Texas Attorney General Investigates Hanes and Fruit of the Loom Over Possible PFAS and Phthalates in Children’s Underwear

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The release names bisphenols, phthalates, PFAS, parabens, and fluorine as chemicals of concern. It does not cite test results showing that any of these substances are in the companies’ products. An investigation is a request for information, not a finding of wrongdoing.

For parents in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, Austin and beyond, the practical question is whether to change what their children wear. No recall has been issued, and no agency has told families to stop using these products.

The attorney general’s office said competition on price has pushed clothing makers toward cheaper synthetic materials such as polyester, rayon and spandex, which go through manufacturing processes involving extreme heat and various chemicals. The release also says that “research has found that synthetic fabrics can shed microplastics.” “We must protect our children who cannot yet protect themselves,” Paxton said.

Under the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act, the state’s consumer protection division may issue a civil investigative demand when it believes someone holds documents “relevant to the subject matter of an investigation of a possible violation,” according to Texas law. The demand requires records to be produced before the state decides whether to take further action.

Gildan Activewear, which owns Hanes, said it will cooperate with the investigation and maintains “strict manufacturing and sourcing standards to comply with industry guidelines” on harmful chemicals, Reuters reported. Fruit of the Loom and its owner, Berkshire Hathaway, did not immediately respond.

The probe follows similar actions. In April, Paxton’s office opened an investigation into Lululemon over PFAS, and the company said it phased out PFAS in 2023. In July, the office announced investigations of Tampax, Kotex and other brands, and no lawsuits had been announced at that stage.

PFAS, often called chemicals forever, have been used in consumer products since the 1940s, and many break down very slowly. The EPA says exposure to certain PFAS at certain levels may be linked to some cancers, reduced immune response, and, in children, developmental effects such as low birth weight and behavioral changes. People are exposed mainly through drinking water, food, food packaging, household products, and dust.

Phthalates make plastics more flexible. The CDC says “some types of phthalates have affected the reproductive system in animals,” but “human health effects from exposure to low levels of phthalates are not as clear.” The agency notes that finding phthalate metabolites in urine “does not mean the levels will cause harmful health effects.”

The attorney general’s own release acknowledges this gap, noting that “questions also remain regarding the potential for exposure to certain substances through prolonged skin contact.” In other words, the presence of a chemical in fabric, if confirmed, would not by itself show that a child absorbs a harmful amount.

Children can be more exposed to chemicals than adults because, the EPA notes, they drink more water, eat more food, and breathe more air per pound of body weight. That is one reason parents pay close attention to products used every day.

Parents do not need to throw away children’s underwear based on this announcement. Families who want to limit possible exposure can check fiber labels, choose cotton items, and wash new clothing before a child wears it.

Washing is not proven to remove PFAS, but dermatologists recommend it for other reasons. Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal, a dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic, said manufacturers sometimes add formaldehyde and other preservatives to new clothing that can irritate skin, and that “many bright colors can bleed onto our skin or other fabrics before the first wash.”

Children with eczema or sensitive skin may react to dyes and finishes. Rashes, redness, or itching where clothing touches the skin are worth raising with a pediatrician, especially if they persist after switching products.

The next step to watch is whether the attorney general’s office releases test data or files a lawsuit.

What is Texas investigating? Whether Hanes and Fruit of the Loom children’s underwear may contain chemicals such as PFAS, phthalates, bisphenols, and parabens.

Have any harmful chemicals been found? No test results have been released showing these chemicals in the companies’ products.

What is a civil investigative demand? It is a legal request for documents and information that the state can issue while investigating a possible violation.

Should parents throw away these products? No recall or disposal advice has been issued. Parents can wash new clothes and choose cotton if they prefer.

What did the companies say? Gildan, which owns Hanes, said it will cooperate and follows strict standards. Fruit of the Loom did not immediately respond.