Banana Boat expands sunscreen recall due to cancer risk

INDIANA – Edgewell Personal Care is expanding its recall of three batches of Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Sunscreen Spray SPF 30 due to the presence of benzene. One additional batch has been added to the original recall announced on July 29, 2022.

A review found that some samples of the product contained trace levels of benzene. While benzene is not an ingredient in any Banana Boat products, the review showed that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can.

Importantly, 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.

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.

Benzene is ubiquitous in the environment. Humans around the world have daily exposure 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.

To date, Edgewell has not received any adverse events related to this recall.

The recalled sunscreen spray products are packaged in aerosol cans.

Consumers should stop using the affected product immediately and appropriately discard it.

Edgewell has notified its retailers to remove any remaining recalled products from shelves. Banana Boat will also offer reimbursement for consumers who have purchased a product marked with one of the following lot codes, 20016AF, 20084BF, 21139AF, and 20301CF. Lot codes are located on the bottom of the can.

UPCDESCRIPTIONLot CodeExpirationSize
0-79656-04041-8Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 3020016AFDecember 20226 oz
0-79656-04041-8Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 3020084BFFebruary 20236 oz
0-79656-04041-8Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 3021139AFApril 20246 oz
0-79656-04041-8Banana Boat Hair & Scalp Spray SPF 3020301CFSeptember 20236 oz

Consumers should contact their physician or healthcare provider if they have any questions, or concerns or have experienced any problems related to using these aerosol sunscreen products.