Johnson & Johnson is recalling most of its Neutrogena and Aveeno spray sunscreens from U.S. shops after detecting benzene, a probably cancer-causing chemical, in some samples.
J&J stated Wednesday shoppers ought to cease utilizing and discard 5 of its six Neutrogena and Aveeno spray sunscreens. The corporate stated it’s also notifying distributors and retailers to cease promoting the merchandise, and arranging for the return of the merchandise.
An organization spokesman stated the trouble would come with eradicating merchandise from cabinets.
The New Brunswick, N.J., firm stated it doesn’t use benzene within the manufacturing of the spray sunscreens and is investigating the reason for the contamination. The corporate is in contact with regulatory companies in different international locations concerning the subject, the spokesman stated.
J&J, one of many world’s largest sellers of consumer-health merchandise by gross sales, didn’t say what number of bottles have been affected and what the precise benzene ranges have been, although J&J stated the degrees have been low and never anticipated to trigger well being points.
The spray merchandise affected, J&J stated, are offered as Neutrogena Seaside Protection, Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport, Neutrogena Invisible Each day, Neutrogena Extremely Sheer and Aveeno Shield + Refresh aerosol sunscreens.
“Out of an abundance of warning, we’re recalling all a lot of these particular aerosol sunscreen merchandise,” the corporate stated.
The corporate sells one different spray sunscreen product, Neutrogena Moist Pores and skin, which isn’t affected, J&J stated.
Benzene is a chemical that may trigger most cancers after excessive ranges of publicity. Excessive ranges of publicity may have extra fast results, together with dizziness, confusion and fast or irregular heartbeats.
The recall got here after a web based pharmacy stated it discovered excessive ranges of benzene in 24 sunscreens and different suncare merchandise. The pharmacy, Valisure LLC, petitioned the FDA to take away the merchandise, together with a few of these recalled by J&J.
“It seems Johnson & Johnson’s inside testing confirms Valisure’s considerations over benzene contamination in a number of sunscreen merchandise,” stated David Mild, chief govt officer of Valisure, primarily based in New Haven, Conn. “We hope regulators and producers proceed to take additional motion on sunscreens and different merchandise affected by severe contamination points.”
The net pharmacy’s testing had led to recollects of well-liked heartburn drug Zantac and diabetes drug Metformin.
The transfer to tug the favored J&J spray sunscreens is the latest black mark for the corporate’s shopper unit, which has confronted product recollects and lawsuits.
Greater than a decade in the past, manufacturing issues prompted J&J to tug from cabinets Tylenol, Benadryl and over-the-counter medicines, lots of them for kids. The recall harm J&J’s repute amongst shoppers and value the corporate greater than $1 billion {dollars} in gross sales.
Extra just lately, the corporate has been dealing with lawsuits alleging its child powder made with talc causes most cancers or mesothelioma, and that the corporate didn’t warn girls concerning the dangers related to utilizing the product.
J&J’s consumer-health unit’s reported annual gross sales of $14.1 billion world-wide final 12 months. The corporate doesn’t get away gross sales of Neutrogena and Aveeno merchandise, which additionally embody lotions, soaps and shampoos.
Write to Felicia Schwartz at felicia.schwartz@wsj.com
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