The FDA is alerting consumers to an important update of a July 29, 2022 recall of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 by Edgewell Personal Care due to trace levels of benzene.
On January 27, 2023, Edgewell Personal Care announced another batch of the product has been added to the initial three batches voluntarily recalled nationwide to the consumer level.
The original recall was initiated when a review of the product detected the presence of benzene, which is not a listed ingredient in any Banana Boat products. Officials noted that trace but unexpected levels of the chemical were emitted from the propellant used to spray the product out from its aerosol can.
A known human carcinogen, benzene can be absorbed by inhalation, orally, and via skin contact. Though it is commonplace in the environment and humans worldwide come into contact with the substance indoors and outdoors through several sources, exposure to the chemical could potentially lead to different cancers, “including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow,” as well as possibly life-threatening blood disorders.
Citing an “independent health assessment using establishing exposure modeling guidelines,” the company maintains that even daily exposure to the levels of benzene in its recalled products would not cause significant harm to human health. To date, it has not received any reports of any adverse events linked to the recall.
Packaged in 6-ounce aerosol sprays with various printed expiration dates, the impacted products were distributed across the U.S. online and through a number of retailers. Retail partners have since been instructed to pull any remaining affected products from its shelves.
Anyone who may have purchased an affected product (which can be identified by lot code printed on the bottom of the can) is urged to cease use and to safely discard it; consumers can seek reimbursement from Banana Boat. A complete and updated list of the impacted lot codes can be referenced in the FDA communication.
As the FDA continues to oversee this recall, any adverse experiences or quality issues should be reported to the agency’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.
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