Bayer has agreed to a proposed $4.85 million class action settlement tied to an October 2021 recall of certain Lotrimin and Tinactin antifungal sprays used for issues like athlete’s foot and jock itch. The lawsuit alleges that some aerosol spray products sold in the U.S. were contaminated with benzene, a chemical widely regulated because long-term exposure is associated with increased cancer risk. While the case focuses on specific lots (including those with numbers beginning TN, CV, or NAA distributed roughly from September 2018 to September 2021), it arises from a broader consumer safety concern: aerosol and spray products can become contaminated through ingredients, propellants, or manufacturing processes even when the active drug ingredient is effective. The suit was filed on claims that the products were improperly manufactured, labeled, marketed, and sold despite the alleged contamination; Bayer and the other defendants deny wrongdoing, and the court has not ruled on the merits. The settlement is significant because it offers standardized compensation without requiring proof for smaller claims ($7 per product for up to three products per household) while also allowing reimbursement with proof of purchase, and it sets a clear path for consumers to opt out or object before the March 11, 2026 deadline, with a final approval hearing scheduled for May 13, 2026 in federal court in New Jersey. More broadly, the case fits into a wave of benzene-related consumer class actions involving aerosolized personal-care and over-the-counter drug products, reflecting heightened scrutiny of trace contaminants under FDA drug quality rules (including current good manufacturing practices) and the ongoing role of recalls and private litigation in pressuring companies to tighten supply-chain testing, labeling decisions, and quality controls.