Acne Products Buyers Hit With Setback in Benzene Deception Suits

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. convinced a magistrate judge to recommend dismissing related lawsuits alleging the retailer failed to warn consumers that some of its benzoyl peroxide acne products could contain the carcinogen benzene.

Claims based on Walgreens’ alleged failure to warn about benzene contamination were preempted by federal law, and other claims based on the company’s alleged failure to adhere to current good manufacturing practices lacked sufficient detail, Magistrate Judge Stanley A. Boone said Thursday.

Judge Jennifer L. Thurston of the US District Court for the Eastern District of California will decide whether to accept the recommendation and dismiss the ...