Banana Boat Recalls Hair and Scalp Sunscreen Over Low Levels of Carcinogen

The guardian firm of Banana Boat recalled batches of a sunscreen spray as a result of they contained hint ranges of benzene, a carcinogen, the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration mentioned. Customers have been urged to cease utilizing the merchandise.

Edgewell Private Care, which owns Banana Boat, issued the voluntary nationwide recall on Friday for merchandise in three batches of SPF 30 hair and scalp sunscreen that have been discovered to comprise the carcinogen, in line with the F.D.A.

“Customers ought to cease utilizing the affected product instantly and appropriately discard,” officers mentioned.

The lot codes — discovered on the underside of the cans — of the three recalled batches are 20016AF, 20084BF and 21139AF, with expiration dates in December 2022, February 2023 and April 2024. All spray cans recalled are 6 ounces.

“No different Banana Boat merchandise are within the scope of this recall and will proceed for use by shoppers safely and as supposed,” the F.D.A. mentioned.

Benzene will not be an ingredient in any Banana Boat product, however it’s a part of the propellant that sprays the sunscreen out of the can, the F.D.A. mentioned. Retailers have been informed to take away the merchandise from cabinets. The sunscreen had been bought on-line and in shops.

“Publicity to benzene can happen by inhalation, orally and thru the pores and skin,” the administration mentioned, “and it doubtlessly may end up in cancers together with leukemia and blood most cancers of the bone marrow and blood problems, which will be life-threatening.”

Low ranges of benzene will be present in merchandise comparable to plastics and detergents, in addition to at gasoline stations and within the air by means of tobacco smoke, motorcar exhaust and industrial emissions, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Benzene causes cells to work incorrectly and may injury the immune system.

“The seriousness of poisoning brought on by benzene is dependent upon the quantity, route and size of time of publicity,” the C.D.C. mentioned, “in addition to the age and pre-existing medical situation of the uncovered individual.”

Individuals are uncovered to hint ranges of benzene of their surroundings. No adversarial results associated to the Banana Boat sunscreens have been reported, however shoppers ought to contact their well being care suppliers in the event that they expertise issues, in line with the F.D.A.

“We all know that you simply love our merchandise, and we’re conducting this recall out of an abundance of warning,” Banana Boat mentioned on its web site.

Related benzene-related remembers have occurred prior to now. Johnson & Johnson issued a recall for some Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen sprays final yr after testing discovered low ranges of benzene.

Banana Boat will supply reimbursement for patrons of those merchandise. For extra info, shoppers can go to the Banana Boat web site or name 1-888-686-3988.