Unilever United States, Inc. offers a line of products under the brand name The Laundress that are supposed to be “non-toxic” and “better for you” than, for example, dry cleaning with its use of chemicals. However, the complaint for this class action alleges that the entire line of Laundress products contains a bacterium called Pseudomonas, which can be fatal, and which contaminates the clothing laundered with the products.
Three classes have been proposed for this action:
- The Multi-State Consumer Class is all persons in California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon, and Washington who bought the products.
- The California Class is all persons who bought the products in California within the applicable statute of limitations.
- The Nationwide Class is all persons who bought the products in the US within the applicable statute of limitations.
The complaint quotes a press release put out by Unilever when it acquired the line of products, calling it the “premium eco-friendly line of detergent, fabric care, and home cleaning products[.]”
The complaint quotes a number of the web pages for the products, for example, saying, “Dry clean only? No way. … Nobody relishes the idea of wearing highly toxic dry cleaning chemicals against their skin … Now there’s a solution that is better for both you and the environment, all without ruing your treasured delicates.” It quotes another as saying, “Eliminating the dry cleaner was one of our first missions in creating this line of laundry and fabric care products. … Use this kit to safely clean and preserve woolens, delicates, synthetics, and more without the toxins and extra cost of the dry cleaner!”
However, according to the complaint, the products contain ingredients that were not listed on the packaging—the harmful bacteria Pseudomonas. The complaint alleges, “Pseudomonas is a ‘superbug’ because, as Dr. Craig MacLean from the University of Oxford describes, it ‘mutates at an incredibly high rate, allowing [the] bacteria to quickly evolve antibiotic resistance.’”
The complaint claims the bacteria can cause severe tissue damage, pneumonia, septicaemia, or death. It cites two outbreaks at different hospitals that led to the death of infants. “In one study of Pseudomonas,” the complaint alleges, “the bacteria displayed a 30-day mortality rate of 39%.”
According to the complaint, the company knew or should have known that the product contained harmful, possible fatal, bacteria.
To get rid of the bacteria on the clothing once it is washed with the products requires a rewashing in hot water, the complaint alleges. However, the kinds of natural, delicate clothing consumers were invited to use the products for, such as silk, cashmere, and wool, cannot be washed in hot water without damaging them, so that the complaint charges that the clothing is ruined now.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
The Laundress Products Contain Harmful Bacteria Complaint
November 24, 2022
Unilever United States, Inc. offers a line of products under the brand name The Laundress that are supposed to be “non-toxic” and “better for you” than, for example, dry cleaning with its use of chemicals. However, the complaint for this class action alleges that the entire line of Laundress products contains a bacterium called Pseudomonas, which can be fatal, and which contaminates the clothing laundered with the products.
The Laundress Products Contain Harmful Bacteria ComplaintCase Event History
The Laundress Products Contain Harmful Bacteria Complaint
November 24, 2022
Unilever United States, Inc. offers a line of products under the brand name The Laundress that are supposed to be “non-toxic” and “better for you” than, for example, dry cleaning with its use of chemicals. However, the complaint for this class action alleges that the entire line of Laundress products contains a bacterium called Pseudomonas, which can be fatal, and which contaminates the clothing laundered with the products.
The Laundress Products Contain Harmful Bacteria Complaint