Environmental & Energy,
Consumer Protection Law
Jan. 29, 2025
Multi-state pressure outpaces FDA in hair relaxer formaldehyde fight
Even without FDA action on formaldehyde in hair relaxers, state-level bans and ongoing litigation are pushing manufacturers to remove the controversial chemical from their products.





Alexander M. Smith
Partner, Jenner & Block LLP
Phone: (213) 239-2622
Email: asmith@jenner.com
Harvard Univ Law School; Cambridge MA

Many consumers and public interest groups have raised concerns that formaldehyde in hair relaxers and other personal care products raises risks of cancer, respiratory ailments, and other diseases. These concerns have prompted thousands of consumers to file product liability and consumer fraud lawsuits against manufacturers of hair relaxer products, which have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Northern District of Illinois. See In re: Hair Relax...
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