire for precise health answers, collecting premium payments while delivering data with no proven value for detecting food sensitivity.” 

How Everlywell’s Test Works

The kit arrives by mail with a finger-prick lancet, a blood-spot card, and prepaid return packaging. Users place a few drops of blood on the card, mail it to a partner laboratory, and receive an online report ranking reactivity to 96 common foods. 

Results come color-coded: green (low reactivity), yellow (moderate), and red (high). Everlywell’s website encourages customers to eliminate “high” foods for several weeks to see if symptoms improve.

Plaintiffs maintain that this elimination advice rests on shaky ground. The complaint quotes guidance from leading allergy organizations explaining that IgG is a marker of tolerance—healthy immune recognition—not an indicator of sensitivity. Therefore, following the recommended diet changes may cause unnecessary restrictions without noticeable health benefits.

Alleged Privacy Concerns With Data Handling

Beyond accuracy questions, the suit raises alarm over data handling. Purchase of the test requires users to create an online account and, according to the lawsuit, agree—sometimes unwittingly—to share personal information. 

The complaint references previous incidents in which Everlywell and its pregnancy-focused sister brand Natalist settled claims tied to web-tracking pixels that allegedly transmitted health data to third parties such as Meta and Google. 

Plaintiffs say the Food Sensitivity Test involves similar risks, arguing that customers deserve clear disclosure regarding who accesses sensitive results.

Consumers Report Financial and Lifestyle Disruption

For many buyers, the appeal of a quick at-home kit lies in the promise of answers without multiple doctor visits. The named plaintiffs say they were drawn in by professional-looking graphics and testimonials praising the kit for solving stomach issues. 

After removing foods flagged “high”, including eggs, wheat, and dairy, they describe kitchen confusion, higher grocery bills, and continuing symptoms. They now seek repayment for the product price plus compensation for time and money spent revamping household diets.

The proposed class requests certification of all U.S. purchasers of Everlywell Food Sensitivity tests, monetary damages reflecting purchase price plus any incidental costs tied to following elimination diets, along with a court order stopping current marketing practices until claims are substantiated by peer-reviewed research.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Spiro, et al. v. Everlywell Inc.
• Case Number: 2:23-cv-04539 
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Central District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorney:

• Ryan J. Clarkson, Bahar Sodaify, Alan Gudino and Ryan D. Ardi (Clarkson Law Firm P.C.)

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