Acne cream class action lawsuit filed over Benzene in Clean and Clear, Neutrogena [Video]

Johnson & Johnson faces a class action lawsuit over Clean & Clear and Neutrogena acne cream products, alleging that users were exposed to unsafe levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene, which has been found by an independent testing pharmacy.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Alan Montenegro and Melissa Medina in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California Western Division on March 8, seeking class action status for all consumers who purchased benzene-contaminated products manufactured by Johnson & Johnson.

The lawsuit was filed just weeks after testing conducted by the independent laboratory Valisure found that benzoyl peroxide (BPO), a common ingredient in acne treatments, is unstable and can form benzene levels hundreds of times higher than federally allowed limits. Following the discovery, the company filed a citizen’s petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging the agency to issue a recall and stop sales for …