Recently, Unilever, along with Aeropres and Voyant Beauty, is in the final stages of settling a class action lawsuit concerning allegations that its dry shampoo aerosol products were contaminated with elevated levels of benzene, a known carcinogen.
Last month, the plaintiffs filed a joint notice of settlement in a Connecticut federal court, stating that an agreement in principle had been reached to resolve their claims. The lawsuit, originally filed in November 2022, accused Unilever and its co-defendants of failing to warn consumers about the presence of benzene in their aerosol products, which allegedly rendered them unsafe for use.
The plaintiffs claimed that Unilever had recalled certain aerosol products in 2021 and 2022 after detecting benzene contamination. According to the lawsuit, the company had actual knowledge of the risk as early as July 2021, when competitors began recalling aerosol products due to benzene-related concerns. In November 2021, independent laboratory Valisure confirmed the presence of benzene in various aerosol antiperspirants and sunscreens and submitted its findings to the Food and Drug Administration.
The lawsuit also alleged that Unilever’s recall notices failed to properly inform consumers about the potential health risks of benzene exposure. Plaintiffs asserted claims for breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and violations of state consumer protection laws. They sought to represent a class of U.S. consumers who had purchased the allegedly contaminated products.
The specific terms of the settlement have not yet been disclosed. However, the plaintiffs have indicated that they will submit a motion for preliminary approval of the settlement within the next 60 days.
