Dabur Subsidiaries Face Cancer Lawsuits in US and Canada

Overview of Dabur

Dabur India Ltd. is one of India’s leading consumer goods companies with a portfolio of over 250 herbal and Ayurvedic products. The company was established in 1884 and has a long history of developing and manufacturing traditional Indian healthcare products.

Dabur’s products are divided into several categories, including

➢ Healthcare This category includes products similar as Dabur Chyawanprash, Dabur Amla, and Dabur Honitus.
➢ Haircare This category includes products similar as Dabur Vatika, Dabur Amla Hair Oil, and Dabur Red Paste.
➢ Oral care This category includes products similar as Dabur Red Toothpaste, Dabur Lal Dant Manjan, and Dabur Meswak Toothpaste.
➢ Skin care This category includes products similar as Dabur Gulabari, Dabur Odomos, and Dabur Vatika Naturals.
➢ Home care This category includes products similar as Dabur Red Air Freshener, Dabur Odomos Mosquito Repellent Cream, and Dabur Pudin Hara.

About the case

Homegrown FMCG major Dabur on Wednesday said its three foreign subsidiaries are facing cases in civil and state courts in the US and Canada. Two consumers have filed suits against Dabur subsidiaries in the United States and Canada, alleging that the company’s Vatika Naturals Coconut Styling Gel caused them to develop cancer. The suits were filed in California and Ontario in late 2022 and early 2023, independently.

The complainants, both women, allege that the hair gel contains the chemical 1,4 dioxane, which is a known carcinogen. They claim that they used the hair gel for several times before developing cancer, and that the product’s marker didn’t adequately advise consumers about the risks of using it.

Dabur has denied the allegations, saying that its hair gel is safe and that there’s no scientific evidence that it causes cancer. The company has also said that it’s committed to consumer safety and that its products are tested to ensure that they meet all applicable safety norms.

The subsidiaries are Namaste Laboratories LLC, Dermoviva Skin Essentials Inc., and Dabur International Ltd. The suits are still in their early stages, and it’s too early to say how they will be resolved. still, they’ve raised concerns about the safety of Dabur’s hair products and other products that contain 1,4- dioxane.

What’s 1,4- dioxane?

1,4- dioxane is a synthetic chemical that’s used in a variety of artificial and marketable
products, including cosmetics, cleaning products, and paint strippers. It’s also a by- product of some manufacturing processes. 1,4- dioxane is a known carcinogen, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified it as a Group 2B carcinogen, which means that it’s “conceivably carcinogenic to humans.”

Implicit health pitfalls of 1,4- dioxane-
Exposure to 1,4- dioxane can do through inhalation, ingestion, or skin immersion. Cancer, skin irritation, eye vexation and 1,4- dioxane can irritate the airways and cause coughing, gasping, and shortness of breath.

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