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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that shampoo company Unilever has voluntarily recalled a number of their dry shampoos over potentially elevated levels of benzene, a chemical known to cause cancer.
Benzene is a carcinogen and exposure to the chemical by inhalation, orally, or through skin can cause cancers like leukemia and blood cancer to the bone marrow, as well as other threatening blood disorders.
According to Unilever, the recall has been done out of an abundance of caution. “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,” the statement says. The company says it has received no reports of “adverse events” related to the recall from anyone.
Which shampoos are recalled?
According to the FDA, only select lot codes from the following shampoos produced prior to October 2021 have been recalled by Unilever:
Dove Dry Shampoo Volume and FullnessDove Dry Shampoo Fresh CoconutDove Dry Shampoo Fresh and FloralDove Dry Shampoo Ultra CleanDove Dry Shampoo InvisibleDove Dry Shampoo Detox and PurifyDove Dry Shampoo Clarifying CharcoalDove Dry Shampoo Go ActiveNexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing MistNexxus Inergy Foam ShampooSuave Dry Shampoo Hair RefresherSuave Professionals Dry Shampoo Refresh and ReviveTresemme Dry Shampoo VolumizingTresemme Dry Shampoo Fresh and CleanTresemme Pro Pure Dry ShampooBed Head Oh Bee Hive Dry ShampooBed Head Oh Bee Hive Volumizing Dry ShampooBed Head Dirty Secret Dry ShampooBed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry ShampooTo check if your shampoo has one of the recalled lot codes, click here. The recalled products were distributed nationwide in retail stores and online in the United States and Canada, and retailers were notified to pull them from store shelves. An investigation determined the propellant in the products as the source spreading the chemical and is being addressed by Unilever.
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What to do with the dry shampoo?
If you have the dry shampoo in your possession, the FDA recommends you stop using it and visit UnileverRecall.com for instruction on how to receive your reimbursement or refund. If you bought multiple of the recalled products, a receipt or photo of the lot code on the bottom of the products will be needed as proof of purchase. You can also contacted Unilever U.S. directly by phone to ask any questions by calling (877) 270-7412, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
If you have had reactions using this product, report them to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online or through regular mail by downloading the form here and returning it to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178.
