Neutrogena class action alleges some acne treatment products degrade into benzene

Neutrogena benzene class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: Samvardhan Vishnoi filed a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. 
• Why: Vishnoi claims Johnson & Johnson manufactured and sold Neutrogena acne treatment products containing benzoyl peroxide that degraded over time into benzene, a human carcinogen. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court. 

Johnson & Johnson manufactured and sold Neutrogena acne treatment products containing benzoyl peroxide that degraded over time into the cancer-causing chemical benzene, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

Plaintiff Samvardhan Vishnoi’s Neutrogena class action lawsuit claims the alleged presence of benzene in the Neutrogena acne treatment products renders them “adulterated,” “misbranded,” and illegal to sell under both federal and state law.

“Defendant failed to detect or prevent the benzene in its Products, and Plaintiffs and consumers were harmed as a result of Defendant’s failure,” the Neutrogena class action states. 

Vishnoi wants to represent a nationwide class, Illinois subclass and multi-state subclass of consumers who purchased a Neutrogena acne treatment product containing benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient. 

Neutrogena acne treatment products misrepresented, class action claims

Vishnoi’s class action lawsuit claims Johnson & Johnson misrepresented its benzoyl peroxide Neutrogena acne treatment products by failing to list benzene as an ingredient. 

“Although Defendant lists both active and inactive ingredients on the Products’ labels, benzene is not among those ingredients listed,” the Neutrogena class action states. 

Vishnoi claims Johnson & Johnson is guilty of unjust enrichment and violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, along with various state consumer fraud acts. 

The plaintiff demands a jury trial and requests declaratory and injunctive relief and an award of compensatory, statutory and punitive damages for himself and all class members. 

A similar class action lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson earlier this month alleges the company sold Neutrogena T/Gel Shampoo containing benzene. 

Have you purchased a Neutrogena acne treatment product containing benzoyl peroxide as an active ingredient? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Gary M. Klinger, Russell M. Busch, Nick Suciu III, J. Hunter Bryson and Luis Cardona of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, PLLC and Philip L. Fraietta of Bursor & Fisher, P.A. 

The Neutrogena benzene class action lawsuit is Vishnoi, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer, Inc., Case No. 1:24-cv-02193, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• L’Oreal class action claims benzoyl peroxide products contain benzene
• CeraVe class action claims benzoyl peroxide cleanser contains benzene
• Unilever to pay $2M settlement in Suave deodorant benzene class action
• Johnson & Johnson class action alleges benzoyl peroxide acne products contain benzene