Banana Boat recalls sunscreen sprays due to trace levels of benzene and cancer risk
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shared that the Edgewell Personal Care Company issued a voluntary nationwide recall on July 29 of three batches of the company’s Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30. See the specific lots of the products being recalled in the table below.
A company review found that some samples of the product contained trace levels of benzene. While Edgewell states that benzene is not an ingredient in any Banana Boat products, their review showed that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can.
Edgewell went on to report that no other batches of Hair & Scalp (either before or after these batch codes) and no other Banana Boat products are in the scope of this recall and may continue to be used by consumers safely and as intended.
| UPC | DESCRIPTION | Lot Code | Expiration | Size |
| 0-79656-04041-8 | Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 30 | 20016AF | December 2022 | 6 oz |
| 0-79656-04041-8 | Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 30 | 20084BF | February 2023 | 6 oz |
| 0-79656-04041-8 | Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 30 | 21139AF | April 2024 | 6 oz |
Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it potentially can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life threatening. To date, Edgewell has not received any adverse events related to this recall. Benzene is ubiquitous in the environment. Humans around the world have daily exposures to it indoors and outdoors from multiple sources.
Daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences according to an independent health assessment using established exposure modeling guidelines.
The voluntarily recalled sunscreen spray products are packaged in aerosol cans. The products were distributed nationwide in the United States through various retailers and online. Edgewell has notified its retailers to remove any remaining recalled product from shelves. Banana Boat will also offer reimbursement for consumers who have purchased a product marked with one of the lot codes in the table above.
Lot codes are located on the bottom of the can. Consumers should stop using the affected product immediately and appropriately discard.
Consumers with questions regarding this recall may contact Edgewell Personal Care at 1-888-686-3988 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Consumers may also visit www.bananaboat.comExternal Link Disclaimer for more information and to learn how to receive reimbursement for eligible products. Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have any questions, concerns or have experienced any problems related to using these aerosol sunscreen products.
Adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of this product may be reported to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program either online, by regular mail or by fax.
- Complete and submit the report Online
- Regular Mail or Fax: Download form or call 1- 800-332-1088 to request a reporting form, then complete and return to the address on the pre-addressed form, or submit by fax to 1-800-FDA-0178
For more on the Banana Boat sunscreen sprays recalled due to the presence of carcinogens, please see the video accompanying this article.
(Source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Follow Richard on Facebook and Twitter
