The Federal Drug and Food Administration (FDA) announced a voluntary recall for select dry shampoo products due to high levels of benzene, a human carcinogen.
This includes aerosol products from brands such as Nexxus, Suave, Dove, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemmé. All of the recalled products were produced prior to October 2021 by the parent company Unilever.
The American Cancer Society suggests that “Benzene is known to cause cancer, based on evidence from studies in both people and lab animals. The link between benzene and cancer has largely focused on leukemia and other cancers of blood cells.”
A statement from Unilever explained that “Based on an independent health hazard evaluation, daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in our testing is not expected to cause adverse health consequences. Unilever is recalling these products out of an abundance of caution.”
Retailers have been informed to remove recalled products from shelves in stores across Canada and America. Consumers are advised to stop using the affected aerosol products and visit UnileverRecall.com for instructions on how to receive reimbursement for eligible products.
A complete list of affected products, along with the specific lot numbers, can be found here.
Users who notice potential “adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product” can file a report with the FDA through an online form.
