Artur Rezmer, a 45-year-old manufacturing technician based in Hull, has filed a lawsuit against Reckitt Benckiser seeking £100,000 in compensation. The claim alleges that exposure to ingredients in the cold remedy Lemsip and the constipation treatment Fybogel led to the development of occupational asthma and rhinitis.
The £14.2 billion giant's Hull manufacturing legacy
Reckitt Benckiser is a FTSE 100 corporation that reported revenues of £14.2 billion in 2025. The company has deep historical roots in Hull, a city where it has operated since Isaac Reckitt purchased a starch mill in 1840.
This long-standing industrial presence in the region provides the backdrop for the current legal battle at the Kingston-upon-Hull Combined Court Centre. As reported by The Mail on Sunday, the legal proceedings involve a technician who has worked across various product lines, including the iconic Dettol brand, which was first bottled in Hull in 1932.
From Lemsip fumes to Fybogel powder leaks
Artur Rezmer claims that his respiratory symptoms began within weeks of starting work on the Lemsip production line in 2020. according to the legal papers, Rezmer experienced a blocked nose and sore throat,which he says were caused by dust and fumes escaping from a hopper and burning on a sealing heater.
The situation allegedly worsened when Rezmer was moved to the Fybogel production line in late 2020. He claims that exposure to ispaghula—the husk used in Fybogel—resulted in chest tightness and breathlessness. The lawsuit further alleges that in April 2022, a conveyor belt was found covered in loose Fybogel powder, contributing to his declining health.
Reckitt Benckiser's defense against the ispaghula claim
Reckitt Benckiser denies that its products caused Rezmer's medical condition, though it has made specific concessions regarding Fybogel. while the company maintains that no respiratory sensitisers capable of causing asthma are present in Lemsip, it has accepted that ispaghula in Fybogel is a recognized sensitiser.
The company's defense rests on the argument that Rezmer failed to use the safety equipment provided to him. As the report notes, Reckitt Benckiser pointed to Rezmer's positive tests for other allergens, such as house dust mites, to suggest alternative causes for his symptoms. The firm also maintains that it met health and safety requirements regarding the handling of ispaghula.
The dispute over poorly fitted masks and blocked extractors
The legal battle leaves several critical technical questions unanswered regarding the factory's safety protocols.. Rezmer's layers argue that the high-performance filtration masks provided by the company were poorly fitted and were never made mandatory for staff.
It remains unverified whether the extractor systems mentioned in the claim were frequently blocked or if the company's safety measures were sufficient to prevent powder from escaping hoppers. Additionally, the court has yet to determine if the company's handling of ispaghula fell below the "lowest level practical" required under health and safety rules.
Comments 0