Crisis Strategy Brief: Mario Badescu

Description Of The Crisis

In 2014, 31 customers filed a suit against Mario Badescu in New Jersey State Court, alleging that they received injuries from the company’s topical creams. The products were marked as containing “botanical” ingredients, but the products allegedly contained undisclosed amounts of steroids. The plaintiffs of the case alleged that they were unaware of the steroids and received life-threatening ailments such as hyperglycemia, Cushing’s, mood disorders, and more. The case went into mediation and was settled out of court.

Read the full case here: Mary Restaino et al., Plaintiffs and Appellants, v. MARIO BADESCU SKIN CARE INC

MB’s PR Response

Even though this case is a little old, I didn’t find any indication that Mario Badescu responded to the allegations publicly. Nor does it seem that they alerted their consumers about the creams.

My Recommendations

The steroids listed in the lawsuit are hydrocortisone and triamcinolone acetonide, which are generally okay to use when prescribed by a doctor. In fact, these steroids seem to need a prescription anyways. Allegedly, the steroids contained in the creams exceeded the amount that is prescribed by doctors. Regardless, Mario Badescu has a duty to inform its customers. Surprisingly, it seems that they have kept it quiet; however, I have seen some indications that customers are becoming increasingly aware, especially on YouTube and Reddit.

MB’s response, or lack thereof, was not good enough. It would’ve been my recommendation to release a statement on their website and on social media assuring the public that it was either a mistake or that they are working to fix it. Instead, the case was settled and the alleged products were either discontinued or reformulated. Reformulating the product would have been a good point to show that the company is working towards a change. However, customers are increasingly seeing MB as untrustworthy.

Although there isn’t a wide outcry, it would be in the best interest for MB to be forthcoming, instead of hiding the allegations.

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Photo by Charisse Kenion on Unsplash