Purell Class Action Says Ebola Prevention Is False Marketing

The manufacturer of Purell faces class action allegations that their Healthcare Advanced Hand Sanitizer is falsely marketed as being able to prevent serious diseases such as the flu and the Ebola virus.

“The products are unable to provide the outcomes promised by defendant, but through their representations, cause consumers to defer or forgo taking other concrete measures at preventing disease and illness,” the Purell class action states.

“When consumers use the products as intended, they are lulled into a false sense of security.”

The Purell class action lawsuit is among several complaints sparked by a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warning letter.

The FDA’s letter to Gojo Industries orders the company to stop advertising their Purell hand sanitizer with “dangerous marketing.” Based on these advertising claims, the FDA notes Purell is considered an “unapproved new drugs” under the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

In the Purell class action lawsuit, the plaintiffs claim that Gojo doubled down on their marketing claims regarding Ebola.

“As of today, we are not aware of any hand sanitizers that have been tested against Ebola viruses, including Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer. However, it is important to note that the Ebola virus is an enveloped virus. Enveloped viruses in general are easily killed or inactivated by alcohol,” the company says in advertising and on their website, according to the plaintiffs.

“World Health Organization (WHO) and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are recommending the use of alcohol-based hand sanitizer as a preventive measure during this outbreak.”

According to the Purell class action lawsuit, these and other statements are intentionally aimed to mislead consumers by mentioning Ebola.

Ebola is a rare but serious disease which can be fatal. The virus has been the source of several outbreaks in Africa and has gained significant news coverage.

Plaintiffs in the Purell class action claim that product marketing aims to “demonstrate the potency of the Products” by mentioning Ebola.

The plaintiffs argue that consumers may assume that Purell hand sanitizer is effective against diseases less serious than Ebola – including the recent outbreak of the coronavirus.

“Defendant’s claims are harmful and deceptive to consumers because they give the impression that using the Products is sufficient to prevent the above-described diseases and illnesses,” the Purell class action lawsuit claims.

“When consumers believe defendant’s claims, they are less likely to engage in other precautionary and preventive behavior which actually will prevent transmission of these diseases.”

Do you purchase Purell hand sanitizer? Let us know in the comment section below.

The consumers are represented by Spencer Sheehan of Sheehan & Associates PC, and Michael R. Reese of Reese LLP.

The Purell Class Action Lawsuit is Magdiela Gonzalez, et al. v. Gojo Industries Inc., Case No. 1:20-cv-00888, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

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