Unilever settlement to resolve dry shampoo benzene class action

Unilever settlement overview:

• Who: Eleven consumers reached a tentative class action settlement with Unilever United States Inc., Aeropres Corp. and Voyant Beauty LLC.
• Why: The plaintiffs alleged the companies sold dry shampoo aerosol products containing dangerous levels of benzene.
• Where: The Unilever dry shampoo settlement was filed in Connecticut federal court.

Unilever, Aeropres and Voyant Beauty are finalizing a settlement with a group of consumers who alleged the companies sold dry shampoo aerosol products contaminated with elevated trace levels of benzene.

The plaintiffs filed a joint notice of settlement Feb. 20 in Connecticut federal court. The parties say they have reached an agreement in principle to settle the plaintiffs’ claims. Class members originally filed the Unilever class action lawsuit in November 2022. 

The plaintiffs alleged the defendants sold aerosol products that contained toxic levels of benzene, a chemical known to cause cancer.

Unilever benzene class action alleged undisclosed benzene in aerosol products

The Unilever benzene class action lawsuit alleged the defendants failed to warn consumers about the presence of elevated levels of benzene, which allegedly rendered the products unsafe for use.

The plaintiffs claimed Unilever recalled certain aerosol products in 2021 and 2022 after discovering they contained benzene. 

According to the claims, the company gained actual knowledge of the benzene risk at least as early as July 2021. Around that time, Unilever’s top competitors began recalling aerosol products due to the presence of benzene and litigation based on those recalls. 

In November 2021, independent laboratory Valisure confirmed the presence of benzene in dozens of aerosol antiperspirants and sunscreens and submitted a citizens’ petition to the Food and Drug Administration describing those findings.

The plaintiffs said the company’s recall notices did not adequately inform consumers about the health risks associated with benzene exposure.

The Unilever benzene class action lawsuit asserted claims for breach of warranty, unjust enrichment, and violations of state consumer protection laws. The plaintiffs sought to represent a class of consumers who purchased the allegedly contaminated aerosol products in the United States.

The terms of the Unilever benzene class action settlement have not yet been disclosed. The plaintiffs say they will submit a motion for preliminary approval of the class action settlement within the next 60 days. 

Do you use Unilever aerosol products? Tell us what you think of the benzene class action settlement in the comments.

The plaintiffs are represented by Steven L. Bloch, Ian W. Sloss, Johnathan Seredynski and Krystyna Gancoss of Silver Golub & Teitell LLP.

The Unilever dry shampoo settlement is Elizabeth Little, et al. v. Unilever United States Inc., et al., Case No. 3:22-cv-01189, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.

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