Dry shampoo recall: Why is cancer-causing benzene ending up in hair products?
Global News
A mass recall of dry shampoo products in Canada due to cancer risks is being welcomed by health experts, as they call for increased vigilance and testing.
Cancer experts are calling on companies selling personal care products to increase their vigilance and testing for toxic chemicals after a mass recall of dry shampoo in Canada this week.
On Tuesday, Unilever and Health Canada announced a recall that included more than 1.5 million dry shampoo products manufactured by Dove, Bed Head and Tresemmé due to the detection of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical.
This is not the first time benzene has been detected in personal care products, such as dry shampoo, deodorants and aerosol spray sunscreens in Canada, prompting a safety recall.
In December 2021, more than 800,000 units of dry shampoo and conditioner aerosol spray products by Herbal Essence and Pantene were also recalled over benzene detection.
Also in November last year, approximately 1.4 million units of Old Spice and Secret anti-perspirants were part of another benzene-related recall.
In fact, over the past two years, at least 11 recalls have been related to aerosol spray products and elevated levels of benzene, according to Health Canada’s records.
Paul Demers, director of the Occupational Cancer Research Center and a professor at the University of Toronto, said it is concerning to see the trend.
“It’s not something that’s supposed to end up in personal care products,” he said. “That’s just bad production to do that.
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