More Complaints Filed Against Bayer, Unilever Over Alleged Benzene Contamination In Spray Products

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Bayer, Unilever Benzene Contamination Class Action Lawsuits Overview: 

• Who: Almany Ismael Bangoura and Kristine Goytia filed class action lawsuits against Bayer Healthcare, LLC and Unilever United States, Inc., respectively.
• Why: Bangoura and Goyta claim the companies sold spray products contaminated with benzene, a known human carcinogen.
• Where: The class action lawsuits were each filed in New York federal court.

Separate class action lawsuits have been filed against Bayer Healthcare and Unilever over allegations the companies sold products contaminated with the chemical benzene, a known human carcinogen, without informing consumers. 

Plaintiff Almany Ismael Bangoura claims Bayer, along with Biersdorf, Inc., sold Coppertone brand Defend and Care Whipped Ultra Hydrate SPF 50 sunscreen contaminated with benzene. 

Plaintiff Kristine Goytia, meanwhile, claims Unilever sold several Suave brand body spray products containing benzene. 

Bangoura and Goytia each want to represent a nationwide class and New York subclass of consumers who purchased the benzene-contaminated products. 

Exposure to benzene can lead to a variety of health problems, including anemia and blood cancers such as leukemia, according to the class action lawsuits. 

Bayer And Unilever Fail To Disclose Benzene Contamination

Bangoura and Goytia, meanwhile, argue consumers trust manufacturers to sell products that are “safe and free from harmful known toxins, including benzene.

“Benzene has been recognized, acknowledged,and accepted as a well-known health hazard and human carcinogen for approximately a century,” both class action lawsuits state.

Bayer and Unilever, however, fail to disclose to consumers that the products are contaminated with benzene, all while running advertising and marketing campaigns that are aimed at appealing to “health-conscious consumers,” the class action lawsuits allege.

The benzene contamination came to light following a study by Valisure, an independent analytical pharmacy, which revealed in May of last year that a number of cosmetic, health care and other spray products were contaminated with benzene. 

Valisure would later file a citizens petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration imploring the agency to recall the products found to be contaminated with benzene. 

Bangoura and Goytia respectively claim Bayer and Unilever are guilty of unjust enrichment and fraudulent concealment, among other things, and in violation of New York General Business Law. 

Plaintiffs are separately demanding jury trials and requesting injunctive relief as well as monetary, statutory and punitive damages for themselves and all class members. 

A number of class action lawsuits have been filed against companies in the wake of the Valisure study, including Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Thriving Brands and others. 

To see if you qualify to join the benzene spray deodorant class action lawsuit investigation click here (links to paid attorney advertisement). 

Click the link to see if you qualify to join a class action lawsuit investigation into benzene in sunscreen (links to paid attorney advertisement). 

The plaintiffs are represented separately by Jason P. Sultzer, Joseph Lipari and Daniel Markowitz of The Sultzer Law Group P.C., and David C. Magagna Jr. and Charles E. Schaffer of Levin Sedran & Berman. 

The Bayer, Unilever Benzene Contamination Class Action Lawsuits are Goytia v. Unilever United States, Inc., Case No. 2:22-cv-00289, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York; and Bangoura v. Biersdorf, Inc., et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-00291, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Multiple Hand Sanitizer Brands Contaminated With Benzene, Warns Lab
• Procter & Gamble Sold Old Spice, Secret Antiperspirant Sprays Containing Benzene, New Class Action Claims
• Costco, Johnson & Johnson Reach Class Action Settlement Over Carcinogenic Sunscreen Accusations
• Benzene Contamination Found in Sunscreen, Antifungal, Antiperspirant Spray Products