Banana Boat sunscreen has recalled a scalp spray because it contains benzene, a chemical that may cause cancer at high levels.
The Company announced voluntary recall for three batches of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 30, which was sold in 6-ounce bottles and available in the US across many retailers and online, according to an FDA recall alert.
The three batch has a UPC code of 0-79656-04041-8 and belongs to the lots 20016AF, 20084BF, and 21139AF, with expiration dates of December 2022, February 2023, and April 2024, respectively.
An internal review discovered that some samples of the product contained trace amounts of benzene. Benzene is not a component of any of the company’s products, but the review showed that the unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant in the product, according to the recall notice.
“No other banana Boat’s other Hair & Scalp products (before or after these batch codes) are not affected, and can continue to be used by consumers safely and according to their directions.”
Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen according to the FDA. If you are exposed to benzene through your nose, mouth, or skin, you could experience any number of symptoms including leukemia, bone marrow cancer, and blood disorders.
In our environment, benzene is everywhere. People around the world are exposed to it daily, both indoors and outdoors, from a variety of sources, the company said. They would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences according to an independent health assessment using established exposure modeling guidelines.
Edgewell said no bad events have been reported as a result of the recall; retailers have been told to remove affected batches from their shelves.
Those who purchased banana boat products with the affected lot codes, which appear at the bottom of the can, will be reimbursed. As a result, consumers should stop using the affected product immediately and throw it away.
Johnson & Johnson recalled five sunscreen products a year ago due to low benzene levels, according to AP. A number of Aveeno and Neutrogena products are now recalled.
