Lotrimin, Tinactin spray products contain high levels of benzene, class action claims

Lotrimin, Tinactin class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: A group of consumers filed a class action lawsuit against Aeropres Corporation, Bayer Healthcare LLC, Beiersdorf Manufacturing LLC, Beiersdorf Inc., and Beiersdorf North America Inc. 
• Why: The consumers argue Bayer, Beiersdorf and Aeropres failed to disclose that their Tinactin and Lotrimin antifungal spray products contained dangerous levels of benzene, a known human carcinogen. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Illinois federal court.

The manufacturers of Lotrimin and Tinactin brand antifungal spray products failed to disclose that they allegedly contain dangerously high levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene, a new class action lawsuit alleges. 

A group of consumers claim Aeropres Corporation, Bayer Healthcare, and Beiersdorf failed to disclose the presence of benzene in the Tinactin and Lotrimin spray products, ahead of a 2021 recall. 

Bayer announced a recall for unexpired lots of Tinactin and Lotrimin antifungal spray products  in October 2021 after determining they had been contaminated with benzene from a propellant supplied by Aeropres, according to the benzene class action. 

“The presence of benzene in the Products renders them adulterated and misbranded. As a result, the Products are illegal to sell under federal law and therefore worthless,” the benzene class action states. 

The consumers want to represent a nationwide class of all persons who purchased a variety of Lotrimin and Tinactin spray products from between September 2018 and September 2021. 

The group also wants to represent a subclass of consumers who purchased various Lotrimin products in New York, Missouri, Indiana, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Delaware, and California, and Tinactin products in New York, Indiana, Delaware, and California. 

Bayer, Aeropres, Beiersdorf should have known Tinactin, Lotrimin products could have contained benzene, says class action 

The consumers claim Aeropres first disclosed to Beiersdorf, which manufactured Lotrimin and Tinactin, in August 2021 that its propellant — known as Propellant A-31 — was contaminated with benzene. 

While Beiersdorf “immediately notified Bayer of the contamination,” according to the benzene class action, the consumers claim knew or should have known about the dangers of benzene and that the products may have been at risk of containing the chemical. 

“Nevertheless, Aeropres, Beiersdorf, and Bayer produced, distributed, and sold Propellant A-31 and millions of cans of Tinactin and Lotrimin AF sprays that contained benzene to the consuming public,” the benzene class action states. 

The group claims Bayer, Aeropres, and Beiersdorf are guilty of fraud, unjust enrichment, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, and negligent misrepresentation, as well as of violating a number of state consumer protection acts. 

The plaintiffs are demanding a jury trial and requesting declaratory and injunctive relief along with an award of compensatory, actual, statutory, and punitive damages for themselves and all class members. 

 A separate class action lawsuit was filed against Bayer in November 2021 over claims the company manufactured and distributed Lotrimin and Tinactin antifungal spray products that allegedly contained benzene. 

Have you purchased a recalled Lotrimin or Tinactin antifungal spray product? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiff is represented by Forde O’Meara LLP, Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, Bursor & Fisher, P.A., and Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP. 

The Lotrimin, Tinactin class action lawsuit is Stewart, et al. v. Aeropres Corp., et al., Case No. 1:23-cv-13207, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

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