Texas AG investigates Lululemon over alleged PFAS in athletic apparel
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Lululemon USA Inc. over allegations tied to PFAS in athletic apparel and the company’s marketing claims.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued a Civil Investigative Demand to Lululemon USA Inc. on April 13, 2026, as part of a consumer-protection investigation into whether the company misled shoppers about PFAS in its athletic apparel.
The Texas AG’s office said it is concerned that consumers would not reasonably expect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in apparel promoted as health-conscious. PFAS are often called “forever chemicals.”
According to the Foley & Lardner LLP analysis, the investigation is focused on whether Lululemon misled consumers about the safety, quality and health impacts of its athletic wear. The source says the AG’s office is examining whether the company’s products contain PFAS that shoppers may not have anticipated based on the brand’s messaging.
The Texas AG’s press release said “emerging research and consumer concerns have raised questions about the potential presence of certain synthetic materials and chemical compounds in their apparel that may be associated with endocrine disruption, infertility, cancer, and other health issues.” The source does not provide details on the specific document requests in the demand, and it does not include a response from Lululemon.
The matter comes amid broader state and federal attention on PFAS. The source says attorneys general from 30 states and the District of Columbia had filed litigation by December 2024 against manufacturers making or using certain PFAS chemicals over alleged contamination of water supplies and natural resources.
It also says California and New York banned PFAS in most future apparel sales in January 2025, while Minnesota and Maine began phasing PFAS out of products sold in those states. In April 2025, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. said during a visit to Texas, “We want to end the production of PFAS ultimately,” according to the source. The article also reports that on April 13, 2026, the EPA was “sitting on” dozens of approvals of PFAS uses.
What happens next is not clear from the source. The Civil Investigative Demand can be a first step in a state probe, but the article does not say whether Texas plans further action or whether Lululemon will challenge the demand.
Sources
Editorial note: This article was prepared with AI assistance and includes source attribution for reader review.
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