Are you a sunscreen user? If you forgot your sunscreen during the summer season, what could happen? We have heard about the benefits of sunscreens, but do you think they are necessary?
In recent times, everyone has become aware of how essential sunscreen is to reducing the risk of skin cancer. An estimated 11,000 sunscreen products are on the market in the United States, generating nearly $2 billion in revenue annually. In this blog, let’s look at the other side of sunscreens, the sunscreen recalls, sunscreen lawsuits, and how they affected people.
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Are sunscreens dangerous?
Sunscreens are safe and can help prevent skin cancer, the most prevalent cancer in the United States. The risk of acquiring cancer may be raised by the presence of benzene and other chemicals in sunscreen.
However, Valisure, a pharmacy that regularly analyses batches of standard consumer products, has released some not-so-amazing discoveries regarding several sunscreens that could already be on your shelves.
Is benzene in sunscreen? Following the testing of 294 sunscreens, the business published a report on May 25 revealing that 78 of them contained benzene, a recognized carcinogen associated with adverse health consequences in humans, including cancer and other significant medical disorders. Several sunscreen lawsuits against the manufacturers allege they supplied sunscreen tainted with benzene.
What sunscreen is being recalled?
Benzene is not present in all sunscreens. However, according to Valisure’s research, benzene is included in several well-known sunscreen products. The recalled brands of sunscreen are:
- Neutrogena
- Good sense
- Raw Elements
- Coppertone
- Equate
- La Roche-Posay
- Sun Bum
- CVS Health
- Fruit of the Earth
- Raw Element
- Banana Boat
- TopCare
- EltaMD
- Aveeno
- Up & Up
According to Valisure’s test, several popular household sunscreen brands, including Sun Bum, Neutrogena, Banana Boat, and CVS-brand sunscreen, all had hazardous amounts of benzene. Both chemical and mineral sunscreen formulations are affected.
Valisure has requested the Food and Drug Administration to recall on its list. For UVA and UVB protection, it is advised that you throw away the recalled sunscreens immediately and switch to a different brand.
How harmful is the benzene found in sunscreen?
Benzene is a poisonous substance that is naturally produced by forest fires and volcanoes as well as used in the production of goods like plastic, rubber, paint, explosives, and pesticides. When exposed to benzene, bone marrow cells may stop producing red blood cells, or the immune system’s white blood cells may stop functioning.
Long-term exposure to benzene has a negative impact on the blood. High benzene concentrations might result in death as well as headaches, tremors, nausea, and dizziness. Additionally, contact with liquid or vaporized benzene can result in blistering and skin irritation.
In benzene sunscreen lawsuits, Neutrogena, Coppertone, Johnson & Johnson, and other manufacturers are accused of creating and selling products with high benzene levels. Leukemia and other cancers are more likely to occur in those exposed to this substance at high concentrations.
Benzene exposure-related health problems
When it comes to sunscreen containing benzene, any potential adverse effects would probably result from prolonged chronic exposure. This exposure might raise the chance of developing blood illnesses like leukemia, anemia, and other cell-based malignancies. When benzene-containing sunscreen is applied to the skin, it can be absorbed by the body and even reach circulation.
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia
- Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Aplastic Anemia
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
- Multiple Myeloma
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
The severity of benzene poisoning is influenced by the individual’s age and pre-existing medical conditions, as well as the quantity, route, and duration of exposure.
Claims of benzene taint led to recalls and class actions
Following the discovery of benzene through third-party testing in some Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens in July 2021, Johnson & Johnson recalled the products. In order to resolve allegations that they produced and distributed Aveeno and Neutrogena sunscreens containing benzene, J&J and Costco came to a preliminary legal settlement in November.
In contrast, Bayer voluntarily recalled 12 Coppertone aerosol sunscreen spray products in October 2021 after discovering that they contained benzene.
Edgewell Personal Care, CVS Health, S.C. Johnson, and several sunscreen companies are named in sunscreen cancer lawsuits for allegedly selling benzene-contaminated sunscreen and after-sun care items.
Numerous class action sunscreen lawsuits have been brought against Johnson & Johnson (manufacturer of Neutrogena and Aveeno), Coppertone, Banana Boat, and other well-known brands due to the sunscreen recall conducted in 2021. The sunscreen lawsuit 2021 affected many people who are using the recalled sunscreens.
According to the Aveeno lawsuit, the labels did not disclose that benzene was an ingredient and misled the customers into thinking they were safe to use, lowering their risk of developing cancer from sun exposure rather than raising it.
On April 5, 2018, Mr. Piccolo filed a request to start an Aveeno class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its related companies over their Aveeno Active Naturals Products. He claims that the products are marketed as natural but contain synthetic and potentially harmful ingredients. The companies deny these claims.
Neutrogena sunscreen cancer lawsuit
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Five sunscreens were recalled on July 14, 2021, by johnson and johnson sunscreen brands due to low quantities of the cancer-causing chemical benzene detected in the products.
Recalled sunscreen list 2021
- Neutrogena Invisible Daily defense aerosol sunscreen
- Aveeno Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen
- Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen
- Neutrogena Ultra Sheer aerosol sunscreen
- Neutrogena Beach Defense aerosol sunscreen
The enormous consumer products corporation Johnson & Johnson owns several well-known personal care products, including Neutrogena and Aveeno. According to the corporate website, both brands sell sunscreen products, although it is possible that they aren’t safe to use.
A number of Neutrogena sunscreen class action lawsuits were filed against Johnson & Johnson on behalf of consumers who suffered different types of blood cancers. The Johnson and Johnson sunscreen lawsuit national class action settlement received preliminary approval from the multidistrict litigation court in 2022.
As part of the class action Neutrogena lawsuit sunscreen settlement, Johnson & Johnson has agreed to donate $1.75 million in vouchers to settle claims that Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen products were tainted with benzene. Each coupon is worth $10.58, and each family can utilize one or two purchased items for $21.16. The validity of vouchers is transferrable and will last for at least a year.
Neutrogena Sunscreen Settlement Update 2024
In 2021, a recall was issued, and Johnson & Johnson agreed to settle claims by offering refunds and vouchers to affected customers. However, a plaintiff argued that the settlement was unfair especially since lawyers would receive $2.6 million, and only half of the $1.75 million in vouchers might be used.
On June 20, 2024, the appeals court sided with the objectors, asking the lower court in Florida to reassess the voucher amounts and attorney’s fees. The court also wants Johnson & Johnson to remove any remaining contaminated products and improve testing for benzene.
Banana Boat sunscreen lawsuit
On July 29, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall for Banana Boat Hair & Scalp sunscreen after routine sample analysis revealed the presence of benzene at potentially hazardous levels in numerous aerosol spray cans.
Three batches of the Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 from Edgewell Personal Care Company have been voluntarily recalled after it was found that they contained minimal quantities of benzene.
A judge at a federal court in Connecticut made a decision about the banana boat lawsuit. The judge, named Jeffrey Alker Meyer, decided the lawsuit could continue but with some restrictions.
What sunscreens were just recalled?
Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray (SPF 30) 6-oz. Spray cans with three different lot codes are included in the recall:
- 20016AF – Expiration December 2022
- 20084BF – Expiration February 2023
- 21139AF – Expiration April 2024
- 20301CF – Expiration September 2023
Customers allege that specific Banana Boat Spray sunscreens contain benzene and filed a proposed sunscreen cancer lawsuit in New York in August 2021. A class action complaint says Banana Boat sunscreen is allegedly mislabeled as providing higher SPF protection than it actually offers, leading to consumers’ overpaying.
Sun Bum lawsuit
Is Sun Bum sunscreen safe? Does Sun Bum have benzene? Sun Bum has initiated a product recall after discovering that three of their offerings contain an unreported component, benzene.
Valisure detected benzene in some sunscreen products, including some from Sun Bum. Both Sun Bum sunscreen and after-sun care products were found to contain benzene. Now attorneys are looking at the possibility of a class action lawsuit on behalf of consumers.
The Sun Bum recalled products include:
- Sun Bum Oxy Free Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Lotion – SPF 50
- Sun Bum After-Sun Cool Down Gel
- Sun Bum After-Sun Cool Down Aloe Vera Spray
Does Sun Bum cause cancer? The benzene component in the Sun Bum sunscreen is known to cause cancer.
If consumers have used any of these products and are exhibiting adverse reactions or symptoms, it is recommended that they seek immediate medical consultation. Amidst growing concerns, Sun Bum sunscreen lawsuits has been filed regarding the presence of undisclosed benzene in their products.
Coppertone sunscreen recall
Coppertone is a sunscreen company that sells a range of sunscreen products for kids, adults, and sports. Who owns Coppertone sunscreen? Bayer HealthCare initially distributed Coppertone sunscreen, which Beiersdorf eventually bought.
Beiersdorf announced a recall of 12 batches of Coppertone spray sunscreen on September 20, 2021, due to concerns that the products may have contained benzene.
The recalled Coppertone spray sunscreens include the following:
- Pure & Simple SPF 50
- Pure & Simple Kids SPF 50
- Kids SPF 50
- Pure & Simple Baby SPF 50
- Sport Mineral SPF 50
- Sport SPF 50
- Sport SPF 30
- Sport SPF 15
- Complete SPF 50
- Complete SPF 30
- Glow Shimmer SPF 50
- Glow Shimmer SPF 30
Consumers swiftly filed a Coppertone lawsuit sunscreen against Bayer HealthCare and Beiersdorf. The action was filed on behalf of all customers who purchased the covered products and alleged numerous injuries, including but not limited to deception and incorrect labeling.
When Bayer agreed to pay $2.25 million in December to settle allegations that it mislabeled its Coppertone sunscreens as being mineral-based, the firm again made headlines. Customers said Bayer sought to profit from increased demand for genuine mineral-based goods.
If you purchased specific Coppertone spray sunscreen products in the United States before August 2, 2022, you may be qualified to receive compensation from the benzene sunscreen class action lawsuit filed against Bayer HealthCare LLC and Beiersdorf, Inc.
How can you submit a scunscreen claim?
All fields on the Claim Form must be correctly filled in and can be submitted online or printed and mailed. Submit a completed claim form together with any available evidence of purchase in order to be compensated.
Class action laws relating to carcinogenic sunscreen
Numerous sunscreen recall lawsuits have already been submitted. While typical tort claims and accusations of cancer or other serious ailments are present in some early sunscreen lawsuits, consumer fraud charges represent most of them.
Contrary to class actions, individual sunscreen spray lawsuits are being filed about claims of damages like cancer. This kind of lawsuit may result in a class action, toxic tort, or multi-district litigation because of the number of people who may pursue sunscreen spray cancer lawsuits.
The class action sunscreen lawsuits seek compensation for all consumers who claim they purchased the recalled sunscreen products but did not realize they contained benzene. These instances are far more complex than regular personal injury claims. You will require the aid of a sunscreen recall lawyer with experience in these challenging cases.
Suntegrity Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Recall
A recall has been issued for nine lots of Suntegrity Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation due to mold contamination, which can lead to infections and allergic reactions. The FDA announced the recall after finding that some tubes contain more Aspergillus Sydowii mold than allowed. This mold can cause skin and eye infections, especially in immunocompromised individuals.
Affected lot numbers include 115BU, 107IV, 107NU, 109NU, 117BU, 113SA, 114SA, 106BR, and 101MO. Consumers should stop using these products immediately and contact Suntegrity for a replacement or store credit. Adverse reactions should be reported to a healthcare provider or the FDA’s MedWatch program.
How do sunscreen lawsuits work?
Sunscreen recall attorneys are now engaged in litigation over allegations of public trust violations and the following manifestations of negligence:
- Unsafe product design: Sunscreens have a lot of the chemical benzene, which causes cancer.
- Failure to warn: Fails to inform customers that some chemicals in sunscreen may cause cancer.
- Deceptive Trade Practices: J&J knew benzene was a carcinogen, and an inquiry may establish that they knowingly withheld this knowledge from the public to increase their profits.
- Gross Negligence: Despite being aware of the possible health risks associated with benzene, producers continued to utilize the substance.
False advertising sunscreen lawsuits have also started to put more of an emphasis on making businesses responsible for their environmental and sustainability promises.
The FDA updated its summer safety advice in August 2022 and warned customers not to use recalled spray-on sunscreen lotions because they contain high amounts of benzene. After being recognized for having dangerously high amounts of benzene, popular spray sunscreen brands, including Aveeno, Coppertone, Neutrogena, and others, are now being given new advice by the FDA.
Who can file a lawsuit against sunscreen?
Anyone who purchased sunscreen containing benzene after 2017 may be eligible to make a claim. If you or your family members used one of the recalled sunscreens over time and were later identified as having leukemia (or another kind of cancer or benzene-related illness), you may be eligible to file a sunscreen recall lawsuit.
To discuss your claim, speak with benzene sunscreen recall lawyers as soon as possible. The spray bottles, and any receipts or records of the sales from shops, should all be kept as proof that you utilized the recalled goods. You could be eligible to file a lawsuit against sunscreen and be found liable for your injuries.
Potential reimbursement for victims of injury
Among the losses you could be entitled to in a lawsuit against sunscreens are:
- Medical expenses
- Money lost by skipping work while recovering
- Potential profits are lost if you are unable to work due to illness
- Emotional distress
- Pain and suffering
Medical records from your treatment can provide a degree of seriousness and demonstrate your ailment’s effects on your life. LezDo TechMed is prepared to assist you with evaluating medical records, which is necessary to compile proof. Our team of specialists in medical chronology services can locate and identify all of the crucial legal and medical details that are crucial to the case.
Need Quality Medical Record Reviews?
In short, it is clear that sunscreen producers must assure the safety and wellbeing of their customers. For those who have suffered due to the neglect of this duty, you are not alone and your pain is valid. Legal action in the form of sunscreen lawsuits can serve as a powerful tool to hold these manufacturers accountable and seek justice. Every step taken in this legal journey is a stride towards a safer and healthier future for all.
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