Unilever Dry Shampoos Recalled Due to Carcinogens

In an announcement published by the FDA on October 21, 2022, Unilever North America — a New Jersey-based cosmetics company — voluntarily recalled multiple dry shampoo aerosol products produced before October 2021 for the presence of benzene, a known carcinogen. These products include Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI, and TRESemmé dry shampoos.

According to the press release, benzene exposure via inhalation, consumption, or skin absorption is correlated with an increased risk of leukemia, other cancers, and blood disorders. The CDC states that symptoms of benzene exposure may include drowsiness, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, headache, tremors, or confusion.

The long-term effects of the chemical may include excessive bleeding, decreased ability to fight infection, or irregular menstrual cycle.

“Based on an independent health hazard evaluation, daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences. Unilever US is recalling these products out of an abundance of caution. Unilever has received no reports of adverse events to date relating to this recall,” stated the company in the press announcement.

Companies selling the product have been informed of this recall and instructed to remove the affected products from their shelves. Unilever shared that it believes the propellant in these aerosolized products is the benzene source and is working to address the issue.

Consumers of these products are urged to dispose of any affected products and report any adverse side effects to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program.

This announcement follows a recent study released by the NIH that correlated hair straightening products with an increased risk of uterine cancer. Understanding how products and other aspects of lifestyle may contribute to cancer risk can help providers better screen for these diseases.

Considering the back-to-back concerns about the safety of these cosmetic products, consumers should monitor the items they use for any additional recalls. It is equally important to understand how the production of these items is regulated and determine how to minimize other issues down the line.