By Have you heard about the OGX shampoo lawsuit? A class-action lawsuit is currently addressing Johnson & Johnson’s OGX hair care products, especially the shampoo and conditioner from several brands, alleging that the shampoo formulas cause hair loss in consumers.
J&J marketed OGX hair products as hair-nourishing, hair-repairing, and hair-vigorous products which are safe and effective. However, the plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit against OGX shampoo claim that formaldehyde and DMDM are the harmful ingredients that are included in these products which lead to hair loss. This blog post provides you information about OGX Shampoo, its lawsuit, Johnson and Johnson’s, relief claims and products mentioned in lawsuit.
Background of OGX Shampoo
Johnson & Johnson decided to provide consumer products, medical devices and pharmaceuticals in 1886. It is a well-known organization that has more than 250 subsidiary companies that operate in about 60 countries and generate approximately 70 billion dollars in sales globally across 175 countries.In addition to OGX, which is behind the OGX shampoo lawsuit. Johnson & Johnson owns several consumer brands, including Band-Aid, Neutrogena, Listerine, Tylenol, and Aveeno.
Johnson & Johnson paid US $3.3 billion in cash for the purchase of Vogue International in the year 2016. They acquired several kinds of well-known cosmetics brands, including the OGX product line.At the time of the announcement, Johnson & Johnson stated that by purchasing Vogue International’s whole line of innovative hair care products, which are distributed in 38 countries.
OGX Shampoo Lawsuit
One of the main plaintiffs in the OGX shampoo lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. is Larissa Whipple. She claims that her hair falls out as a result of using OGX’s Biotin + Collagen Shampoo and Conditioner.
In cosmetics and hair products, many different kinds of preservatives are used including formaldehyde donors. Allergies, hair loss, dermatitis and even cancer have been connected to particular preservatives. Preservatives such as formaldehyde donors are added to cosmetics with high water content so as to prevent the growth of microorganisms which could enter the product during manufacturing or storage.
A well-known human carcinogen, formaldehyde can cause cancer and other adverse effects when absorbed through the skin. Plaintiffs in the OGX shampoo lawsuit claim that they were adversely affected by this ingredient.
The OGX shampoo lawsuit is based on the fact that, despite DMDM hydantoin having been a preservative in Johnson & Johnson products for more than ten years, there are safer natural alternatives available. As a result, utilizing DMDM hydantoin as a preservative offers an unnecessary risk.
Johnson & Johnson continued to use sodium hydroxide and formaldehyde donor preservatives (DMDM hydantoin, also known as DMDM-h) in the OGX line of products even after removing this particular preservative from its other products in 2015. This was despite the company being well aware of the adverse effects of these preservatives since 2012. This appears to be one of the reasons for the OGX shampoo lawsuit.
In 1987, scientific research was conducted to investigate the potential adverse effects of DMDM hydantoin in cosmetics on patients who were already pre-sensitized to formaldehyde. According to the research, DMDM hydantoin contains enough free formaldehyde at the concentration level found in cosmetics to cause dermatitis.
Another study conducted in 2015 revealed that the formaldehyde released from FRPs increases with higher temperatures and longer storage duration, which causes serious health issues.
Prior to 2011, Johnson & Johnson, like many other manufacturers of cosmetics, started utilizing DMDM hydantoin as a preservative in their products. But starting in 2012, the company stopped using harmful substances like DMDM hydantoin. However, in spite of the OGX shampoo lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson continues to employ this formaldehyde donor in several OGX-branded products today.
Misrepresentations by Johnson and Johnson’s
The labels for all of the OGX product bottles prominently state that they are made with a variety of oils, herbs, and fruits to nourish and revive dry or damaged hair, enhance its softness and shine, and helps to prevent tangling and freezing.
Therefore, when the OGX shampoo had been applied properly, the plaintiff in the claim did not expect any adverse effects (such as scalp irritation and hair loss). In accordance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, a product must have the proper warnings if it is intended to be harmful.
Johnson & Johnson has insisted that its products are safe to use as directed, even in the midst of the OGX shampoo lawsuit. The company has never released details about hair loss complaints or issued warnings about the possibility of hair loss from prolonged usage.
Relief Claims
The following violations were the basis of the relief claims in the OGX shampoo lawsuit:
- Violation of State Consumer Fraud Acts.
- Violation of the Illinois Uniform Deceptive Trade Practice Act.
- Violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act.
- Unjust Enrichment.
- Fraud.
Products mentioned in the Lawsuit
The OGX shampoo lawsuit claims that the following OGX shampoo and conditioner products contains DMDM hydantoin:
- OGX Biotin + Collagen Shampoo
- OGX Biotin + Collagen Conditioner
- OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
- OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner
- OGX Anti-Breakage and Keratin Oil Shampoo
- OGX Anti-Breakage and Keratin Oil Conditioner
- OGX Detox + Pomegranate & Ginger Shampoo
- OGX Detox + Pomegranate & Ginger Conditioner
- OGX Marula Oil Conditioner
- OGX Nicole Guerriero Midnight Kisses Shampoo
- OGX Nicole Guerriero Midnight Kisses Conditioner
- OGX Nicole Guerriero Mistletoe Wishes Shampoo
- OGX Nicole Guerriero Mistletoe Wishes Conditioner
- OGX Nicole Guerriero Ice Berry Queen Shampoo
- OGX Nicole Guerriero Ice Berry Queen Conditioner
- OGX Extra Strength Hydrate & Repair and Argan Oil of Morocco Shampoo
- OGX Extra Strength Hydrate & Repair and Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner
- OGX Ever Straightening and Brazilian Keratin Therapy Shampoo
- OGX Ever Straightening and Brazilian Keratin Therapy Conditioner
- OGX Kandee Johnson Candy Gumdrop Shampoo
- OGX Kandee Johnson Candy Gumdrop Conditioner
- OGX Kandee Johnson Frosted Sugar Cookie Shampoo
- OGX Kandee Johnson Frosted Sugar Cookie Conditioner
- OGX Kandee Johnson Sparkling Cider Shampoo
- OGX Kandee Johnson Sparkling Cider Conditioner
- OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Shampoo
- OGX Quenching + Coconut Curls Conditioner
- OGX Hydrate + Defrizz and Kukui Oil Conditioner
- OGX Youth Enhancing + Sake Essence Conditioner
After the OGX shampoo lawsuit, J&J stated in September 2021 that they would no longer manufacture OGX products containing DMDM. Additionally, intended to reformulate the shampoo without DMDM.