Unilever, the British multinational consumer goods company, recently announced a voluntary recall of 19 dry shampoo aerosol products sold in the United States. This, they scarily indicated, was due to concerns about benzene, a chemical often linked to cancer.
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, if one is exposed to benzene (which is classified as a human carcinogen), this can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancers. Exposure often happens through inhalation, ingestion, or even through skin contact. Read on for more information and a list of the effected brands from the recall:
Unilever has issued a voluntary recall of more than a dozen aerosol dry shampoo products sold in the U.S. and Canada from Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI and TRESemmé, saying they may contain elevated levels of benzene, a carcinogen. https://t.co/GA5aDnn39n
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 25, 2022
Which Brands Are Being Recalled?
While Unilever has told customers that it is pulling the products “out of an abundance of caution,” the company (thankfully) has not yet received reports of any adverse event relating to the recall. The recalled products were produced before October 2021. Retailers, Unilever indicated, have been notified to pull these affected dry shampoo products from store shelves. The following dry shampoo brands (Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TRESemmé, Bed Head) and 19 products are being recalled, related to benzene:
Dove:
- Dove Dry Shampoo Volume and Fullness
- Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh Coconut
- Dove Dry Shampoo Fresh and Floral
- Dove Dry Shampoo Ultra Clean
- Dove Dry Shampoo Invisible
- Dove Dry Shampoo Detox and Purify
- Dove Dry Shampoo Clarifying Charcoal
- Dove Dry Shampoo Go Active
Unilever recalled several dry shampoos because they may contain “elevated levels” of the chemical, which can be a carcinogen at high levels of prolonged exposure. https://t.co/oYjyLQql70
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) October 26, 2022
Nexxus:
- Nexxus Dry Shampoo Refreshing Mist
- Nexxus Inergy Foam Shampoo
Suave:
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- Suave Dry Shampoo Hair Refresher
- Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo Refresh and Revive
The recall includes aerosol dry shampoo sprays from Dove, Nexxus, Suave, Rockaholic, Bed Head, and TRESemmé, Unilever said in a notice via the FDA’s website. https://t.co/YuL2VH1xRt
— WFAA (@wfaa) October 25, 2022
TRESemmé:
- TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Volumizing
- TRESemmé Dry Shampoo Fresh and Clean
- TRESemmé Pro Pure Dry Shampoo
Bed Head:
- Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Dry Shampoo
- Bed Head Oh Bee Hive Volumizing Dry Shampoo
- Bed Head Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo
- Bed Head Rockaholic Dirty Secret Dry Shampoo
Unilever is recalling 19 dry shampoo products because of potentially elevated levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. https://t.co/Dcvt2H46ZI
— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 24, 2022
DRY SHAMPOO RECALL: There’s a nationwide voluntary recall on nearly 20 dry shampoo aerosol products. The company Unilever says they may contain elevated levels of benzene, which is known to cause cancer. https://t.co/a7HEEXyELH pic.twitter.com/RQ5uqbMFf9
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) October 24, 2022
Other Important Info
According to a press release, Unilever has noted that no other products or brands from it are impacted by this recall. The recall, ABC reports, is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Unilever is also urging customers to avoid these aerosol dry shampoo products immediately, and visit to visit its company website for “eligible product reimbursements.”
