According to the 2022 Coppertone settlement website, the lawsuit alleges that certain products “were inappropriately marketed because it was not disclosed that certain Coppertone spray sunscreen products contained benzene.” The lawsuit also “alleges various harms including but not limited to misrepresentation and improper labeling and was brought on behalf of all consumers who bought the Covered Products.” Back in 2021, Coppertone, which is owned by Beiersdorf, issued (via the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) a voluntary recall of twelve lots of spray products due to the presence of benzene. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, per the American Cancer Society, classifies benzene as “carcinogenic to humans" and notes that “benzene exposure has been linked with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), multiple myeloma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.” While the defendants (Bayer HealthCare LLC and Beiersdorf, Inc.) have denied all claims and allegations, they are settling the litigation and have agreed to pay $2.3 million to the settlement fund.
What Coppertone spray sunscreen products does the case involve?
The following Coppertone spray sunscreen products are involved in this case:
Pure & Simple SPF 50Pure & Simple Kids SPF 50Pure & Simple Baby SPF 50Sport Mineral SPF 50Sport SPF 50Sport SPF 30Sport SPF 15Complete SPF 50Complete SPF 30Glow Shimmer SPF 50Glow Shimmer SPF 30 Kids SPF 50
Do you need proof of purchase to file a settlement claim?
Proof of purchase isn’t necessary, but class members with proof of purchase—meaning “an itemized retail sales receipt or retail store club or loyalty card record showing, at a minimum, the purchase of a Covered Product, the purchase price, and the date and place of the purchase”—can receive a portion of the settlement fund for the products they purchased. According to the settlement, if an individual does not have proof of purchase, then the purchase price of the “Covered Products will be determined by the average retail price for up to six (6) Covered Products claimed per household plus a 10% allowance for sales tax.”
Is the settlement approved?
The approval hearing is scheduled to take place in Brooklyn, NY on Jan. 5, 2023.
Does the settlement mean the defendants are guilty?
Although the defendants are settling, it is “not an admission of any wrongdoing.” The defendants are said to be settling in order to “avoid the expense, inconvenience, risk and disruption of the litigation.”
How to submit a claim?
Individuals can submit a claim online here, or print and mail it to: Sunscreen Settlement Claim Administrator, 1650 Arch Street, Suite 2210, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
When do you need to submit a claim by?
Class members have until Nov. 7, 2022 to submit a valid claim. Claims being mailed must be postmarked by November 7, 2022. Next up, does sunscreen actually expire?
