A recent court filing reveals a significant class action lawsuit against a major corporation accused of misleading consumers with false advertising claims. The complaint, filed by Renetta Vicks and Kari Proskin on November 24, 2025, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, targets Unilever United States, Inc. The plaintiffs allege that Unilever falsely labeled its Vaseline brand Baby Healing Jelly as “hypoallergenic,” leading to adverse reactions among users.
The case details how the plaintiffs believe Unilever’s product misled consumers into thinking it was safe for sensitive skin when it contained fragrance chemicals known to cause allergic reactions. Plaintiff Renetta Vicks from Rochester, New York, purchased the product in summer 2025 to treat her son’s eczema but found that it exacerbated his condition. Similarly, Kari Proskin from Pittsfield, Massachusetts experienced severe skin reactions after using the product on her sensitive skin between winter 2023 and spring 2025. Both plaintiffs relied on the “hypoallergenic” label when making their purchases and claim they would not have bought the product had they known about its true ingredients.
The lawsuit accuses Unilever of violating consumer protection laws by engaging in deceptive marketing practices. The plaintiffs argue that the presence of fragrance chemicals contradicts the hypoallergenic claim and increases the likelihood of allergic reactions compared to other products without such chemicals. They highlight that competing products like Walmart’s Equate Baby Petroleum Jelly and Target’s Up & Up Petroleum Jelly do not contain these allergens yet are marketed as hypoallergenic.
Vicks and Proskin seek damages for themselves and similarly affected consumers across multiple states through this class action suit. They demand restitution, equitable relief, disgorgement of profits gained through these deceptive practices, and coverage of legal fees. Their goal is to hold Unilever accountable for allegedly prioritizing profit over consumer safety by misleadingly labeling their product.
Representing the plaintiffs are attorneys Joel D. Smith and Aleksandr Litvinov from Smith Krivoshey PC in Boston, MA; Yeremey O. Krivoshey from San Francisco, CA; while Judge overseeing this case is unnamed at this stage under Case ID: 2:25-cv-17887.
Source: 225cv17887_Vicks_v_Unilever_United_States_Inc_Complaint_District_New_Jersey.pdf
