Albertsons Lawsuit Alleges ‘Hypoallergenic’ Signature Care Sensitive Skin Body Wash Contains Known Allergens

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A proposed class action lawsuit accuses Albertsons Companies of misrepresenting its “hypoallergenic” Signature Care Sensitive Skin Body Wash, given that the product contains several common allergens.

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According to the 34-page lawsuit, Albertsons has misled consumers into believing the item at issue is “hypoallergenic,” formulated for sensitive skin and comparable to Dove-brand Sensitive Skin Body Wash. The defendant makes these claims in a bid to capitalize on increasing demand for “cleaner” beauty products that are free from harsh chemicals, fragrances or additives that may cause a reaction, the complaint contends.

Contrary to the representations, the Albertsons Signature Care body wash contains some of the most predominant contact allergens found in beauty products, including methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI), methylisothiazolinone (MI) and cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB), the suit asserts. In particular, MCI and MI—used as preservatives in cosmetics and other personal care items—are a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis, which appears as an itchy red rash on the skin, the case says.

The complaint reports that as of 2018, nearly 11 percent of the North American population had become “sensitized,” or had developed an allergic response, to MCI and MI.

The front-label claim that Albertsons’ body wash is comparable to Dove Sensitive Skin Body Wash is deceptive because Dove’s product does not contain MCI or MI, the filing contends.

Per the suit, the body wash at issue also contains CAPB, which was named “Allergen of the Year” in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society due to increasing rates of sensitization.

According to the Albertsons body wash lawsuit, consumers expect an item labeled “hypoallergenic” to be specially formulated to minimize the risk of allergic reactions by being free from ingredients known to cause them.

The case alleges that consumers would not have paid a premium price for the supposedly “hypoallergenic” body wash, or bought it at all, had they known it contained three well-known allergens.

The lawsuit looks to represent all individuals who, within the applicable statute of limitations period, purchased Albertsons’ “hypoallergenic” Signature Care Sensitive Skin Body Wash for personal, household or family use in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia or Wyoming.

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