Neutrogena, Aveeno sunscreens recalled after cancer-causing ingredient found

Johnson & Johnson has announced a voluntary recall of some Neutrogena and Aveeno sunscreens after they were found to have low-levels of the cancer-causing chemical benzene.

According to a post on the company’s site, internal testing found that five Neutrogena aerosol sunscreens and one Aveeno aerosol sunscreen identified low levels of benzene, and consumers should stop using them.

The sunscreen products impacted are aerosol products, specifically:

• NEUTROGENA® Beach Defense® aerosol sunscreen,

• NEUTROGENA® Cool Dry Sport aerosol sunscreen,

• NEUTROGENA® Invisible Daily™ defense aerosol sunscreen,

• NEUTROGENA® Ultra Sheer® aerosol sunscreen, and

• AVEENO® Protect + Refresh aerosol sunscreen.

Product images and lot information is available on www.Neutrogena.com and www.Aveeno.com.

According to the site, benzene is classified as a human carcinogen and is found naturally environment. The company stated that benzene is not an ingredient in the sunscreen, and the levels found in the sunscreen samples would not be expected to cause health problems.

The recall is being made out of “an abundance of caution,” the site stated.

The company stated that it will investigate why benzene was detected in the aerosol sunscreens.