Unilever recalls Dove, TRESemme, Suave shampoo brands for toxic levels of benzene

Unilever voluntarily recalled some of its shampoo products that were distributed across the United States. The company had to recall more than two dozen of its well-known dry shampoo aerosol products after the federal health agency found high levels of benzene.

This substance is a colorless or light-yellow liquid chemical that is commonly used in the manufacturing of many products. However, exposure to high levels of Benzene is also known to be harmful, as it can cause cancer. This claim was based on evidence from research and experiments on people and lab animals.

As per Fox Business, Unilever announced a recall for some batches of Dove, Suave, Nexxus, TIGI, and TRESemme dry shampoo products. The company said that certain lot codes are affected by the recall, and it was issued after an internal investigation showed that there are "potentially elevated" chemical levels of benzene in the spray cans of shampoos and this was also announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The FDA explained that Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen that can cause cancer if one is repeatedly exposed to high levels of the said chemical. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) further said this could also damage the immune system as well as prevent the cells from fully functioning as they should.

Benzene also has varying effects on people, depending on how the chemical gets into their system. Sometimes it can be ingested, inhaled, or got through the skin and clothing. Depending on these ways, the symptoms that a person can experience include dizziness, convulsions, irregular heartbeat, and even death at exposure to very high levels.

At this time, Unilever said there is no report of any illness or adverse effects related to the recalled shampoo brands. It is still issuing a recall as a precaution.

“The recalled products were distributed nationwide in the United States. Retailers have been notified to remove recalled products from shelves,” Unilver stated in a press release that was posted on the FDA’s official website. “Consumers should stop using the affected aerosol dry shampoo products and visit UnileverRecall.com for instructions on how to receive reimbursement for eligible products.