Arizona sues L'Oréal over alleged failure to disclose hair relaxer cancer risks

The Arizona Attorney General's Office has filed a consumer fraud lawsuit against L'Oréal USA, its parent company L'Oréal S.A., and the hair care brand SoftSheen-Carson. The lawsuit alleges that the companies marketed chemical hair relaxer products without disclosing potential links to increased risks of ovarian, uterine, and hormonal cancers.

The filing claims these products, which are marketed primarily to African American women and children, contain toxic chemicals and known or probable human carcinogens such as formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, and 1,4-dioxane. Arizona is the first U.S. state to take legal action regarding these specific cancer risk allegations.

L'Oréal has strongly denied the allegations, stating that its products undergo rigorous scientific safety evaluations and comply with all market regulations. A spokesperson asserted that the claims lack both legal and scientific merit. The state is seeking fines, damages, and an injunction to stop the sale of the products unless proper cancer risk warnings are provided.