Edgewell Personal Care Company made a major announcement, saying that it has issued a voluntary nationwide recall of three batches of Banana Boat sunscreen after benzene was detected in them.
According to a press release from Edgewell on Friday, July 29, the recall was issued for three batches of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 that were packaged in aerosol cans. An internal review found trace levels of benzene in the cans, according to NBC News.
According to the company, benzene is not an ingredient used in Banana Boat products. The trace amounts of benzene detected in the aerosol cans were caused by the propellant that distributes product in the packaging, according to the press release.
Banana Boat reveals affected sunscreen products in press release
The recalled products were distributed across the country via retailers and online. If consumers have products with lot codes 21139AF, 20016AF, and 20084BF, they should stop using them immediately and discard the sunscreen product.
The company added it is conducting this recall out of an abundance of caution. Importantly, Edgewell said that no other batches of Hair & Scalp and Banana Boat products are in the scope of this recall, and they may continue to be used by their consumers safely and as intended.
Edgewell also added new questions to the FAQ (frequently asked questions) section covering what products were impacted, what actions should be taken if a consumer purchased one of the affected batches, and how customers can request reimbursement.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), benzene is a flammable, colorless liquid harmful to the lungs, nervous system, skin, airway, and eyes. Benzene can cause certain blood cancers, including leukemia, and is found in products derived from petroleum and coal.
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Benzene has been detected in other sunscreen products before
The company's news release, which was also shared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said that exposure to the cancer-causing chemical could happen via inhalation, orally or through the skin. The human carcinogen can naturally be found in volcanoes, forest fires, cigarette smoke, crude oil, and gasoline.
Though it is not used to formulate any sunscreen, traces of benzene have also been detected in other brands' sunscreens. According to Allure, Johnson & Johnson issued a recall in the summer of 2021 for a few sunscreens from Aveeno and Neutrogena after Valisure, an independent research lab, discovered the chemical in 78 of the 300+ sunscreens and after-sun care products they were testing.
