Johnson & Johnson Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Benzene-Tainted Neutrogena and Aveeno Sunscreen Products

Rhea-AI Summary

On July 15, 2021, Beasley Allen law firm filed a federal class-action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) for selling benzene-tainted sunscreen products from its subsidiaries Neutrogena and Aveeno. The lawsuit seeks damages for consumers who purchased the affected items, which were recalled after lab tests revealed benzene levels exceeding safe limits. Benzene is a hazardous chemical linked to leukemia, raising serious health concerns, especially for children. The FDA prohibits benzene in sun-care products, yet J&J's recall only includes spray products.

Positive

• Class-action lawsuit could foster consumer awareness about product safety.

Negative

• Johnson & Johnson faced consumer backlash due to benzene contamination in sun-care products.
• Recall limited to spray products despite benzene found in both aerosol and lotion forms.
• Lab tests revealed benzene levels in some products exceeding 6 ppm, raising significant health concerns.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 15, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Pharmaceutical product-safety lawyers at the Beasley Allen law firm have filed a federal class-action lawsuit on behalf of consumers who bought recalled benzene-tainted sunscreen products made by Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) subsidiaries Neutrogena and Aveeno.

The lawsuit seeks an injunction and damages on behalf of consumers who purchased a range of Neutrogena and Aveeno sun-care products. An analysis by independent lab Valisure found alarming concentrations of benzene in at least 78 sun-care products made by Neutrogena, CVS Health, Banana Boat and other manufacturers.

"It should not have taken the publication of a third party's tests to bring this critically important information to the public, and J&J's response so far is not enough. We will find out how long J&J knew about these concerns and why it took so long to take action," said product safety trial lawyer Andy Birchfield of the Beasley Allen law firm.

More than seven weeks after the lab results were published, Johnson & Johnson announced a recall of five spray products and ordered retailers to stop selling Neutrogena's sunscreens labeled Beach Defense, Cool Dry Sport, Invisible Daily, Ultra Sheer and Aveeno Protect + Refresh. 

The Food and Drug Administration permits traces of benzene on rare occasions in medical products that are deemed critical, but the chemical is not allowed in sun-care products in any amount. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommends protective equipment for those expecting to be exposed to benzene at concentrations above 0.1 parts per million for 10 hours or 1 ppm for 15 minutes. Some Neutrogena products contained benzene amounts of more than 6 ppm, according to Valisure.

While Valisure found benzene in both aerosol and lotion products, J&J's voluntary recall is limited to spray products. A full list of the risky sunscreens can be found here. 

"When these kinds of safety failures occur, the American public deserves a swift and transparent accounting of what happened and what is being done to ensure it doesn't happen again," said Beasley Allen attorney David Byrne. "J&J's response falls far short of that." 

The lawsuit Johanna Dominguez and Sharron Meijer et al. v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., is filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, No. 3:21-CV-05419. In addition to Beasley Allen, the legal team includes Walsh Law PLLC and Keller Lenkner LLC. 

Benzene is a common industrial chemical that has long been linked to leukemia, a deadly form of blood cancer. The discovery raises grave concerns because chemicals in sunscreen are known to be absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream – even after only one application. Since children's skin is more permeable than adults, the threat of absorption of harmful chemicals is even greater for them. 

About the Beasley Allen Law Firm  
Headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama, Beasley Allen is a national leader in medical product liability litigation, with a staff of experienced attorneys and expert staff committed to ensuring the safety of consumer and medical products. For more information, visit https://factsaboutsunscreen.com/.  

Media Contact: 
Robert Tharp 
800-559-4630 
Robert@androvett.com  

 

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SOURCE Beasley Allen Law Firm

FAQ

What are the details of the class-action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson regarding JNJ products?

The lawsuit, filed by Beasley Allen on July 15, 2021, targets JNJ for benzene contamination in Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen products.

What prompted the recall of Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens by JNJ?

The recall was prompted by lab tests from Valisure that found harmful levels of benzene in several JNJ sunscreen products.

How does benzene exposure affect consumer health according to the JNJ lawsuit?

Benzene is linked to leukemia and can be absorbed through the skin, posing a higher risk, particularly for children.

What specific Neutrogena sunscreen products were recalled by Johnson & Johnson?

JNJ recalled products including Beach Defense, Cool Dry Sport, Invisible Daily, Ultra Sheer, and Aveeno Protect + Refresh.

What is the significance of the benzene levels found in JNJ's sunscreen products?

Some products had benzene concentrations exceeding 6 ppm, which is above permitted safety levels, raising alarm for consumer safety.