Over 10 hair relaxers that are still on the market might contain toxic chemicals
At least 40 toxic hair relaxer lawsuits have been filed across the country so far, yet no recall was issued on the affected products. One of the reasons the FDA refuses to take hair relaxers off the shelves is that the agency is not required to test cosmetics before they are sold in the country. Still, two laws apply to cosmetics marketed in the U.S. – the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA). The former refers to a set of laws passed by the U.S. Congress in 1938, which invest the FDA with authority to oversee the safety of:
- food
- drugs
- medical devices
- cosmetics
The FFDCA defines cosmetics as "articles intended to be rubbed, poured, sprinkled, or sprayed on, introduced into, or otherwise applied to the human body for cleansing, beautifying, promoting attractiveness, or altering the appearance." Under this act, the FDA is not required to approve cosmetics and does not have the authority to recall such products. Still, it prohibits the marketing of adulterated or misbranded cosmetics, which is the case with hair relaxers. The FPLA applies to labels on many consumer products, including cosmetics such as hair relaxers. It requires the label to state:
- the identity of the product
- the name of the manufacturer
- the net quantity of contents
This act requires all "consumer commodities" to have a transparent label concerning all the ingredients, regardless of the amount. Under it, consumer commodities are defined as any device, food, drug, or cosmetic that is produced or distributed for sale for consumption by individuals or used by individuals for personal care. Many hair relaxers containing toxic chemicals violate the FLPA, as manufacturers often choose to omit key ingredients such as formaldehyde from the label, thereby misleading consumers.
Considering these laws, the FDA could step in and recall the affected hair relaxers. Alternatively, the manufacturers whose products were found to contain endocrine-disrupting substances could issue a recall, but most deny the allegations in the mounting lawsuits. Until safe options appear on the market, we invite you to request a free, safe, non-toxic hair relaxer from the ethical companies we partnered with by virtue of our Toxic Hair Relaxer Replacement Initiative. All you have to do is fill out the form at the bottom of the page, and someone will contact you shortly.
Our resourceful attorneys will offer you quality legal assistance
For over 30 years, our attorneys have been relentlessly pursuing compensation for toxic exposure and defective product cases. If you used toxic hair relaxers and now struggle with uterine cancer or ovarian cancer, we strongly encourage you to contact us. With decades of experience and knowledge, our legal team will efficiently help you determine whether you qualify to file a toxic hair relaxer claim with the responsible manufacturers. The only necessary documents are your medical records and evidence of having used chemical hair relaxers.
If we deem you eligible, we will promptly begin working on your claim while our medical research team will gather all the necessary evidence to support the link between your disease and your use of toxic hair relaxers. Our skilled attorneys will go to great lengths to obtain the most favorable outcome for your case, no matter how complex your situation might be. Finally, it is important to know that we work on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will not have to pay anything out of pocket unless we recover money for you.
