Vaseline class action overview:
- Who: Plaintiffs Renetta Vicks and Kari Proskin filed a class action lawsuit against Unilever United States Inc.
- Why: The plaintiffs allege Unilever falsely labels its Vaseline brand Baby Healing Jelly as hypoallergenic.
- Where: The Vaseline class action was filed in New Jersey federal court.
A new class action lawsuit claims Unilever falsely labels and markets its Vaseline brand Baby Healing Jelly as hypoallergenic.
Plaintiffs Renetta Vicks and Kari Proskin filed the class action complaint against Unilever United States on Nov. 24 in New Jersey federal court, alleging violations of state and federal consumer laws.
Their lawsuit alleges Vaseline Baby Healing Jelly is marketed as hypoallergenic despite containing fragrance chemicals that can cause allergic reactions.
“Fragrance is one of the most common allergens and skin irritants and a leading cause of allergic contact dermatitis, according to the American Academy of Dermatology,” the Vaseline class action lawsuit says.
The plaintiffs claim that the product is just as likely, and in some cases more likely, to cause allergic reactions compared to similar products that do not claim to be hypoallergenic.
Unilever deceptively advertises Vaseline Baby Healing Jelly, plaintiffs say
Vicks and Proskin claim that Unilever’s labeling misleads consumers into believing the product is safer for sensitive skin than it actually is.
“By deceiving consumers about the nature, quality and/or ingredients of its Product, Defendant takes away market share from competing products and has increased its own sales and profits,” the plaintiffs say.
The plaintiffs allege that consumers rely on the term “hypoallergenic” when making purchasing decisions, especially those with sensitive skin or allergies. They claim they would not have purchased the product, or would have paid less for it, had they known it contained allergens.
The lawsuit argues that Unilever’s misleading labeling allows the company to charge a premium price for the product, which is often higher than similar, genuinely hypoallergenic products.
The plaintiffs seek to represent anyone in the United States who purchased the product for personal or household use during the last four years, excluding those who bought it in California. They also seek to represent New York and Massachusetts subclasses and a multi-state warranty class.
They are suing for violations of state and federal consumer laws and seek certification of the class action, damages, fees, costs and a jury trial.
Meanwhile, a consumer recently filed a class action lawsuit against Hello Bello, alleging its baby shampoo is falsely advertised as “hypoallergenic,” even though it contains known allergens, including coco glucoside, lauryl glucoside and cocamidopropyl betaine.
What do you think of the allegations made in this Vaseline class action lawsuit? Let us know in the comments.
The plaintiffs are represented by Joel D. Smith, Aleksandr “Sasha” Litvinov and Yeremey O. Krivoshey of Smith Krivoshey P.C.
The Vaseline hypoallergenic class action lawsuit is Vicks, et al. v. Unilever United States Inc., Case No. 2:25-cv-17887, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
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