Knix period underwear class action alleges product contains harmful chemicals

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Knix period underwear class action lawsuit overview:

• Who: Plaintiffs Gemma Rivera and Marisa Franz filed a class action lawsuit against Knix Wear Inc.
• Why: The plaintiffs allege Knix falsely markets its period underwear products as being free of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as “forever chemicals.”
• Where: The Knix period underwear class action was filed in California federal court.

Knix Wear Inc. is facing a potential class action lawsuit over allegations the company falsely markets its period underwear products as free of harmful chemicals, Bloomberg Law reported.

Knix, a popular Canadian menstrual and incontinence underwear brand, sells period underwear, a washable undergarment that absorbs menstrual fluid. According to the class action, Knix markets the products with statements such as “designed to be both safe and effective” and “PFAS free.”

PFAS forever chemicals pose health risks, according to CDC

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) refer to “forever chemicals” that allegedly can enter the body through skin contact. PFAS exposure may pose a number of adverse health risks, such as cancer, liver damage, fertility problems and an increased risk of thyroid disease and asthma, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Even low levels of PFAS can be harmful because these chemicals accumulate over time. They are called “forever chemicals” because they do not naturally degrade. As a result, PFAS may accumulate in fish and wildlife. Most humans have some PFAS in their blood, the CDC reports.

PFAS chemicals may be used to treat textile products to make them stain resistant or water repellant, the Knix period underwear class action says.

Knix period underwear class action says plaintiffs relied on company’s ‘PFAS free’ claims

Plaintiffs Gemma Rivera and Marisa Franz claim they relied on Knix’s marketing statements that the period underwear products were PFAS free. However, their lawsuit alleges, independent testing found high levels of fluorine in Knix period underwear, suggesting the presence of PFAS in the products.

A group associated with the website Mamavation reportedly sought the testing and posted the results online. Testing showed 65% of the 17 period underwear products tested contained fluorine, Mamavation reported.

Many women seek reusable period products for health and environmental reasons, the plaintiffs say in the lawsuit. They claim they trusted Knix’s promises that their products were free of forever chemicals.

The period underwear class action asserts claims for violations of California’s Unfair Competition Law, Consumer Legal Remedies Act, False Advertising Law, Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, as well as breach of express warranty, failure to warn, fraud and misrepresentation.

The makers of Thinx also face a period underwear lawsuit alleging their products are not safe to wear because they contain high levels of PFAS.

What do you think about the Knix period underwear class action and the allegations that these menstrual products contain PFAS? Join the discussion in the comments.

Rivera and Franz are represented by Bursor & Fisher PA.

The Knix period underwear class action is Rivera, et al. v. Knix Wear Inc., Case No. 5:22-cv-02137, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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