Huggies baby wipes class action lawsuit filed over allegedly harmful ingredients

Huggies baby wipes class action overview:

• Who: Two consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Kimberly-Clark Corporation.
• Why: The plaintiffs claim Kimberly-Clark misled consumers about the safety of its Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance Free baby wipes.
• Where: The Huggies baby wipes class action lawsuit was filed in California federal court.

A new nationwide class action lawsuit alleges Kimberly-Clark Corporation falsely advertises that its Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance Free baby wipes are safe to use on infants, babies and toddlers.

Plaintiffs Bridget Erickson and Erica Stevenson filed the class action complaint against Kimberly-Clark on Dec. 16 in California federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

The plaintiffs claim the Huggies baby wipes contain, or pose a risk of containing, unsafe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a group of synthetic chemicals known to be harmful to children.

“Independent testing conducted in March 2024 by Plaintiffs’ counsel, utilizing a Department of Defense ELAP-certified laboratory, revealed that the Product contains 305 parts of trillion (PPT) of dangerous PFAS chemicals,” the Huggies baby wipes class action alleges.

“Because PFAS persist and accumulate over time, they are harmful even at very low levels,” the class action states.

Erickson and Stevenson argue that Kimberly-Clark misled consumers by failing to disclose the presence of PFAS in its Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance Free baby wipes, which are marketed as “simply clean” and made with “gentle ingredients.”

The plaintiffs claim they relied on these representations when purchasing the Huggies baby wipes, believing them to be safe for their children.

Consumers paid a premium for an unsafe product, class action claims

Erickson and Stevenson argue they paid a price premium for the Huggies baby wipes due to the false and misleading claim that the product is safe and suitable for regular application to babies despite the presence or risk of toxic PFAS chemicals.

The plaintiffs say they would not have purchased the Huggies baby wipes, or would have paid less for them, if they had known about the presence of PFAS.

As a result, they claim Kimberly-Clark is guilty of violating California’s Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Unfair Competition Law and False Advertising Law, in addition to breach of express warranty and unjust enrichment.

Erickson and Stevenson want to represent a nationwide class and California subclass of consumers who purchased the Huggies baby wipes within the applicable statute of limitations period.

They demand a jury trial and request declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory, statutory and punitive damages for themselves and all class members.

In 2022, Kimberly-Clark agreed to a $20 million settlement to resolve allegations that its flushable wipes caused pipe damage and clogs.

Are you concerned about the safety of Huggies baby wipes? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by L. Timothy Fisher, Joshua R. Wilner and Joshua B. Glatt of Bursor & Fisher P.A.

The Huggies baby wipes class action lawsuit is Erickson, et al. v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Case No. 3:24-cv-07032-AMO, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• Fiverr class action alleges freelancing platform conceals added ‘junk fees’ until checkout
• Billie deodorant caused chemical burns, class action lawsuit alleges
• Mint Mobile users claim calls were secretly recorded, file class action lawsuit
• Recent recalls, class actions against Evenflo, Nuna, Chicco and others reveal widespread car seat safety concerns