More Products with Benzene Contamination Recalled

March 9, 2023

After several aerosol spray haircare products were recalled in 2021 because they may contain benzene – and following Johnson & Johnson’s decision to recall a number of aerosol sunscreen products that same year for the same reason – there are still new recalls being announced for similar products with benzene contamination that consumers should be aware of. 

Deodorant and Antiperspirant Sprays

In one example, HRB Brands issued a voluntary recall of some Sure and Brut deodorant and antiperspirant sprays after a review showed “that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can.” 

The products with benzene potentially contaminating the propellant have an expiration date of “on or before August 2023,” according to a statement posted on the FDA website.

Sunscreen Spray

In more recent news, Banana Boat included more Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 in a Banana Boat sunscreen recall in January 2023. 

Three batches of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 were added to the voluntary nationwide recall, and “one additional batch has been added to the original recall announced on July 29, 2022,” Edgewell Personal Care Company revealed in a news release outlined on the FDA’s site.

In a statement on the Banana Boat website, the company noted, “While benzene is not an ingredient in any Banana Boat products, the review showed that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can.” The company urged customers to throw any affected product away and offered a reimbursement process to impacted consumers. 

Dangers of Benzene

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) notes that benzene is “used in the manufacture of a wide range of industrial products, including chemicals, dyes, detergents, and some plastics.” 

Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, and if the sunscreen or aerosol spray you use contains benzene, you could be at risk of developing cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, long-term exposure to benzene may increase the risk of developing different types of cancer, including:

• Acute myeloid leukemia
• Acute lymphocytic leukemia
• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
• Multiple myeloma
• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

If you or a loved one used products with benzene like sunscreen or aerosol deodorant and were diagnosed with cancer, you may be able to take legal action against the manufacturer. 

The team at Phillips Law Group is dedicated to seeking justice for those who have been harmed by defective or dangerous products and can schedule a free consultation with you to discuss your options. We are Arizona’s law firm, and we are ready to help!