Victoria's Secret Bras Sued For Allegedly Giving Women "Burning" Rashes

November 12, 2008 8:30 a.m. EST

New York, NY (CNS) - Victoria's Secret bras are on fire! A woman who bought two pairs claims that the bras gave her itchy rashes caused by formaldehyde in the products, her lawsuit said.

Roberta Ritter, 37, filed a lawsuit against the lingerie company after she became "utterly sick" from the new Angels Secret Embrace and Very Sexy Extreme Me Push-Up bras.

Ritter told NY Post that the rash she obtained from wearing the underwear was "red hot to the touch, burning and itching."

"It was the type of thing that keeps you up at night."

The complainant, a cosmetic chemist, found out she was not alone in her ordeal when she sued the company in May. A class action lawsuit is now in the works from dozens of other women who say that the two mentioned Victoria's Secret bras give them rashes and permanent scarring.

A lab test shows that the bras are positive for the presence of formaldehyde, the suit says.

Attorney Dawn Chmielewski told ABC News, "It may not be something [Victoria's Secret] is specifying to be put in their bras, but somehow it's making its way into the manufacturing process."

The company admitted that they had received complaints from a "small number" of consumers, but they deny the charges.

A spokesperson said, "We have strict quality controls around our products, and we do not use formaldehyde in our bras."