Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance Free Baby Wipes Contain Dangerous PFAS, Class Action Suit Says

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A proposed class action lawsuit alleges Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance Free baby wipes are unsafe to use because they contain, or risk containing, dangerous levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly known as forever chemicals.

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The 27-page lawsuit against manufacturer Kimberly-Clark Corporation emphasizes that PFAS, a group of man-made chemicals known to be harmful to children, persist and accumulate in the body and environment over time and can be harmful even at very low levels. Per the case, exposure to PFAS has been linked to thyroid disorders, immunotoxic effects and cancer, among other health issues.

The complaint states that independent lab testing conducted by the plaintiffs’ counsel with a Department of Defense ELAP-certified laboratory revealed that the Huggies Simply Clean baby wipes contain 305 parts per trillion of PFAS.

Per the lawsuit, consumers relied on the “simply clean” and “gentle ingredients” statements, among others, on Huggies labels in deciding whether to buy the baby wipes, and paid a premium based on these allegedly “false and misleading” claims. Huggies Simply Clean packages also include claims that the baby wipes are “hypoallergenic,” “dermatologically tested, “alcohol free” and “paraben free,” with the list of purported product ingredients described simply as “gentle,” the filing relays.

“Nowhere on this list of ‘gentle ingredients’ is listed any compound of PFAS or risk that the Product may contain them,” the lawsuit states.

The suit shares that PFAS have been used to make nonstick cookware, water-repellent clothing, stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, firefighting foam and products that resist grease, water and oil. Per the case, PFAS are often called forever chemicals because they break down slowly, if at all, and build up over time in the body and environment.

In children, PFAS exposure has been linked to a lower antibody response for some vaccines, the case adds, asserting that the presence of forever chemicals in baby wipes is particularly concerning given the sensitivity of babies’ skin and how often their skin comes into contact with the Huggies wipes.

“No reasonable consumer would expect the Product, marketed prominently as a baby product made with ‘plant-based,’ ‘gentle ingredients’ and free from other harmful chemicals to contain non-natural, harmful, toxic PFAS chemicals.”

The Huggies wipes lawsuit looks to cover all individuals in the United States who bought Huggies Simply Clean Fragrance Free baby wipes during the applicable statute of limitations period.

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