Health and beauty product maker Procter & Gamble has issued a voluntary product recall of aerosol dry conditioner spray products and aerosol dry shampoo spray products produced in the United States. The products are sold under the brands– Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences and Waterless, and are added to previously discontinued aerosol dry shampoo products from Old Spice and Hair Food.
The recall, which happened on December 17, is due to the presence of benzene detected in some products.
Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally and through the skin, resulting in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders that can be life-threatening. Benzene is commonly present in the environment. Humans worldwide have daily exposures to it indoors and outdoors from multiple sources.
The company said in a statement, “To date, The Procter & Gamble Company has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall and is conducting this recall out of an abundance of caution.”
Procter & Gamble took action in terms of removing products from shelves and offered solutions to consumers.
The statement also read, “The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States through retail outlets and online. Retailers have been alerted to remove recalled products from shelves. Our brands will also offer reimbursement for consumers who have purchased products impacted by this recall. Consumers should stop using and appropriately discard the affected aerosol dry conditioner spray products and aerosol dry shampoo spray products.”
They can find detailed instructions for requesting reimbursement for eligible products on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website. The affected products are packaged in aerosol cans. Refer to the image attached for guidance on where to find the production code details on the bottom of the can.