Johnson & Johnson Wednesday recalled some Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol suncreens a few weeks after a federal lawsuit accused it and the makers of Banana Boat of having products containing low-levels of benzene which can cause cancer.
The Federal Drug Administration says it was informed that the following aerosol products were voluntarily recalled:
- NEUTROGENA® Beach Defense® aerosol sunscreen,
- NEUTROGENA® Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen,
- NEUTROGENA® Invisible Daily™ defense aerosol sunscreen,
- NEUTROGENA® Ultra Sheer® aerosol sunscreen, and
- AVEENO® Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen.
Johnson & Johnson urged consumers to stop using these products. Consumers can receive a refund by calling Johnson & Johnson’s Consumer Care Center at at 1-800-458-1673.
It said that the benzene levels “would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences. Out of an abundance of caution, we are recalling all lots of these specific aerosol sunscreen products.”
“While benzene is not an ingredient in any of our sunscreen products, it was detected in some samples of the impacted aerosol sunscreen finished products. We are investigating the cause of this issue, which is limited to certain aerosol sunscreen products,” the company said in a Wednesday statement.
It added that “sunscreen use is critical to public health.”
“Melanoma incidences continue to increase worldwide, and the majority of cases are caused by excessive sun exposure. It is important that people everywhere continue to take appropriate sun protection measures, including the continued use of alternative sunscreen.”
