Softsoap Antibacterial Soap Class Action Settlement

By Melissa LaFreniere | August 12, 2015

Category: Closed Class Actions

This settlement is closed!

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Colgate-Palmolive Co. has agreed to a class action settlement in a multidistrict litigation that accused the manufacturer of Softsoap Antibacterial hand soap of deceptive marketing practices. The Softsoap class action settlement was reached after two years of litigation from plaintiffs who claimed that the active ingredient triclosan that was supposed to “eliminate 99 percent of germs” is unable to do what it promised.

The antibacterial hand soap class action lawsuit MDL cited studies by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2000 which discovered that triclosan does not kill most common bacteria in an average five-second hand washing. The plaintiffs also pointed to other studies that showed triclosan didn’t kill any more bacteria than soap and water.

The Colgate-Palmolive class action settlement states that the defendant will refrain from making three of the five statements that the lead plaintiffs found to be misleading. The Softsoap manufacturer also agreed to use triclosan in its products “only in a manner consistent with final FDA regulations.”

The preliminary approval of the Softsoap class action lawsuit settlement was filed in a New Hampshire federal court in May 2015.

Who’s Eligible

Class Members of the Colgate-Palmolive class action settlement include anyone in the United States who purchased Softsoap Antibacterial liquid hand soap containing the ingredient triclosan from Jan. 1, 1992 until Aug. 4, 2015.

Potential Award

N/A. This Softsoap class action lawsuit does not offer monetary benefits to Class Members, only a marketing and labeling change to the liquid hand soap.

Proof of Purchase

N/A. There is no cash benefit to Class Members of this Colgate-Palmolive class action settlement.

Claim Form Deadline

N/A

Case Name

In Re: Colgate-Palmolive Softsoap Antibacterial Hand Soap Marketing & Sales Practices Litigation, Case No. 1:12-md-02320-PB, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire