<div><p>SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A federal judge in New Jersey has allowed two proposed class action lawsuits to proceed against Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Johnson & Johnson over the sale of children's shampoo and baby wash allegedly containing a toxin linked to cancer.</p><p>The lawsuits, by consumers in Missouri and Nevada, claim Johnson's Baby Shampoo and Wal-Mart's Equate Tearless Baby Wash contain methylene chloride, banned by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in cosmetics.</p><p>U.S. District Judge Dennis Cavanaugh dismissed from the lawsuits defendants Gerber Products Co, Procter & Gamble Co Distributing LLC, MZB Personal Care and MZ Berger & Company in two separate orders, filed on Monday and Thursday, showed.</p><p>The judge also dismissed unjust enrichment claims against Wal-Mart and Johnson & Johnson, but let the consumers sue the two companies for consumer protection act violations and breaches of implied warranty under Missouri and Nevada laws, the orders showed.</p><p>Wal-Mart and Johnson & Johnson could not be reached immediately for comment.</p><p>The two cases are among four actions filed last year by consumers nationwide against manufacturers and distributors of children's personal care products in New Jersey, where Johnson & Johnson is headquartered.</p><p>The cases are Vercellono v. Gerber Products Co et al., Case No. 09-2350, and Levinson v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos Inc, Case No. 09-3317, U.S. District Court of New Jersey.</p><p>(Reporting by Gina Keating and Alexandria Sage; editing by Andre Grenon)</p><img src="http://admatch-syndication.mochila.com/images/ad.gif?aid=68540940&bid=informcom" /></div><div id="copyright"><div>

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