Johnson & Johnson Recalls Neutrogena, Aveeno Sunscreens for Benzene Contamination
Low levels of the carcinogen were found in several products.
Johnson & Johnson has voluntarily recalled five of its sunscreen products after an independent testing company found low levels of benzene, a carcinogen, in them. The company advised customers to stop using the products and throw them out.
The recall affects four aerosol sunscreen sprays from Neutrogena and one from Aveeno: Neutrogena’s Beach Defense, Cool Dry Sport, Invisible Daily Defense and Ultra Sheer, along with Aveeno’s Protect + Refresh.
“Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling all lots of these specific sunscreen aerosol products,” Johnson & Johnson wrote in an official announcement on its website, clarifying that “Daily exposure to benzene in these sunscreen products at the levels detected in internal testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.”
According to CNET, the FDA allows benzene to be used at low levels (two parts per million or less) if its inclusion in a product is “unavoidable to produce a drug product with significant therapeutic advance.” However, benzene is not necessary in sunscreen. The Dermatology Times reports that 14 of the 294 batches of sunscreen products tested contained benzene at two parts per million or more.
Head to Johnson & Johnson’s website to read its full recall announcement.
