Banana Boat sunscreen recalled due to cancer-causing chemical

Banana Boat is recalling three batches of its “hair and scalp” sunscreen after tests found that the product contains trace amounts of cancer-causing chemical benzene, the manufacturer said in an announcement submitted to the Federal Drug Administration.

Exposure to benzene through skin contact, inhalation and by mouth has been linked to cancer such as leukemia, Fox Business reported.

The Shelton, Connecticut-based company claimed in the Friday release that it “has not received any adverse events related to this recall” and that “daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.”

The recalled products have expiration dates of December 2022, February 2023 and April 2024, the company said. Banana Boat said it will also offer reimbursement to consumers who bought the recalled products.

No other batches made before or after those expiration dates listed were affected, according to the FDA release, and no other Banana Boat sunscreen is subject to the recall. 

The FDA recommends that buyers of Banana Boat’s Hair and Scalp sunscreen should “stop using the affected product immediately and appropriately discard.”

Consumers with questions regarding the recall can contact Edgewell Personal Care at 1-888-686-3988 or visit www.bananaboat.com for more information. Banana Boat also announced that they are offering reimbursement for consumers who have purchased a product marked with one of the lot of codes, which is on the bottom of the cans.