Harris Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Treatments Contain Carcinogen Benzene, Class Action Lawsuit Claims

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A proposed class action alleges Harris Pharmaceutical, Inc. has failed to warn consumers that certain acne treatment products contain harmful levels of benzene, a human carcinogen.

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The 27-page false advertising lawsuit centers around Harris-brand acne treatment products that contain benzoyl peroxide (BPO), a chemical compound that naturally degrades over time into the toxic carcinogen benzene. The suit claims the company has marketed and sold the items—namely, Harris benzoyl peroxide 10 percent acne wash—to consumers without disclosing the benzene contamination risk on product packaging.

According to the case, the presence of benzene in the Harris product at issue was discovered by an independent laboratory that recently tested numerous acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide. Per the complaint, the study revealed that Harris benzoyl peroxide 10 percent acne wash, in particular, contained “dangerous levels of benzene,” well above the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) maximum concentration limit of two parts per million (ppm).

The filing adds that, in fact, Harris’ skin care product “consistently topped the charts for benzene levels over 2 ppm” and “reached as high as approximately 400 ppm.”

The fraud lawsuit shares that the FDA issued a statement in December 2022 warning manufacturers that drug products containing more than two ppm of benzene are considered adulterated and should be recalled.

The plaintiff, a San Diego resident, says she purchased Harris-brand benzoyl peroxide 10 percent acne wash in October of last year. The woman claims she would not have paid as much for the skin care product, or bought it at all, had she known of the risk of benzene contamination.

The Harris Pharmaceutical lawsuit looks to represent anyone in the United States who purchased the company’s benzoyl peroxide 10 percent acne wash for personal or household use during the applicable statute of limitations period.

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