Johnson & Johnson recalls sunscreen from US shelves owing to traces of benzene

The company is recalling five products after some samples were found to contain low levels of a chemical that can cause cancer with repeated exposure

Johnson & Johnson has recalled five of its sunscreen products after they were found to contain low levels of benzene

Johnson & Johnson is recalling five of its sunscreen products after some samples were found to contain low levels of benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer with repeated exposure.

The affected products, packaged in aerosol cans, are Aveeno Protect + Refresh, and four Neutrogena sunscreen products: Beach Defense, CoolDry Sport, Invisible Daily Defense and Ultra Sheer.

The recall includes all can sizes and all levels of sun protection factor, or SPF. The products were distributed across the US through retailers.

The healthcare brand said on Wednesday that benzene was found after testing by the company and an independent laboratory. It is investigating how the chemical got into the products.

J&J said it is working to get all lots of the five products removed from US store shelves. It urged consumers to stop using them immediately and said customers can get a refund by calling the company's Consumer Care Centre.

J&J said that “use of these products would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences” and that it voluntarily decided to recall them “out of an abundance of caution". The company said people should use an alternate sunscreen to protect themselves from the skin cancer melanoma.

Benzene is a highly flammable, widely used chemical that’s present throughout the environment. It can cause cancer with repeated exposure at high enough levels. It can also damage the immune system and prevent cells from functioning properly, according to the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

The chemical’s effects vary by whether a person accidentally inhales or ingests it or gets it on their skin and clothing. Symptoms range from dizziness and irregular heartbeat to convulsions and, at very high levels, death.

J&J, which is based in New Jersey, said it has notified the Food and Drug Administration of the recall.

The company last year discontinued its legacy talc-based baby-powder products in the US and Canada after thousands of lawsuits alleging asbestos contamination led to a decline in sales.