Listerine Mouthwash Class Action Lawsuit. If you’ve used Listerine Mouthwash because of claims it can “penetrate biofilms” and “kill germs,” you may be eligible to join a class action lawsuit challenging these advertising representations. Lawyers with our firm who specialize in misleading advertising claims believe some of the assertions made in marketing materials for Listerine Mouthwash are false or exaggerate its effectiveness against biofilms and germs. If this is the case, consumers who purchased Listerine Mouthwash products may be entitled to refunds and other damages.
Our firm is currently offering free lawsuit evaluations to any consumer who purchased Listerine Mouthwash. If you are interested in joining our Listerine Mouthwash class action lawsuit, we urge you to contact us today.
Listerine Mouthwash Claims
A frequently-repeated TV commercial for Listerine Mouthwash claims the product is effective against “resiliant biofilms” made up of germs that are “strong enough to survive daily brushing.” According to the advertisement, Listerine Antiseptic can “penetrate biofilms, kill germs, and protect your mouth for up to 12 hours.”
Consumers viewing this commercial might be left with the impression that biofilms are a new scientific discovery. But in reality, the term “biofilm,” as it is used in this TV spot, is just a buzzword for something that’s been around for quite some time – plaque. Plaque is a type of biofilm, something that dentist have been warning about forever. But the Listerine Mouthwash spot never once mentions plaque, or indicates that the biofilm that forms on teeth constitutes plaque.
In the past, Johnson & Johnson has taken heat for making claims that Listerine is effective against plaque. For example, in 2005, a U.S. federal judge ruled that a print ad touting Listerine Antiseptic Mouthwash as “clinically proven to be as effective as floss at reducing plaque and gingivitis between the teeth” to be false and misleading, as well as a public health risk.
In 2010, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) demanded that Johnson & Johnson quit making claims that its Listerine Total Care Anticavity Mouthwash “fights unsightly plaque above the gum line” and “prevents cavities.” According to a warning letter issued by the agency, sodium fluoride, the sole active ingredient in Listerine, does not mitigate, prevent, or remove plaque.
Need Legal Help Regarding Listerine Mouthwash?
The personal injury attorneys at Parker Waichman LLP offer free, no-obligation case evaluations. For more information, fill out our online contact form or call 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529).
