Costco Baby Wipes Lawsuit: Do You Need To Worry?
Written by Irina Webb
If you’re familiar with Costco Wholesale Corp, you know they’re a go-to place for just about everything – from fresh and even organic groceries and household essentials to toiletries and baby products. Specifically, Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand has gained popularity for its baby wipes, known for their convenience and affordability. Back in 2012, I also bought a box of Kirkland Signature baby wipes but I ended up not using them on my son. However, recent concerns surrounding Costco’s Kirkland Signature baby wipes have led to a class action lawsuit, sparking worry among parents and caregivers. This post delves into the details of the Costco baby wipes lawsuit and offers information on PFAS chemicals allegedly found in some wipes. This will help you gain a better perspective on the situation and make informed decisions when purchasing baby wipes.
Costco Baby Wipes Lawsuit
In this post, I’ll break down the Costco baby wipes lawsuit involving claims about PFAS chemicals allegedly found in Kirkland Signature baby wipes. True, PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” can be present in various products, drinking water, and food. However, when such findings occur in baby products, concerns rise higher because of the apprehension that the chemicals could pose a health risk to infants.
This post will also cover potential side effects of PFAS and provide information as to what amounts of PFAS found in products should arouse concern. For new parents, I will offer an alternative way to find safe baby products based on the safety of their ingredients, not hype or advertisement.
Ultimately, whether you’re a concerned Costco member or a curious reader, this post will give a much better understanding of the situation and what it means for the safety of baby wipes.
Is There a Lawsuit Against Costco Baby Wipes?
Yes, in June 2024, a class action lawsuit was filed against Costco Wholesale Corp and Nice-Pak Products, Inc. concerning the popular Kirkland Signature baby wipes (source).
Specifically, Larisa Bullard and Mila Corrigan filed a class action lawsuit against Costco Wholesale Corp. and Nice-Pak Products Inc. in California federal court. The plaintiffs claim that Kirkland fragrance-free baby wipes, marketed and sold by Costco, contained unsafe levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), measured by a Department of Defense laboratory. The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial and request damages, as well as declaratory and injunctive relief.
In August 2024, Costco responded by requesting dismissal of the lawsuit, arguing the latter intended to “scare innocent parents” and failed to name any PFAS identified as hazardous by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Further, Costco contends the lawsuit misrepresents the safety of its product, which it advertises as containing naturally derived ingredients.
What Does The Costco Wipe Lawsuit Claim?
Reportedly, the lawsuit claims that although the wipes are marketed as being “made with naturally derived ingredients,” independent testing at a Department of Defense laboratory commissioned by their counsel revealed 3.7 parts per billion (ppb) of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals.” The lawsuit argues that Costco’s advertising was misleading as these chemicals were what the class members sought to avoid by purchasing defendant’s wipes labeled as being made of potentially plant-based natural material toxin-free.
While the plaintiffs claim 3.7 parts per billion represents “dangerous levels of toxic PFAS,” Costco claims that they do not specify either which PFAS chemicals they found or the testing method they used. Nevertheless, the plaintiffs argue that the defendant’s wipes pose a health risk to infants.
Furthermore, the lawsuit, brought by plaintiffs Larisa Bullard and Mila Corrigan, claims Nice-Pak Products Inc. manufactures and Costco Wholesale Corp. sells these wipes, violating state laws on unfair competition, advertising, and consumer protections. Additionally, the class action lawsuit claims that Costco did not properly disclose the presence of PFAS, leading members to unknowingly expose their babies to potentially harmful substances. Hence, there are allegations of fraud, breach of warranty, and unjust enrichment.
Ultimately, the plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial and are requesting declaratory and injunctive relief, as well as compensatory, statutory, and punitive damages on behalf of themselves and all members of the class. (source and source)
What Do PFAS Do To The Body?
To begin, PFAS stands for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. They are man-made chemicals used in products to make them non-stick or resistant to water, oil, or stains. Because PFAS do not break down easily in the environment, they have earned the nickname “forever chemicals.”
Sadly, due to PFAS contamination in our drinking water and environment, scientists detected major PFAS compounds like PFOS, PFOA, PFHxS, and PFNA in the blood of over 98% of Americans (source).
According to the US Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, more research into PFAS health effects is necessary. Nonetheless, some of the health issues PFAS chemicals can potentially cause include:
- thyroid disease
- stunted development
- weakened immune system
- high cholesterol
- cancer
- obesity, and
- diabetes (source).
While this may sound worrisome to you, I believe in this particular case there is no need to worry. Here is why.
What Are PFAS In Baby Wipes?
First off, along with 12,000 identified PFAS structures, many remain unidentified (source). Therefore, it is practically impossible to test for each individual PFAS. What can help is the fact that all PFAS chemicals share a fluorine molecule. Hence, testing for the presence of fluorine as a proxy for PFAS is an accepted method.
However, this is not a perfect method because there are non-PFAS chemicals that have fluorine molecules, too. Besides, there are two types of fluorine – organic and inorganic. Hence, there are several accepted ways of testing: for total fluorine, for total organic fluorine, for extractable organic fluorine, and for specific PFAS.
To understand whether a manufacturer intentionally added PFAS, scientists seem to be honing in on an amount of 100 ppm of fluorine. More than 100 ppm seems to indicate that the manufacturer may have deliberately added PFAS to the product.
For example, the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI), a certifying agency for compostability of packaged food, requires products to contain less than 100 ppm of total organic fluorine – one possible indicator of intentionally added organic fluorine compounds.
Additionally, California’s Department of Toxic Substances Control (CA DTSC) also uses 100 ppm as an indicator of intentionally added organic fluorine.
Next, the EPA also maintains a list of PFAS-related criteria for products – with 100 ppm total organic fluorine as a benchmark. (Click on the “PFAS Criteria” box right above the table on the EPA website.)
Furthermore, under the new guidelines, OEKO-TEX certified products must contain no more than 100 ppm of total fluorine. By the way, you will easily spot OEKO-TEX certified diapers in my Disposable Diaper Rating List, which will save you time and money and, in the end, give you peace of mind.
Let me sum up:
Based on this, in my opinion, total organic fluorine above 100 ppm is concerning and may very well indicate manufacturers intentionally added it to the product (as opposed to being the result of accidental contamination).
In the Costco wipes case, the plaintiffs report that independent testing at a Department of Defense laboratory revealed PFAS levels of 3.7 parts per billion (ppb). Converted to parts per million (ppm), this equates to 0.0037 ppm, significantly lower than 100 ppm.
Personally, I don’t see a big reason for concern here, especially given the uncertainty about whether brief contact with the skin allows PFAS to penetrate and enter a baby’s body. Another factor to consider is the inability of finding baby wipes with absolutely zero PFAS. Simply put, if you decide to switch to a different brand, how can you be sure they contain zero PFAS?
What Baby Wipes Are PFAS Free?
Believe it or not, PFAS are not your biggest concern when it comes to baby wipes, in my opinion. Indeed, you can find small amounts of PFAS even in plant-based natural material toxin-free products simply because PFAS can be present in water, plants, animals, manufacturing equipment, and packaging.
In a nutshell, baby wipes consist of a fabric cloth and some lotion used to clean the skin of your baby. The two main concerns here are the fabric and the lotion ingredients. Thus, you don’t want any harsh chemicals in the lotion linked to increased risks of health issues, including allergy, hormone disruption, and cancer. Some of those chemicals are polysorbates and other ethoxylated ingredients, fragrance, including natural fragrance, and benzalkonium chloride, to name a few. (Learn about benzalkonium chloride in my post about WaterWipes baby wipes.)
As for the cloth fabric, you may want to avoid baby wipes made of plastic. But what about other modern materials, e.g., Tencel, Lyocell, Veocel, viscose, rayon, and bamboo? Are they okay to use on your baby’s skin? Well, you can find this information in my Baby Wipes Rating List e-book.
Additionally, the e-book will provide you with a comprehensive review of more than 70 popular baby wipes, which will allow you to shop or register with ease. You will definitely be able to find baby wipes with naturally derived ingredients, designed to be gentle on your baby’s sensitive skin.
Final Thoughts On The Costco Baby Wipes Lawsuit
Always Verify The Information Offered To You By The Internet Before Jumping To Any Conclusions.
In sum, in June 2024, a class action lawsuit was filed against Costco Wholesale Corp and Nice-Pak Products, Inc. concerning the popular Kirkland Signature baby wipes.
Reportedly, the lawsuit claims that although the wipes are marketed as being “made with naturally derived ingredients,” independent testing at a Department of Defense laboratory commissioned by their counsel revealed 3.7 parts per billion of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The lawsuit argues that Costco’s advertising was misleading and that class members sought to avoid these chemicals by purchasing wipes labeled as made of potentially plant-based natural material toxin-free.
Nowadays, scientists seem to hone in on the amount of not more than 100 ppm of fluorine. More than 100 ppm may indicate that PFAS were intentionally added to the product. With this in mind, convert the 3.7 parts per billion revealed in the plaintiffs’ test to parts per million (ppm) and get 0.0037 ppm, which is much less than 100 ppm.
Bottom line:
I don’t see a compelling reason to stress over this, especially considering that other baby wipes have not been tested for PFAS. Remember, stress can significantly impact both your mental and physical health, affecting nearly every bodily system. I highly recommend focusing on reducing exposure to potentially harmful chemicals where it’s within your control. In the case of PFAS, filtering your drinking water is a key step.
Please note that this post should not be interpreted as a recommendation or endorsement of Costco wipes. I have not reviewed the ingredients in Costco’s fragrance-free baby wipes for safety in this post. For that and to make your life easier, download my popular Baby Wipes and Disposable Diapers Rating List E-books.
Lastly, use the I Read Labels For You blog because I have already done the research and calculations for you. Also, visit my IRLFY non-toxic products shop as well as my Amazon shop. And book a service if you need help with healthy living!
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