NEW YORK (Legal Newsline) - Flossing isn't good for you, a new class action lawsuit alleges.
Plaintiff Alan Dalewitz sued Procter & Gamble on Aug. 26 in New York federal court, alleging Oral-B Glide dental floss products contain chemicals from a group known as PFAS. This contradicts the company's "pro-health" claims.
"(L)abatory testing indicates that the product most likely contains (PFAS), which are a group of synthetic chemicals believed to be harmful to humans and the environment," the suit says.
Consumer class actions over PFAS are becoming more popular. PFAS are found in firefighting foam and consumer products like non-stick cookware and have made their way into the bloodstreams of virtually every American.
Lawsuits blame the chemicals for a variety of health problems, some of which were linked by a health study that was part of a settlement with DuPont. But others say the science on how PFAS affect the human body is incomplete.
Meanwhile, as the government still requires PFAS in its firefighting foam on military bases, lawyers pursue litigation like an Ohio class action that alleges no illnesses. Most PFAS cases are sent to a federal multidistrict litigation proceeding in South Carolina federal court.
Companies like Cava Grill say consumers' concern about getting sick - and not actually being sick - does not give rise to standing to bring a lawsuit.
Lawyers at Richman Law & Policy and Bursor & Fisher are pursuing the P&G case.