- Edgewell Personal Care Co. is issuing a voluntary recall of three different batches of their Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray after finding trace levels of benzene, a known carcinogen, in the products.
- Customers who bought the affected products should immediately discard the product and can request a refund through the Banana Boat website or by calling 1-888-686-3988.
- This is the latest product to be recalled due to benzene contamination, after a sweeping recall of numerous sunscreen and deodorants products last year.
- Benzene may be harmful to your health if absorbed or inhaled repeatedly over time.
Sunscreen is essential for healthy skin — but those who currently have a stockpile for the summer may want to check their products, as some batches from the popular sunscreen brand Banana Boat are now being recalled due to the presence of a cancer-causing chemical.
According to the recall notice shared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the maker of Banana Boat products, Edgewell Personal Care Co., issued the voluntary nationwide recall last Friday for three batches of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30. An internal review found that some samples of the product contained “trace levels” of benzene, a known carcinogen that health experts have long-established may increase cancer risk over time and with repeated exposure.
The three recalled batches of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30, 6oz include those with the below lot codes and expiration dates, which can be found at the bottom of the can:
- Lot code 20016AF with an expiration date of December 2022
- Lot code 20084BF with an expiration date of February 2023
- Lot code 21139AF with an expiration date of April 2024
What should I do if I bought the recalled sunscreen?
Consumers who have the affected products above should stop using it and discard immediately, advises the FDA — though it’s important to note that no other batches of the Hair & Scalp product nor other Banana Boat products are included in the recall and can still continue to be used safely.
“To date, Edgewell has not received any adverse events related to this recall,” Banana Boat said on its website. “We are conducting this recall out of an abundance of caution and are advising consumers to stop using the affected product immediately and appropriately discard.”
The brand is also offering reimbursement for those who purchased the affected products. Customers can visit the Banana Boat website where they can fill out a form for reimbursement, or call 1-888-686-3988 for more information.
How did benzene end up in the sunscreen?
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time that a sunscreen product has been recalled due to benzene. Last summer saw a sweeping nationwide recall of various sunscreen brands after low levels of benzene were discovered in the products. After Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall for some Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreen sprays in July 2021, the following months also saw Coppertone aerosol sunscreens as well as Secret and Old Spice spray deodorants pulled from shelves.
Even though benzene is not listed as an ingredient in sunscreen or deodorant (including the latest Banana Boat sunscreen), the colorless chemical likely works its way into the items as a byproduct of the manufacturing process. “Benzene is a contaminant that is likely sneaking into some raw materials such as solvents and propellants in aerosol type of products,” explains Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty, Health and Sustainability Lab Director Birnur Aral, Ph.D.
How dangerous is being exposed to benzene?
According to the FDA’s recall notice, benzene is classified as a human carcinogen, and exposure to the chemical — which can occur by inhalation, orally and through the skin — can “potentially result in cancers, including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life-threatening.” Specifically, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that benzene can cause a shortage of red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, or the loss of white blood cells and changes in the blood levels of antibodies, which can damage the immune system. Benzene is also listed as developmental and male reproductive toxin in California’s Proposition 65.
According to the CDC, benzene is actually ubiquitous in our environment, being found in natural sources like forest fires, gasoline and cigarette smoke — and also commonly used in the manufacturing process for plastics, rubbers, dyes, detergents and pesticides. When it comes to sunscreen specifically, though, it’s likely that potential side effects would be from chronic exposure, over a long period of time.
“While exposure to a product that contains trace amounts of this chemical is unlikely to cause any immediate harm, chronic exposure even at low levels can be of concern,” Dr. Aral says.
While there have not been any reports of adverse reactions related to Banana Boat’s recalled products to date, the FDA advises that anyone experiencing problems or side effects should contact their physician or healthcare provider, and also fill out a digital case report form on their website.
Associate Commerce Editor
Hannah Jeon is an Associate Commerce Editor at Prevention, where she covers expert-driven commerce content for all things health, beauty, and wellness. Previously the Editorial Assistant at Good Housekeeping, she earned her bachelor’s degree in creative writing and psychology from Johns Hopkins University. When she’s not on the hunt for all the best products online, you can often find her trying out new food spots in New York City or clicking away behind a camera.
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