Image Source: Unilever
The British company Unilever announced the withdrawal of two Suave aerosol antiperspirant products due to high levels of benzene in a few samples. It is yet another company that has recalled products due to carcinogens.
Suave 24-Hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant Powder in 4 ounces and 6 ounces and Suave 24-Hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant Fresh in 6 ounces, with expiration dates running through September 2023, are the two types of antiperspirants that are included in the nationwide recall.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified benzene as a known human carcinogen for all routes of exposure. Some products that contain this industrial chemical include gasoline and cigarette smoke.
“While benzene is not an ingredient in any of the recalled products, the review showed that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can,” stated the company.
Being exposed to benzene by any means, including inhalation, oral, or through the skin, can cause cancer, such as leukemia and blood cancer. However, humans come across it every day, according to Unilever.
To find out which products are included in the recall, check this website for more information. If it turns out that one or more of the products you use are included in the list, then Unilever recommends stopping use immediately and throwing them away instead.
In October 2021, Unilever announced that they were halting the production of Suave’s 24-hour protection antiperspirant sets due to business grounds.
Unilever stated that they would be refunding money to consumers affected by their withdrawal from the market. However, when asked for further comments on this issue, the company did not respond immediately.
Unilever isn’t alone in its experience with this type of withdrawal; many other companies have gone through it as well.
Procter & Gamble issued a recall in December of 32 dry shampoo and conditioner products due to the presence of benzene in a few of them. Afterward, Coppertone followed in October, withdrawing five of its aerosol sunscreen products. And in July, Johnson & Johnson withdrew five of its Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreen products.
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