More than two years after an investigative report alleged that laminate flooring sold at Lumber Liquidators contained high — and potentially dangerous — levels of formaldehyde, the flooring retailer has agreed to pay $36 million to close the books on class-action lawsuits brought by customers. [More]
formaldehyde
Alaska Airlines Passengers Get $500 After Fish, Formaldehyde Spill On Luggage
By 10.11.16 — Updated: 10.12.16
We all know that there are risks to checking luggage on a flight — lost bags, damaged or stolen items, mix-ups with other passengers’ luggage — but what you probably don’t assume is that your checked bag will end up covered in formaldehyde and dead fish. [More]
Walmart Encourages Suppliers To Remove 8 Controversial Chemicals From Products
By 7.20.16
Walmart has a huge amount of power over which products end up on the market. The mega-retailer is now encouraging suppliers to remove eight chemicals from their products. The substances aren’t banned, exactly, but suppliers will have to discolose their presence on any products containing them starting in two years. The list consisted of substances which may be harmful to people, to the environment, or to both. [More]
Lumber Liquidators Won’t Resume Sale Of Laminate Wood Flooring From China
By 6.17.16
More than a year after Lumber Liquidators stopped the sale of laminate wood flooring from China that was found to allegedly contain excessive formaldehyde levels, the flooring retailer and federal safety regulators have come to an agreement that the company won’t restart sales of the products and will provide customers who already installed the flooring with testing kits. [More]
Lumber Liquidators To Pay California $2.5M For Having Too Much Formaldehyde In Its Flooring
By 3.22.16
More than a year ago, a 60 Minutes report on the formaldehyde levels in laminate flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators kicked off a string of investigations, and lawsuits, culminating with the exit of the company’s CEO. Today, California regulators finally closed the book on its Lumber Liquidators case after the retailer agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle charges is sold flooring that contained formaldehyde in excess of the state’s allowable levels. [More]
CDC Corrects Error, Finds Health Risk Of Laminate Flooring Higher Than Previously Announced
By 2.22.16
Two weeks ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released their report on formaldehyde levels emitted by certain types of laminate flooring, including but not limited to controversial lines imported from China and sold at Lumber Liquidators. Now the CDC has revised its report, noting that the levels of formaldehyde given off by the flooring could cause higher rates of cancer, breathing problems, and irritation than previously thought. [More]
Lumber Liquidators CEO Resigns Amid Formaldehyde Flooring Investigation
By 5.21.15
Following news reports of allegedly excessive formaldehyde levels in some of its flooring products — and subsequent lawsuits and investigations — the CEO of Lumber Liquidators has resigned from the top position at the company. [More]
Lumber Liquidators Stops Selling Laminate Wood Flooring From China Amid Formaldehyde Investigations
By 5.7.15
Following news reports about, and federal investigations into, claims that some of its laminate wood flooring contains excessive levels of formaldehyde, Lumber Liquidators announced this morning that it has suspended the sale of laminate floors sourced from Chinese manufacturers. [More]
New Report Alleges Some Lowe’s Flooring Also Has Formaldehyde Problem
By 5.1.15
While Lumber Liquidators has been the target of lawsuits and federal investigations into allegations that the company’s China-sourced flooring contains exceedingly high levels of formaldehyde, hardware giant Lowe’s is now facing similar accusations from the hedge fund analyst who helped spark the Lumber Liquidators investigation. [More]
Feds Investigating Lumber Liquidators Over Formaldehyde Allegations
By 3.25.15
In the wake of a primetime news report alleging that some flooring sold by Lumber Liquidators contained excessive amounts of formaldehyde, federal regulators at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have confirmed the agency is investigation the lumber company. [More]
Lumber Liquidators Sued Over Formaldehyde Allegations
By 3.5.15
Only days after a 60 Minutes report on the allegedly high formaldehyde levels in wood products sold by Lumber Liquidators, consumers have filed a potential class action against the company in federal court. [More]
CBS Reports That Lumber Liquidators Is Selling Formaldehyde-Laden Laminate Flooring
By 3.2.15
Lumber Liquidators is one of those stores that does exactly what it sounds like: they sell wood and other building supplies at a discount. A report that aired this weekend on the CBS program 60 Minutes shared some scary findings from independent lab tests performed on samples of flooring purchased from the chain. The company counters that these tests are inaccurate, and that the people behind these allegations aren’t out to protect consumers. [More]
Are You Vaping Formaldehyde In Your E-Cigarette?
By 1.22.15
Formaldehyde may be good for preserving dead bodies, but as a known carcinogen, it’s not really something you want to put into a living body. But when users of e-cigarettes — many of whom ditched smoking because of cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde — enjoy their tasty vapor, they may be getting more formaldehyde than they would from smoking a cigarette. [More]
Johnson & Johnson Reformulates Shampoo, Because Babies Don’t Need Formaldehyde In Their Baths
By 1.17.14
If you asked most folks if formaldeyde sounds like a great ingredient for baby shampoo, they’d say “no.” And possibly also, “ew, gross.” Baby-goods behemoth Johnson & Johnson agrees that formaldehyde is not so much a thing your baby needs, and has rinsed it right out of their iconic yellow shampoo. [More]
You Can Be The Proud Owner Of A Formaldehyde-Contaminated FEMA Trailer
By 10.6.09
Looking to own a piece of history — or just want someplace to put those pesky in-laws when they show up unexpectedly? The General Services Administration has a deal for you! The government agency is selling off thousands of FEMA trailers leftover from the Hurricane Katrina period at rock-bottom prices. Of course, as with any second-hand product, these come with some caveats. In this case, it’s a warning that “the government may not have tested all of these units for formaldehyde.”
Class Action Lawsuit: Victoria's Secret Bras Causing Skin Rashes?
By 11.12.08
Discover Magazine has an interesting blog post about some consumers who were complaining that Victoria’s Secret bras were giving them painful rashes. When their lawyers bought similar bras and had them tested — they were found to contain formaldehyde.
New Zealand And Australia Recall Chinese-Made Formaldehyde Tainted Blankets
By 8.22.07
The formaldehyde-tainting scandal over in New Zealand and Australia continues today with a recall of Chinese-made blankets that are so full of formaldehyde that they could cause skin or respiratory irritation, according to the Associated Press.
Wholesale firm Charles Parsons said the level of formaldehyde in the Superlux brand of blankets ‘may cause short-term skin or respiratory irritation.’
New Zealand TV Program Says Chinese-Made Children's Clothes Are Contaminated With Formaldehyde
By 8.20.07
The New Zealand Ministry of Consumer Affairs is investigating claims made by a New Zealand television program that Chinese-made children’s clothes are contaminated with formaldehyde. The consumer watchdog program tested woolen and cotton clothes after receiving a complaint that a child had suffered an allergic reaction.
