Unilever Recalls 2 Suave Deodorants Due to Levels of Cancer-Causing Benzene

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Unilever Suave Benzene Deodorant Recall Overview:

• Who: Unilever United States is voluntarily recalling two Suave 24-Hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirants.
• Why: An internal Unilever review showed slightly elevated levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene in some of the deodorants.
• Where: The recall is nationwide.

Unilever has issued a nationwide recall of two Suave aerosol deodorants as they contain elevated levels of benzene, a cancer-causing chemical linked to leukemia.

The news comes as Unilever faces a class action lawsuit over the presence of benzene in certain Suave deodorants and after the company has already discontinued one of its Suave antiperspirant deodorant lines.

The latest recall was issued March 30 on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website and applies to Suave 24-hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant Powder and Suave 24-hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant Fresh.

According to the recall, an internal Unilever review showed slightly elevated levels of benzene in some product samples. 

“While benzene is not an ingredient in any of the recalled products, the review showed that unexpected levels of benzene came from the propellant that sprays the product out of the can,” the company says.

Unilever is recalling all lots of the products with an expiration date through September 2023. No other Unilever or Suave products are included in the recall.

The Suave 24-Hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant product line was discontinued in October 2021 for business reasons, Unilever said. The affected products were in limited distribution at U.S. retail stores and online, and retailers have been notified to remove recalled products from shelves.

Unilever will offer reimbursement for consumers who bought the products included in the recall, it says.

“Consumers should stop using and appropriately discard the affected Suave 24-Hour Protection Aerosol Antiperspirant products,” the recall notice says.

Benzene Discovered in Multiple Household Products

Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally and through the skin and can result in cancers, including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow, and blood disorders, which can be life threatening.

The topic of benzene contamination came to light following a study by Valisure, an independent analytical pharmacy, which revealed in May of last year that a number of cosmetic, health care and other spray products were contaminated with benzene.

Valisure would later file a citizens petition to the FDA imploring the agency to recall the products found to be contaminated with benzene.

Earlier this year, separate class action lawsuits were filed against Bayer Healthcare and Unilever over allegations the companies sold products contaminated with the chemical benzene, a known human carcinogen, without informing consumers. 

In November last year, Unilever was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging Suave antiperspirant aerosol and spray products contain dangerously high levels of benzene.

The lawsuit claims that Valisure “detected high levels of benzene and other contaminants in specific batches of body spray products, some of which contain active pharmaceutical ingredients aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum sesquichlorohydrate.” 

Valisure tested the products manufactured by the defendant, which were found to contain as much as 5.21 parts per million of benzene.

Click the link to see if you qualify to join a class action lawsuit investigation into benzene in sunscreen (links to paid attorney advertisement).

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