P&G Issues Voluntary Recall of Spray Shampoo and Conditioners Containing Carcinogen
The Procter & Gamble Company is voluntarily recalling aerosol dry conditioner and shampoo spray products and from Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences and Waterless produced in the U.S., in addition to previously discontinued aerosol dry shampoo products from Old Spice and Hair Food, due to the presence of benzene, according to a Department of Defense All Food and Drug Activity message sent Dec.17.
Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally and through the skin, and it can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life-threatening.
Consumers should stop using and appropriately discard the affected aerosol dry conditioner spray products and aerosol dry shampoo spray products. Commissary customers can return recalled products to the commissary of purchase for a full refund.
According to the company, daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in its testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences. To date, The Procter & Gamble Company has not received any reports of adverse events.
The Defense Commissary Agency has publicized this recall to all its stores, said Richard Stith, chief, public health division, DeCA headquarters at Fort Lee, Virginia. Whenever a commissary has recalled or withdrawn products in its inventory, they are immediately removed from store shelves.
The following items are affected by this recall:
• Waterless Dry Conditioner Weightless Smooth 3.6 ounces: UPC 37000543954 with a production code in the range of 0002-0248 or 9298-9350
• Waterless Dry Conditioner Instant Moisture 3.6 ounces: UPC 37000543831 with a production code in the range of 0009-0069 or 9297-9350
• Waterless Dry Conditioner Weightless Smooth .98 ounces: UPC 37000544111 with a production code in the range of 0084-0085 or 9284-9361
• Waterless Dry Conditioner Instant Moisture .98 ounces: UPC 37000544227 with a production code in the range of 0017-0100 or 9283-9284
• Waterless Dry Shampoo No Residue 3.7 ounces: UPC 37000543787 with a production code in the range of 0004-0357 or 9291-9344
• Waterless Dry Shampoo No Residue 1 ounces: UPC 37000543978 with a production code in the range of 0175-0176 or 9295-9297
• Pantene Sultry Bronde All in One Luxury Mist 4.9 ounces: UPC 80878188710 with production code 0038
• Pantene Smooth Talker Dry Conditioning Oil 3.9 ounces: UPC 80878192397 with a production code in the range of 0183-0365 or 1042-1046
• Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioning Mist 3.9 ounces: UPC 80878190898 with a production code in the range of 0048-0336 or 1008-1218 or 9247-9349
• Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioning Mist 3.9 ounces: UPC 80878188758 with a production code in the range of 9108-9303
• Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioning Mist 1 ounces: UPC 80878188765 with a production code in the range of 0107-0262 or 9112-9288
• Pantene Gold Series Instant Nourishing Spray 4.9 ounces: UPC 80878188987 with a production code in the range of 0307 or 9263-9266
• Aussie Smooth Vibes Dry Conditioner 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187957 with production code 0021 or 1038 or in the range of 9294-9325
• Aussie Petal Soft Dry Conditioner 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187544 with a production code in the range of 9196-9246
• Aussie Sleekend Warrior Dry Conditioner 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187537 with a production code in the range of 0014-0062 or 9198-9349
• Herbal Essences Blue Ginger Refresh Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 190679001498 with a production code in the range of 9047-9072
• Herbal Essences White Grapefruit & Mint Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 190679000262 with a production code in the range of 0015-0314 or 1004-1019 or 9028-9348
• Herbal Essences White Strawberry & Sweet Mint Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 190679000255 with a production code in the range of 0167-0308 or 1105-1106 or 9049-9348
• Herbal Essences Cucumber & Green Tea Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 190679000248 with a production code 0093 or 1075 or in the range of 9029-9294
• Herbal Essences Cucumber & Green Tea Dry Shampoo 1.7 ounces: UPC 190679000330 with a production code in the range of 0036-0329 or 1019-1098 or 9023-9312
• Pantene Dry Shampoo No Water Refresh 4.9 ounces: UPC 80878177042 with a production code in the range of 9009-9058
• Pantene Dry Shampoo Sheer Volume 4.9 ounces: UPC 80878185276 with a production code in the range of 9025-9260
• Pantene Never Tell Dry Shampoo 4.2 ounces: UPC 80878188727 with a production code in the range of 0006-0364 or 1074-1133 or 9157-9329
• Aussie After Hours Dry Shampoo Texture Spray 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187834 with a production code in the range of 0139-0140
• Aussie Tousle Hustle Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187285 with a production code in the range of 0013-0300 or 1038 or 9189
• Aussie Bounce Back Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187278 with a production code in the range of 0013-00357 or 1018-1123 or 9189-9345
• Aussie Clean Color Protect Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187360 with a production code in the range of 9047-9123
• Aussie Clean Texture Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187285 with a production code in the range of 9072-9176
• Aussie Clean Volume Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 381519187278 with production code 9085
• Hair Food Coconut Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 37000876717 with a production code in the range of 0027-0192 or 9007
• Old Spice Fiji Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 37000779421 with a production code in the range of 9046-9228
• Old Spice Pure Sport Dry Shampoo 4.9 ounces: UPC 37000785170 with a production code in the range of 9040-9239
No other products from Pantene, Aussie, Herbal Essences, Hair Food, and Waterless are in the scope of this recall and those products may continue to be used, including those aerosol dry shampoo spray products with production code ranges different from those listed in the voluntary recall.
Consumers can visit www.pantene.com, www.aussie.com, www.herbalessences.com, www.hairfood.com, www.oldspice.com, or www.waterlesshaircare.com, for more information about the impacted products and possible reimbursement for eligible products.
Additional questions can be directed to via the Consumer Care team at 1-888-674-3631 from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. EST.