Key takeaway: Independent lab testing published in March 2024 reported that benzoyl peroxide (BPO) can degrade into benzene at temperatures including normal body temperature, prompting at least six class action lawsuits against L'Oréal over CeraVe products that list BPO. The suits were filed between March and May 2024 and were later transferred to the Southern District of New York. As of the last cited court records, the litigation remains unresolved and regulators and consumers are watching for further testing and official guidance.
Six Class Actions Allege CeraVe Acne Products Can Produce Carcinogenic Benzene — What We Know
Jeremy Moeller, via Getty Images
Independent laboratory testing and subsequent lawsuits have focused attention on whether certain CeraVe acne products containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) can degrade and form benzene, a known human carcinogen. Below we summarize the testing, the legal timeline and what is publicly known about the claims.
Background
In March 2024, Valisure, an independent testing laboratory, published results reporting that benzoyl peroxide — a widely used topical ingredient for acne — can degrade into benzene under certain temperature conditions. Valisure said experiments that incubated BPO-containing formulations at temperatures including 37°C (98.6°F, roughly body temperature), 50°C and 70°C produced detectable benzene in some test samples. Those findings prompted multiple class action lawsuits naming L'Oréal (owner of the CeraVe brand) and other retailers as defendants.
Lab Results, Product Details and Public Claims
Social-media posts amplified testing claims, citing benzene detections in some CeraVe samples at levels described as roughly 5–12 parts per million (ppm) and comparing those numbers to a 2 ppm benchmark referenced in the circulation of those posts. Valisure’s initial release did not single out CeraVe by name, but product ingredient archives for CeraVe list benzoyl peroxide concentrations for acne treatments: the Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser lists 4% BPO and the Acne Foaming Cream Wash lists 10% BPO.
Excerpt from a post circulating online: "Benzoyl peroxide breaks down into benzene, a known carcinogen, if exposed to heat... Yale University researchers lab tested CeraVe's cleansers. CeraVe tested at 5 to 12 ppm of benzene. The FDA's limit: 2 ppm."
Note: social posts and some reports compare detected values to various reference levels; readers should consult regulatory guidance (e.g., FDA statements) and independent testing reports to understand how benchmarks apply to specific products, concentrations and exposure scenarios.
Legal Timeline
Beginning March 8, 2024, plaintiffs filed at least six class action complaints in multiple states alleging that BPO-containing products can generate benzene and that companies failed to warn consumers or ensure products were safe. Named plaintiffs and filing dates include Jennifer Snow (Hawaii, March 8, 2024), Holly Grossenbacher (Louisiana, March 15), Ellen Painter and Robert Hightower (Missouri, March 19), Lucinda O'Dea (Illinois, April 5), Ciara Noakes (April 11) and Latifah Abednego (New York, May 24).
In November 2024 plaintiffs sought consolidation of the cases in the federal district court in Hawaii; L'Oréal asked that the matters be centralized in New York. On February 7, 2025, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation denied the plaintiffs’ request to centralize in Hawaii. By May 2025 the six lawsuits had been transferred to the Southern District of New York. As of the most recent public dockets cited in this summary, no final court rulings resolving the underlying claims had been issued.
Health Context
Benzene is classified by major health agencies as a Group 1 human carcinogen, meaning there is strong evidence it can cause cancer in humans. Detectable benzene contamination in consumer products is a serious safety concern for regulators, manufacturers and researchers, and it is the central focus of the litigation and testing debate described here.
What Consumers Should Know
- If you use BPO-containing products and are concerned, check the manufacturer's website, FDA announcements, and product lot/recall notices for the latest guidance. Manufacturers often publish product ingredient information and safety statements.
- Independent testing and court challenges can take many months to resolve. The presence of lawsuits does not by itself establish legal liability or confirm product-wide risk until claims are adjudicated or settlements/recalibrations occur.
Where To Find Primary Sources
Public court dockets, Valisure’s March 2024 statement, archived product ingredient pages from CeraVe, and orders from the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation are among the primary documents cited in media coverage of these events.
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