Neutrogena Sunscreen Contains Known Carcinogen, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges

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Neutrogena and parent company Johnson & Johnson knowingly produce and sell sunscreens that contain known carcinogenic benzene, a new class action lawsuit alleges.

The class action lawsuit, which includes all states except for California, was filed in Florida on June 2 by lead Plaintiff Meredith Serota, who alleges that Neutrogena and Johnson & Johnson violate state and federal laws by not disclosing benzene on sunscreen labels.

In March 2020, Serota bought two bottles of $8.99 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Weightless Sunscreen Spray SPF 100+ and four bottles of $12.99 Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Face Mist SPF 55 from Target.

According to the Neutrogena class action lawsuit, Serota was misled by companies false and misleading claims, making her unaware that the sunscreens may be adulterated with benzene.

“Serota purchased the Defendants’ Sunscreen Products on the assumption that the labeling of Defendants’ Sunscreen Products was accurate and that the products were unadulterated, safe and effective.”

However, Neutrogena and Johnson & Johnson’s advertising that “Neutrogena maintains that the sunscreen ingredients we use are safe and effective” was false and misleading, the claim states, and Serota says that she would not have bought the products had she known they contained benzene.

The claim says that benzene is used primarily as a solvent in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The major United States source of benzene is petroleum.

It adds that the health hazards of benzene have been recognized for over one hundred years, and, according to the National Toxicology Program, benzene is “known to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in humans.”

In 2020, Valisure LLC and ValisureRX LLC, an analytical pharmacy, ran tests on a variety of Neutrogena sunscreens, and through testing discovered that certain products contained benzene – with some containing as much as 2 parts per million.

For reference, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recommends protective equipment be worn by workers expecting to be exposed to benzene at concentrations of 0.1 ppm  and defines “skin absorption” as an exposure route, the claim says.

“Notably, benzene is not listed as an active or inactive ingredient on any of the labels of Neutrogena’s Sunscreen Products.”

In May 2021, Valisure filed a citizen petition with the Food and Drug Administration asking the agency to recall all batches of Neutrogena sunscreen that contained 0.1 ppm or more of benzene, the claim states.

So far, the FDA has not responded to Valisure’s citizen petition and Neutrogena and Johnson & Johnson have not taken any action to remove the products from the market.

Serota wants to represent anyone who bought any Neutrogena sunscreen lotion or spray in any state aside from California. She also wants to represent a Florida subclass. She is suing for unjust enrichment and violations of state trade law and seeks certification of the Class, damages, an order of enjoinment, restitution, disgorgement, interest, legal fees, and a jury trial.

Neutrogena sunscreens aren’t the only sunscreens at the center of a class action lawsuit. Recently, CVS and Fruit of the Earth were hit with a lawsuit claiming they have reaped millions of dollars of profit at the expense of consumers by exposing them to hidden chemicals in sunscreen it markets as only containing safe mineral ingredients.

Do you use Neutrogena sunscreen? Let us know how you feel about this case in the comments section or go here to join a sunscreen class action lawsuit investigation!

Serota is represented by R. Jason Richards of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC.

The Neutrogena Carcinogenic Sunscreen Class Action Lawsuit is Serota vs. Neutrogena Corporation, et al., Case No. 0:21-cv-61103-XXXX, in the U.S. District Court Southern District of Florida Ft. Lauderdale Division.

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