Becoming a parent is fairly terrifying under even the best of circumstances.
In my case, I’d never taken care of anything more complicated than a cat, and to be fair, my wife did all the heavy lifting there.
When you have a baby, they send you home with a blanket, a hat, and not even so much as a handbook. And, for the mom, there’s the added pressure of raging hormones, the physical trauma of birth, and the societal prejudice that men don’t experience where you’re just supposed to know what to do.
If something goes wrong, and many things inevitably will, it can be challenging to find support. That’s where Oat Mama comes in. Its founder, Eliza Larson, experienced some problems after giving birth and used her experience to help others.
“After struggling with milk supply and postpartum recovery, I couldn’t find nourishing, functional products that truly supported me through motherhood – so I made my own. What started with homemade lactation granola bars quickly grew into a full line of functional wellness products designed to care for women from fertility through postpartum and beyond,” she shared on her company’s website.
Now, while it’s still operating, Oat Mama has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to legal documents found on PacerMonitor.
Oat Mama files Chapter 11 bankruptcy: key bullets
- Oat Mama LLC filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on October 26, 2026.
- Court: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington.
- Case number: 2:26-bk-13419.
- Creditors: 1-49
- Business: Oat Mama sells products aimed at breastfeeding and postpartum mothers, including lactation bars, protein powder, and supplements. It sells its products through Target and Amazon, as well as its own website.
- Assets and liabilities: Oat Mama reported assets of $100,000 to $500,000 and liabilities of $1 million to $10 million.
- Source: PacerMonitor
The company’s biggest liability, according to the filing, is an $825,000 business loan. It also shows a number of other debts to banks and credit companies.
Oat Mama saw its sales grow from $201,766 in 2024 to nearly $1.4 million in 2025. Sales so far this year, through Oct. 27, appear to have stalled out coming in at $528,749.
Keren Fedida/Unsplash
Oat Mama faces legal troubles
Oat Mama was named in a California Proposition 65 notice alleging that its Mama Power Protein Powder exposed consumers to lead without the required warning.
The notice is dated September 29, 2026, and was filed by The Living Gallery, LLC. It names Oat Mama, iHerb, Target and YouBar, Inc. as alleged violators.
The notice is an allegation, not a court finding that the product violated the law.
What the notice alleges
- The chemical: Lead, which California lists as a chemical that can cause cancer and reproductive harm.
- The product: Oat Mama’s Mama Power Protein Powder, including the product identified by UPC 8-60011-96983-3.
- The alleged violation: Sales in California dating back to April 15, 2025, allegedly occurred without the clear and reasonable warning required by Proposition 65.
- The parties named: Oat Mama, the online retailer iHerb, Target and YouBar, which is identified in the notice as an alleged violator.
- The requested resolution: The notifying party says it intends to sue unless the parties agree to measures that could include recalls or warnings for products already sold, future warnings or reformulation, and a civil penalty.
The September notice is a second supplemental notice. It says it supplements earlier notices dated April 15 and August 6, 2026. The California Attorney General’s record says the latest notice added a manufacturer to the matter.
What is a Proposition 65 Notice?
A California Proposition 65 notice is a formal legal warning that someone alleges a business violated the law. It is not a lawsuit, a government finding of wrongdoing, or proof that a product is unsafe, according to state documents.
What legal standing does the notice have?
- It starts a required notification process. The notice identifies the alleged violation and gives the business and government agencies an opportunity to evaluate it.
- It creates a potential path to litigation. After the notice period, the private enforcer may file a lawsuit if the statutory requirements are met and the government has not initiated its own enforcement action.
- It can lead to financial penalties or corrective action. If a violation is established, a court may order the business to stop the violation and impose civil penalties of up to $2,500 per day for each violation. Settlements can also result in warnings or product changes.
Oat Mama’s next steps remain unclear
It remains unclear why Oat Mama has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and whether the California notice had an impact on that decision. The company’s website remains operational and its Target and Amazon storefronts continue to take orders.
Larson shared why she started Oat Mama with Seattle Refined in January.
“I believed moms deserved more, and that lactation support shouldn’t feel like a punishment,” she says. “It shouldn’t taste medicinal or hard to choke down; it should be enjoyable, even craveable, all while being nourishing and supportive.”
More Bankruptcy:
- These are the True Food Kitchen locations closing in Chapter 11
- Oprah-backed chain closes 12 restaurants for good after filing Chapter 11
- Hilton and Marriott hotel operator files Chapter 11 bankruptcy
At the time, Larson also shared some challenges her company was facing.
“Rising costs, ongoing supply chain issues and trying to grow with a small team all come with their own hurdles,” she told the website.
This is a developing story and will be updated if more details become available.
Related: Target has a problem that sends shoppers to Amazon
