Carefree panty liners face lawsuit over dangerous carcinogen claim

A major brand of panty liners has been accused of exposing hundreds of women to a cancer-causing chemical – with users claiming they suffered devastating health problems ranging from yeast infections to liver disease, a new lawsuit claims.

Carefree, a feminine hygiene brand formerly owned by Johnson & Johnson and now owned by Essity, allegedly contained PFOA, a known carcinogen, according to the complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

PFOA, or perfluorooctanoic acid, is a synthetic “forever chemical” belonging to a group of substances called PFAS, which can persist in the environment and the human body for years.

Research has linked exposure to PFOA to an increased risk of certain cancers, including kidney and testicular cancer, as well as other serious health problems.

The plaintiffs claim they regularly wore Carefree panty liners in their underwear, leaving the products in “prolonged contact” with “vulvar and perineal tissues.”

“The tissue is vascular and permeable, and what it absorbs enters directly into the bloodstream,” the suit states.

Some women wore the liners for 10 hours or more at a time, with the lawsuit claiming they were exposed to the chemical hundreds or even thousands of times over years of regular use.

The women in suit claim to have suffered from a range of health problems, including breast, ovarian and kidney cancers; thyroid disease; chronic inflammation; infections; high cholesterol and immune disorders.

Others allegedly suffered decreased fertility or infertility, while the lawsuit claims women now live in fear of developing cancer due to their alleged exposure.

“Each plaintiff suffered physical, mental and emotional pain and suffering, anxiety related to her diagnosis and treatment, and loss of enjoyment of life,” the papers said.

The lawsuit accuses the manufacturers of deliberately concealing the alleged contamination, despite having access to inexpensive tests that could have detected the chemical and the ability to make PFAS-free alternatives.

None of the companies named in the complaint disclosed the alleged presence of PFOA in the panty liners, according to the complaint.

“It does not appear on any label, ingredient list or packaging, and in any advertising or consumer communications,” the newspapers say.

The manufacturers reportedly received notice on February 6, 2024, that PFOA had been found in Carefree liners, but continued to sell the products, including after California’s restrictions on intentionally added PFAS in certain textiles took effect.

“They continued to sell in California after January 1, 2025, despite a legal prohibition,” the lawsuit claims.

The lawsuit also names Gelson’s, the Los Angeles-based upscale grocery chain, as a defendant for allegedly selling the products.

The hundreds of women are seeking punitive damages at trial in an amount “sufficient to punish the Manufacturer Defendants,” according to the complaint.

Johnson & Johnson, Essity and Gelson’s have been contacted for comment.

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