Thinx Toxic Underwear a ‘Safety Hazard to the Female Body,’ Claims Class Action Lawsuit

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Two women say that, despite marketing proclaiming that Thinx are nontoxic, harmless, organic, and safe, the underwear contains several harmful chemicals that pose a “safety hazard to the female body,” in a class action lawsuit.  

Lead plaintiffs Jillian Blenis and Lili Mitchell filed the nationwide class action lawsuit in Massachusetts federal court Friday seeking to represent other consumers who purchased Thinx underwear. The plaintiffs say that they and other consumers in the state pay more for Thinx than other options because they relied on marketing that represented the reusable period underwear as more environmentally friendly than single-use products and, most importantly, safe.  

Both plaintiffs say that they relied on Thinx Inc’s advertising when making their purchase. Blenis says that finding an organic, nontoxic alternative to pads or tampons was important to her because she suffers from endometriosis, a gynecological disorder. 

Mitchell alleges she purchased several pairs of Thinx underwear, but suffered multiple infections after wearing the product. She says she believes the infections were due to toxic chemicals used to make the underwear.  

Indeed, Thinx Inc sells reusable underwear designed to absorb menstrual fluid, explains the complaint, and markets the product as an alternative to traditional feminine hygiene products, such as pads or tampons. 

Thinx sells several varieties of its period underwear, including the Cotton Brief, Cotton Brief, Cotton Bikini, Cotton Thong, Sport, Hiphugger, Hiphugger, Hi-Waist, Hi-Waist, Boyshort, French Cut, Cheeky, and Thong Underwear. Thinx underwear are sold online, as well as in physical stores, says the class action lawsuit.  

The plaintiffs accuse Thinx Inc of touting their product as “nontoxic, harmless, sustainable, organic, and otherwise safe for women and the environment.” 

“In reality, Thinx Underwear contains harmful chemicals, including multiple polyfluoroalkyl substances (‘PFAS’) and silver nanoparticles, which are a safety hazard to the female body,” alleges the class action lawsuit, which also points out that the product is worn next to the vaginal area, increasing the risk of exposure.  

The plaintiffs say that they wanted to be sure their Thinx underwear did not contain hazardous chemicals, so they had the product tested by an independent lab. They say the lab discovered PFAS chemicals at “above trace amounts.” The class action lawsuit notes that other labs have reached similar conclusions.  

PFAS refers to a number of chemicals that have been linked to a variety of health issues, including the development of cancer, low birth weight in babies, and weakened immunity. In addition, they can have significant environmental effects if released.  

PFAS are man-made and used to enhance the performance of textiles and apparel, point out the plaintiffs; however, due to their toxic effects on the human body and the environment, many apparel companies have committed to stop using them in their products.  

In addition, the plaintiffs say that independent testing revealed silver nanoparticles in Thinx underwear. Silver nanoparticles are a type of microbial finish that help reduce odor in clothing, but they have also been linked to health conditions and harm to the environment when released.  

The Thinx class action lawsuit accuses the company of falsely advertising and even hiding information about toxins contained in its products from consumers in violation of Massachusetts state law.  

The plaintiffs want Thinx to pay damages to them and other Massachusetts residents who purchased the products. They also want a court order stopping the alleged false advertising of Thinx underwear. 

Do you use Thinx underwear? Are you concerned about toxic chemicals in the product? Tell us about it in the comment section below.  

The lead plaintiffs are represented by Edward F. Haber and Adam M. Stewart of Shapiro Haber & Urmy LLP.  

The Thinx Toxic Underwear Class Action Lawsuit is Blenis, et al. v. Thinx Inc., Case No. 1:21-cv-11019 in U.S> District Court for the District of Massachusetts.  

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