- Banana Boat added another batch of sunscreen to its recall of Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30.
- Four lots of the product were found to contain trace amounts of benzene, according to the recall.
Banana Boat has expanded a recall on spray sunscreen to include another batch that contains trace amounts of a cancer-causing chemical, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The brand's hair and scalp sunscreen has been subject to recalls before. In July 2022, Edgewell Personal Care Company announced the voluntary recall of three batches of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 because the product was tainted with benzene, a carcinogen.
Benzene is not an intentionally added ingredient in any Banana Boat products, the company said in the recall notice, but the chemical was detected in the propellant that sprays the product from the can.
Banana Boat users should check the lot codes on the bottoms of their spray cans to find out if their sunscreen has been contaminated with benzene. Affected products should be disposed of immediately, and Banana Boat will offer reimbursement to consumers who purchased them, according to the recall notice.
Affected lot codes for Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 30 include:
- 20016AF
- 20084BF
- 21139AF
- 20301CF
High levels of benzene can cause leukemia
The amount of benzene found in spray sunscreen would not be expected to cause adverse effects on humans, even with daily exposure, Edgewell Personal Care Company said in the recall notice.
But continued exposure to high levels of benzene has been linked to leukemia and other harmful effects, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The chemical is known to damage bone marrow and red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, excessive bleeding, and immune system malfunction with prolonged exposure.
To date, Edgewell has not received any adverse events related to Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray, according to the recall notice.
Trace amounts have gotten into spray deodorant and dry shampoo
Humans are exposed to benzene on a daily basis in both indoor and outdoor air, according to the CDC. The chemical is present in tobacco smoke and gasoline, and it's recently been found in various personal care products.
In 2021, a pharmaceutical testing company called Valisure urged the FDA to recall 40 batches of sunscreen containing benzene. Trace amounts of the chemical were detected across 10 different brands including Neutrogena, Banana Boat, and CVS Health.
The same lab also tested several spray deodorants and antiperspirants, which led to the recall of 18 Old Spice and Secret sprays made by Procter & Gamble. A subsequent review by P&G revealed trace amounts of benzene in dry shampoos; the company issued a recall of 32 dry shampoos and conditioners in December 2021.
Valisure also led an independent investigation of popular dry shampoos, which found 11 brands contained levels of benzene exceeding the FDA-recommended limit.