Unilever, a major consumer goods company, has faced several class action lawsuits in the past. This specific Unilever lawsuit, filed in 2021, revolves around allegations of a cancer-causing contaminant found in their Suave-brand antiperspirants.

At Sparrow, we specialize in class action discovery. We’ve helped scores of eligible class members find and join class actions, ensuring they receive the rightful compensation. Whether it’s consumer safety issues like this or data security breaches like the Capital One class action, our experienced team can provide the tools and support to make the settlement claim process as smooth as possible.

With our extensive experience in assisting class members in gaining compensation from all kinds of class actions, we’ve meticulously crafted this article to provide you with all the crucial information on the Suave antiperspirant Unilever lawsuit. We’ll delve into the background of this class action, the details of the settlement, and how the timeline of actions unfolded. We’ll also equip you with tips on staying updated on class actions like this one in the future. 

Read on to learn all you need about the Suave antiperspirant Unilever lawsuit.

Unilever Lawsuit Background

Unilever is one of the major companies in consumer goods, with a portfolio that includes food, beverages, and personal and home care products. Headquartered in London and Rotterdam, Unilever serves nearly 3.4 billion consumers worldwide daily, with a substantial consumer base in the United States.

Suave, one of Unilever’s most popular personal hygiene brands, has earned decades of consumer trust with its various personal care items, including shampoos, body washes, and antiperspirants. Suave antiperspirants, particularly, are the subject of the most recent major Unilever lawsuit. 

Case Details: What is the Unilever Lawsuit About?

The Unilever lawsuit, titled Barnes v. Unilever United States Incorporated, alleges that Unilever United States Incorporated sold contaminated Suave antiperspirant products without proper testing and safety protocols. The plaintiffs argue that Unilever’s negligence allowed benzene to infiltrate their products, thereby endangering millions of consumers. 

The products in question were the Suave 24-Hour Protection Powder Aerosol Antiperspirant and Suave Fresh Aerosol Antiperspirant. Independent testing by Valisure, a lab independent of Suave or Unilever, found that some Suave antiperspirant products contained significant amounts of benzene in their propellant. 

Benzene, a known carcinogen, was present in the products in question at levels exceeding safety thresholds. Benzene is not an intended ingredient in these products, hence the claims that Unilever was negligent, as they allowed Benzene to contaminate their manufacturing process.

Allegations

The lawsuit makes several serious allegations against Unilever. The most significant allegations in terms of their legal and ethical implications are as follows:

• Failure to Test for Contaminants: The primary allegation is that Unilever failed to implement adequate safety measures and quality control checks to detect benzene in their products. Plaintiffs argue that regular testing could have prevented the contaminated products from ever reaching store shelves.
• Negligence in Manufacturing: The lawsuit alleges that Unilever’s manufacturing processes were compromised, allowing benzene to infiltrate Suave antiperspirant products during production. This points to Unilever’s insufficient quality assurance practices.
• Breach of Consumer Trust: Unilever is accused of violating consumer protection laws by failing to warn consumers about potential benzene contamination and continuing to sell compromised products. Plaintiffs argue for greater transparency from Unilever in addressing consumer safety concerns.
• Endangering Consumer Health: The lawsuit asserts that Unilever’s alleged negligence exposed consumers to significant health risks associated with benzene exposure, including serious blood disorders and carcinogenic effects.

All of the above allegations are based on the presence of benzene in the propellant, which the products in question need to be effectively sprayed. Even in small amounts, benzene can cause leukemia, aplastic anemia, and other serious blood disorders. Prolonged exposure to benzene, especially through products directly applied to the skin, significantly increases these health risks. 

Company’s Stand on the Case

Unilever has firmly denied liability for benzene presence in their Suave products, asserting that any such presence was beyond their control. They also added that the lab findings were mistaken and failed to find high levels of benzene enough to pose a significant health risk.

Despite this, Unilever issued a voluntary recall of the Suave 24-Hour Protection Powder Aerosol Antiperspirant and Fresh Aerosol Antiperspirant products in 2022. Although Unilever had already discontinued the production of certain Suave products, some remained on a few store shelves. 

Settlement Details

Despite denying liability, Unilever has allocated $2 million for consumers who purchased Suave 24-Hour Protection Powder Aerosol Antiperspirant and Suave Fresh Aerosol Antiperspirant between January 1, 2018, and March 7, 2024. Those who can provide proof of purchase will receive a full refund for all eligible Suave antiperspirant deodorant products purchased. Those without proof can get up to three reimbursements at $3.29 per household, which was the average purchase price for these products. 

However, each Settlement Class Member’s payment may be decreased by the amount of cash or voucher payments received for claims made in the Recall Reimbursement Program as long as the payment will not be reduced below $0.00 by this adjustment. The award for this class action is also subject to Pro Rata adjustment or an increase or decrease based on how many claims are submitted. This ensures that no unclaimed settlement funds go to waste if the $2 million allotment exceeds the total amount required to satisfy the claims.

Timeline of Actions

The Unilever class action lawsuit has progressed through most of the litigation process and is only awaiting final approval at this time of writing. Here is the timeline of actions:

• Filing Date: Plaintiffs Yvonne Barnes and Patricia Dean filed the lawsuit on November 18, 2021, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois Southern Division.
• Claim Submission Deadline: Consumers had until July 15, 2024, to submit compensation claims, opt out, or submit objections.
• Final Approval Hearing: The final hearing for settlement approval is scheduled for September 13, 2024. The court, to be presided over by United States District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly, will review the preapproved settlement. If satisfied, approval will be granted to proceed with compensation payments​.
• Payout Date: Should the settlement agreement receive final approval, claimants can expect the payment date to be announced sometime after the final approval hearing and disbursed through the settlement administrator.

Note that no new claims have been accepted since the claim submission deadline has passed. Remember to check the settlement website or revisit this page to find the payout date and other important updates. 

How to Stay Updated on Lawsuit Proceedings

Staying informed on a case’s progress is essential for making informed decisions, such as submitting claims or filing objections in a timely manner. If you were unable to submit a claim for the Unilever lawsuit, keep these tips in mind to stay updated on the next class action lawsuit you may be eligible to submit a claim for:

Visit the Official Settlement Website

The official settlement website contains all the need-to-know info and updates in an easily digestible format. Sometimes, the website title contains all the information you need to know you’re on the right page, such as the official Suave Antiperspirant Settlement website. To know whether you’re on the right settlement website, make sure that the homepage details align with that of the class action you want to join.

Monitor Legal News Platforms

Many news websites cover high-profile class action lawsuits like this one. Specialized legal blogs that focus on class actions, such as Sparrow’s blog, can also give you deeper insights into the case. Social media and online forums can provide additional background information and insights to a lesser extent.

Check Court Documents

Court documents are often the first to get updated on lawsuit details and provide more detailed reports. However, they may not be as insightful as news outlets or contain as much need-to-know information as the official settlement website would. Nonetheless, they’re still important if you want to track the lawsuit’s progress more closely.

Contact Settlement Administrators

For specific questions about the settlement or eligibility for compensation, you can contact the settlement administrators for assistance. Their contact details are usually listed on the settlement website’s contact page. In the case of the Unilever lawsuit, the contact details can be found on this page.

Subscribe to Email Notifications

Sign up for email alerts on the settlement website and any specialized news sites and blogs you decide to follow. This will allow you to receive updates directly in your inbox so you don’t miss any important information.

Key Takeaway

The Unilever lawsuit highlights the severity of contaminants like benzene content in any product that consumers apply on their skin. Despite Unilever’s denial of liability, settling with the plaintiffs is the right decision, as allegations of endangering consumer health can lead to harsh litigation and loss of consumer trust, similar to what happened following the Ozempic class action.

If you were eligible to join this class action but missed the deadline to file a claim, remember to visit the official website, check court documents, and monitor news platforms to gain key updates promptly. Remember to check Sparrow’s blog regularly as well, as we specialize in class action discovery and keep track of the latest class actions being filed.

Want to make sure you get the compensation you deserve from a class action you’re eligible for? Don’t hesitate to contact Sparrow if you need help joining a class action lawsuit. Sparrow specializes in helping affected individuals discover and join class actions, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free process with prompt compensation.