Class action lawsuit alleges benzene in Dove, Bed Head, other dry shampoos

Dry shampoos benzene class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Samantha Simmons, Ansleigh Walters, Marykay Thrower, Jackie Spivey, Laura Martson, and Chrissie Humenny filed a class action lawsuit against Unilever United States.
• Why: Simmons, Walters, Thrower, Spivey, Martson, and Humenny claim Unilever sold dry and foam shampoo products under its Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemme, and Bed Head brands that contain benzene, a known human carcinogen. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Florida federal court and moved to Connecticut federal court. 

Unilever United States markets and sells dry and foam shampoo aerosol products sold under its Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemme, and Bed Head brands containing the cancer-causing chemical benzene, a class action lawsuit filed last November alleges. 

Plaintiffs Samantha Simmons, Ansleigh Walters, Marykay Thrower, Jackie Spivey, Laura Martson, and Chrissie Humenny claim Unilever fails to disclose the alleged presence of benzene when marketing and selling the products. 

“By failing to disclose the presence of benzene or the risk of benzene contamination … Plaintiff has been denied the opportunity to make those informed financial and healthcare decisions,” the Unilever class action states.

The complaint was originally filed in Florida federal court in November 2022 but has since been transferred to Connecticut under the first-filed rule, reports Law360. 

Simmons, Walters, Thrower, Spivey, Martson, and Humenny want to represent a nationwide class and Florida subclass who purchased Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemme, or Bed Head dry shampoo or foam shampoo since Nov. 17, 2018.

Presence of benzene in dry shampoo products revealed in 2020 Valisure study, says class action

The presence of benzene in the dry and foam shampoo aerosol products was revealed in a 2020 study conducted by Valisure, an independent analytical pharmacy, according to the Unilever class action. 

“Through its testing, Valisure discovered that certain aerosol sunscreen products contained benzene, a known human carcinogen,” the Unilever class action states. 

Simmons, Walters, Thrower, Spivey, Martson, and Humenny claim Unilever is guilty of negligent misrepresentation/omission, and of violating strict liability and Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. 

Plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting injunctive and declaratory relief along with an award of actual and statutory damages for themselves and all class members.

Pierre Fabre USA, L’Oreal USA, Unilever, DeMert Brands and Church & Dwight all faced complaints in 2022 over claims they sold aerosol products containing benzene.

Have you purchased a Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemme, or Bed Head dry or foam shampoo aerosol product? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by R. Jason Richards and Bryan F. Aylstock of Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLLC. 

The Dry shampoos benzene class action lawsuit is Simmons, et al. v. Unilever United States Inc., Case No. 3:22-cv-00491, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

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