The maker of Carefree menstrual liners, Edgewell Personal Care Co., failed to appropriately warn customers about the presence of “forever chemicals” in its products, according to a lawsuit filed Monday in Los Angeles state court.
The suit against the company, which also makes Banana Boat sunscreen, comes the same day that Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed AB 2515, which bans the sale of menstrual products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) above a to-be-set limit by 2027.
The chemicals, which accumulate in the body, are connected to cancer and reproductive harm. The liners specifically contain perfluorooctanoic acid, which is in the PFAS class.
The chemical’s presence in the liners poses a particular risk because vaginal tissue can absorb chemicals directly into the bloodstream, the California Superior Court, Los Angeles County complaint said.
People use the liners for 8-10 hours each day, the complaint said.
Advocacy group Ecological Alliance LLC brought the suit under California’s Proposition 65, which gives Californians the right to be informed of the presence of chemicals.
Custodio & Dubey LLP represents the Ecological Alliance.
The case is Ecological Alliance LLC v. Edgewell Personal Care Brands LLC, Cal. Super. Ct., Not yet available, 9/30/24.
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