SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (AP) -- 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 suit 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 that any products that repel microbes are considered pesticides and must be registered before being sold. The suit accuses the company of 162 counts of sale or distribution of an unregistered pesticide.
The company says all anti-bacterial claims on hang tags and its Web site were removed early last year after appearing for just a few months.