NEW YORK • Honest, the shopping website co-founded by actress Jessica Alba, has reached a US$1.55 million (S$2.1 million) settlement after American consumers claimed its laundry detergent, dish soap and a cleaning aid contained a harsh chemical that it had pledged to avoid using.

The preliminary accord resolves nationwide litigation accusing Honest of misleading consumers by claiming that its products did not contain the skin irritant sodium lauryl sulfate when, in fact, it was a component of a "gentler" ingredient, sodium coco sulfate, that Honest acknowledged using.

According to court papers filed on Monday in a Los Angeles court, Honest agreed to reformulate its products without either ingredient.

Reuters reported that consumers will be able to seek refunds, or credits on Honest's website, for up to US$50 without proof of purchase and larger amounts with receipts, the papers show.

Alba, 36, has had leading roles in the film Fantastic Four (2005) and TV series Dark Angel (2000-2002).

She was a defendant in one of several lawsuits that the settlement covers, but the plaintiffs agreed to drop her from the case, court papers show.

Meanwhile, Apple has roped in Alba for its first original series - an online show called Planet Of The Apps. It also features actress Gwyneth Paltrow, rapper Will.i.am and entrepreneur Gary Vaynerchuk, Bloomberg reported.

Would-be inventors partnering the four will design and show off apps that help people shop, exercise or look after friends.

The show will be available only on Apple Music, the two-year-old music-streaming service that now has 27 million subscribers.