Lawsuits and class actions were filed after The Laundress recalled 8 million laundry detergents and soaps due to bacteria contamination and 11 reports of infections.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting The Laundress infection induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with an infection after using The Laundress laundry detergent, soaps, or other cleaning products, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
UPDATE: The Laundress Fabric Conditioner Recalled for Carcinogen
In March 2023, about 800,000 bottles of The Laundress® Fabric Conditioner were recalled because they may be contaminated with ethylene oxide, which is a toxic cancer-causing chemical impurity. According to the recall, this chemical is “a carcinogen that can cause adverse health effects if there is significant and direct long-term exposure.”
Parents of Girl Who Died File Lawsuit Against The Laundress
In March 2023, the parents of a little girl named Elliana who died of an infection after being exposed to The Laundress products filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturer, Unilever.
The parents claim that their daughter was immunocompromised, and tragically died in November 2021 due to bacterial infections with Pseudomonas and Klebsiella aerogenes, among others. These same types of bacteria led to a massive recall for The Laundress products in December 2022.
The lawsuit was filed in the Superior Court of New Jersey (Bergen County), Docket Number BERL001599-23.
The Laundress Recalls 8 Million Products for Bacteria Infection Risk
In December 2022, the luxury brand The Laundress recalled 8 million bottles of laundry detergent, soaps, and other household cleaning products due to high levels of bacteria that can cause deadly infections.
Who Is At Risk?
The Laundress said that 11 people who used their products were infected with Pseudomonas bacteria, and the company is investigating whether the products they used were responsible.
There are social media reports of people who developed skin rashes, septic shock, and other health problems after using The Laundress products.
People are most at risk of an infection if they are very young or elderly, have certain underlying health issues, weakened immune systems, or use external medical devices like insulin pumps or breathing devices.
What Bacteria Was Found in The Laundress Products?
Testing discovered several types of bacteria in The Laundress products, including:
- Burkholderia cepacia complex (B. cepacia)
- Klebsiella aerogenes
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa
- Other species of Pseudomonas
What is the Problem?
The bacteria found in The Laundress products can cause severe, life-threatening infections. For example, infections with B. cepacia resist most antibiotics and have a 42% mortality rate, although it rarely infects healthy adults. Infections with Pseudomonas bacteria can cause infections in the blood and lungs (pneumonia).
What is Pseudomonas?
One of the first lawsuits against The Laundress cited a University of Oxford study that described Pseudomonas bacteria as “a superbug that is antibiotic resistant” and can “multiply within a household.” Infections with Pseudomonas also “frequently cause serious infections” with “severe tissue damage,” according to the study.
What Products Were Recalled?
The recall involves 8 million products, including The Laundress Signature Detergent, Wool & Cashmere Shampoo, Baby Detergent, Delicate Wash, Sport Detergent, Surface Cleaner, Glass and Mirror Cleaner, Dish Detergent, and more.
They were sold under many brands and product names, for example:
- The Laundress
- Aden + Anais
- Aromatherapy Associates
- Autumn Cashmere
- Brunello Cucinelli Wool & Cashmere Shampoo
- Crate & Barrel
- Jenni Kayne
- Glass & Mirror Cleaner
- J. Crew
- John Mayer Way Out West
- John Smedley
- Journelle
- Kith
- Le Labo
- N. Peal
- Net-A-Porter
- Saks
- United Arrow
- And more (Click here for a list of recalled products)
How To Identify Recalled Products
The Laundress recall includes products with Lot codes beginning with a prefix letter:
- F and the last four digits numbered 9354 or less
- H and the last four digits numbered 2262 or less
- T and the last four digits numbered 5264 or less
Where Were They Sold?
The recalled products were sold nationwide through September 2022 at stores like The Laundress, Bloomingdale’s, The Container Store, Saks Fifth Avenue, Target, Nordstrom, Jenni Kayne, Kith, Peruvian Connection, N.Peal, Brooklinen, Amazon.com, and other websites.
General Symptoms of Bacterial infections
The symptoms of a bacterial infection depend on what part of the body is infected. The general signs of an infection in the skin, lungs, or bloodstream could include:
- Fever
- Chills
- Feeling tired or fatigued
- Headache
- Cough, congestion, shortness of breath
- Redness or swelling
- Stiff neck
- Pain
- Drainage or pus from a wound or surgical site
- Low blood pressure
- Fast heart-rate
- Mental confusion
- Nausea or vomiting
- And more
The Laundress Hit By Class Action Lawsuit
Days before the official recall, the first class action lawsuit was filed against The Laundress by plaintiffs who accuse the company of delivering a “biological weapon” instead of the expensive luxury soaps that were advertised as non-toxic and “better for you.”
The lawsuit includes horror stories from people who went on social media to blame The Laundress products on their skin rashes, life-threatening septic shock, and other health problems.
The Laundress Class Action Lawsuit was filed against Unilever, a massive corporation that owns The Laundress, on November 24, 2022 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California – Case Number 1:22-cv-07468
Do I Have An Infection Lawsuit Against The Laundress?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting The Laundress infection induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with an infection after using The Laundress laundry detergent, soaps, or other cleaning products, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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