Avon Products, a historic cosmetics company, has been hit by hundreds of lawsuits in the United States related to its talc-based products, which are accused of containing asbestos and causing cancer.
After the scandal involving Johnson & Johnsonanother historic cosmetics company finds itself at the center of serious accusations related to the sale of potentially dangerous products carcinogenic. Avon Productsa famous brand with over a century of history, has been overwhelmed by hundreds of lawsuits related to the alleged harmful effects of its talc-based products. These controversies have put the company in a critical financial situation, so much so that it has filed for bankruptcy in the United States.
According to documents filed in bankruptcy court for the district of Delaware, Avon is facing 386 lawsuitswith compensation claims amounting to millions of dollars. The charges revolve around the presence of asbestos in the company’s talc-based products, a substance known to be highly dangerous. Although Avon has always denied these claims, the legal costs and compensation sought have brought the company to its knees.
In an attempt to manage this crisis, Avon has initiated procedures for the Chapter 11a mechanism under U.S. bankruptcy law that allows companies to continue operating while restructure their debts. It is important to note that this request only affects Avon’s U.S. operations, while its international subsidiaries and operations are not affected and will continue as usual. The company has specified that its operations outside the United States will continue without interruption.
In recent years, judgments against Avon have multiplied. In December 2022, a Los Angeles court ordered the company to pay an Arizona woman 50 million dollars. The woman claimed she had developed cancer after years of using products containing talcum powder, which was allegedly contaminated with asbestos. More recently, in July, another jury awarded 24 million dollars to a former employee of an Avon plant in Illinoiswho was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a form of cancer linked to exposure to asbestos. Despite these heavy sentences, Avon continued to deny any link between its products and the onset of neoplasms.
The Avon crisis represents a further shot to the image of the cosmetics industry, already shaken by numerous scandals related to the use of dangerous ingredients. The case highlights the importance of ensuring consumer safety through rigorous controls and transparency by companies. Avon’s financial collapse also highlights the toll that legal disputes can have on a company, especially when it comes to issues related to public health.
As the company seeks to restructure its debt and restore consumer confidence, the fate of its hundreds of pending lawsuits remains uncertain. However, this scandal may prompt other companies in the industry to rethink their practices and invest more in product safety to avoid suffering the same fate.