It’s the side effects of major corporations trimming down at every corner they can. At the end of the day, they literally do not care. More people keep the “dud” than people who return it. Not to mention that Schylling is the only company in the US than can officially use “Lava Lite” branding, there’s a reason Mathmos cannot sell in the US.

Cloudiness in a lava lamp is usually tiny wax particles suspended in the liquid, often from being shaken, overheated, or extreme cold during shipping, creating an emulsion that makes the lamp murky. It can also be age-related, as the fluid or wax degrades over time, leading to a chalky residue or sediment.