Johnson & Johnson faces class action over allegedly deceptive baby oil labeling

Johnson’s class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiff Michael Douma is suing Kenvue Brands LLC, doing business as Johnson & Johnson.
• Why: Douma claims the company misrepresents the ingredients of its Johnson’s Shea & Cocoa Butter Oil.
• Where: The Johnson’s class action lawsuit was filed in New Jersey federal court.

A new class action lawsuit alleges Kenvue falsely advertises its Johnson’s Shea & Cocoa Butter Oil as being made from actual shea and cocoa butter oil. 

Plaintiff Michael Douma filed the class action complaint against Kenvue Brands d/b/a Johnson & Johnson on Dec. 3 in New Jersey federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.

According to the class action lawsuit, Kenvue advertises its shea and cocoa butter oil product as being made primarily from shea and cocoa butter oil. However, the product actually contains less than 1% of these ingredients, with the majority of the product being composed of mineral oil, a petroleum byproduct, Douma says.

Douma argues that Johnson & Johnson markets the shea and cocoa butter oil as a moisturizing baby oil, even though the product allegedly contains only trace amounts of the moisturizing agents.

Consumers misled by Johnson’s Shea & Cocoa Butter Oil, lawsuit claims

Douma says Kenvue’s misrepresentations are material to consumers, who specifically seek out products containing shea and cocoa butter for their moisturizing properties. As a result, consumers are misled into purchasing a product that does not deliver the promised benefits, the class action lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit argues that Kenvue’s labeling practices are unlawful under both state and federal law. The Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act prohibits cosmetics from being misbranded, meaning the label contains a statement that is “false or misleading in any particular.” Similarly, Maryland law prohibits the misbranding of cosmetics and drugs, the class action lawsuit says.

Douma is looking to represent anyone who purchased Kenvue’s shea and cocoa butter oil product in Maryland during the four-year period preceding the filing of the complaint.

The class action lawsuit seeks damages, restitution and injunctive relief to prevent Kenvue from continuing its allegedly deceptive labeling practices.

In other litigations against Johnson & Johnson, a Minnesota jury has awarded a mother of three $65.5 million in a lawsuit over claims the company’s talc products exposed her to asbestos and contributed to cancer in her abdominal lining.

Have you purchased Johnson’s Shea & Cocoa Butter Oil? Let us know in the comments.

The plaintiff is represented by Sergei Lemberg of Lemberg Law LLC.

The Kenvue class action lawsuit is Douma v. Kenvue Brands LLC d/b/a Johnson & Johnson, Case No. 2:25-cv-18129, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Read About More Class Action Lawsuits & Class Action Settlements:

• FDA recalls numerous foods, cosmetics and drug products, including Advil and Tylenol
• BMW class action claims transfer cases in luxury vehicles are defective
• Olipop lawsuit claims prebiotic soda is ‘sugared water’ with no real digestive benefits
• Country Vet and Heartland Harvest recall dog biscuits over salmonella scare