Personal Injury Law

Victoria's Little Secret?

By Jane Akre

Victoria may have a little secret- formaldehyde.

Some women say they've experienced rashes, hives even permanent scarring from wearing the Secret Embrace Victoria's Secret bras.

The bras are still on the shelves even though Victoria's Secret says they have received complaints.

Roberta Ritter, 37, says it happened to her.

"I had the welts.very red, hot to the touch, extremely inflamed, blistery. It  itched profusely, I was utterly sick," she tells ABC News about the Angels Secret Embrace and Very Sexy Extreme Me Push-Up bras. 

The long time Victoria's Secret shopper filed a lawsuit against the company May 14^th.

Others have asked to become part of a class action to receive compensation after seeking medical attention.

Some have even complained to the web site Medhelp.org medical chat forums.

"I too had an awful itchy splotchy red rash from the secret embrace bras."

"Victoria's Secret needs to know what their bras are doing to women."

Injuryboard member Mike Ferrara reported last month that both China and Latin America are using formaldehyde and other chemicals in the processing of textiles that can cause skin irritation and other health problems.

Researchers from the Institute for Textile and Apparel Product Safety analyzed children's clothing for formaldehyde and found between 86 to 136 parts per mission in three out of 11 items.

The Institute's director Dr. David Brookstein tells Fox News Philadelphia that "In the U.S. at this point in time there are no regulations concerning formaldehyde."  China does not allow clothing with the chemical to be sold in that country. Japan has set a limit at 75 parts per million.

Victoria's Secret told ABC News,   "We are story that a small number of people have had an issue and we want to help them determine the cause."

"Customer safety and satisfaction are always our primary concerns and we take seriously any issues our customers may have with our products," the statement continued. 

Ritter's law firm purchased some of the Secret Embrace bras and had them sent to a lab where they tested positive for formaldehyde.   Victoria's Secret says it has strict quality controls and does not use formaldehyde in its bras.

Dawn Chmielewski, Roberta Ritter's attorney from Cleveland, Ohio, says while the company doesn't specify it in their manufacturing process, it's ending up there.  "We can't explain it but it was certainly there."

Ritter's bra has not been tested but her doctor has diagnosed her with an allergic reaction.  She says she doesn't want this to happen to anyone else.

"It's woken me up big time and I want to wake people up that it could happen."

Dozens of women are seeking compensation for medical bills following reactions to the Angel's Secret Embrace and push-up bras. The case could be classified as a class action sometime in May 2009.  #

Full post as published by InjuryBoard on November 11, 2008 (boomark / email).