In a major development, the US Unilever Company on Tuesday voluntarily recalled dry shampoo aerosol products including Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemmé due to potentially elevated levels of benzene. Meaning, the aerosol dry shampoos from Uniliver including Dove and Tresemme have been recalled by Uniliver Plc in the United States after it was discovered that they were contaminated with a chemical called benzene that causes cancer. Dove, Tresemme shampoos are among the products which are used in most of houses around the world, however, Unilever keeping U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the pipeline has recalled the products back.
What is benzene and how do shampoos cause cancer?
Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen (Any substance that causes cancer). Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life-threatening. Benzene is ubiquitous in the environment. Humans around the world have daily exposure to it indoors and outdoors from multiple sources. 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. Now the question, arises if it does not impact health, then why Unilever has recalled 19 products?
The answer is "Unilever U.S. is recalling these products out of an abundance of caution. Unilever has received no reports of adverse events to date relating to this recall." As per the official release, the recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States. Retailers have been notified to remove recalled products from shelves.
Furthermore, an internal investigation identified the propellant as the source, and Unilever has worked with its propellant suppliers to address this issue. To be precise, the internal investigation found that the propellant used in the aerosol cans was the source of the high levels of benzene.
List of products recalled
The recalled products include Dove Dry Shampoo Volume and Dullness, Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh Coconut, Dove Dry Shampoo Invisible, Dove Dry Shampoo Detox and Purify, Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh and Floral, Dove Dry Shampoo Ultra Clean, Dove Dry Shampoo Clarifying Charcoal, Dove Dry Shampoo Go Active, TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Volumizing, TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Fresh and Clean and TRESemmé Pro Pure Dry Shampoo among others.
It is pertinent to mention here that Unilever in its press release has also issued an advisory saying, "Consumers should stop using the affected aerosol dry shampoo products and visit UnileverRecall.com for instructions on how to receive reimbursement for eligible products"