Cosmetics company L’Oreal is recalling a batch of Effaclar Duo rash creams sold under the La Roche-Posay brand due to concerns of benzene contamination.
Effaclar Duo creams are claimed to treat acne — due to the presence of benzoyl peroxide (which kills bacteria and can therefore remove acne), but it can also decompose and form benzene under certain circumstances, traces of which were eventually found in the product.
Benzene is a naturally occurring component of gasoline and tobacco smoke, and is a known carcinogen that can cause leukemia, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An independent laboratory in Connecticut conducted the study of the creams, and traces of benzene were found in products from several other brands, including Proactiv creams and Target Corp. and CVS Health Corp. Over the past four years, the lab has also found benzene in sunscreens, antiperspirants, dry shampoos, and hand sanitizers. Many of the products have already been recalled by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), but it is not known whether the current measures apply to anyone else besides L’Oreal.
L’Oreal clarifies that the testing found traces of the contaminant in only one batch of the product.
«In close cooperation with the FDA, we have decided to preemptively withdraw the remaining limited units of the current Effaclar Duo formula from retailers,» L’Oreal said in a statement to Bloomberg.
Source: Bloomberg
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