Dry shampoo recall: More than 100 injuries reported in Canada so far – National | Globalnews.ca

Health Canada has received more than 100 reports of injuries linked to dry shampoo products that were recalled last month due to the discovery of cancer-causing benzene.

Unilever and Health Canada announced the recall on October 18, involving more than 1.5 million units of dry shampoo products made by Dove, Bed Head and TRESemmé. They were sold all over the country between January 2020 and October 2022.

As of Oct. 31, the main injuries reported were irritation or an allergic reaction, Health Canada spokeswoman Tammy Jarbeau told Global News on Monday.

“Due to reports still coming in, total number of reports and analysis of injuries is ongoing,” he said via email.

“Health Canada understands that consumers may have used these products in the past and understands the challenges consumers face in knowing whether they are affected by the recalled products.”

This isn’t the first time benzene has been detected in personal care products like dry shampoos, deodorants and aerosol spray sunscreens in Canada, prompting a massive safety push.

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In the past two years, at least 12 recalls have been linked to aerosolized products and elevated benzene levels, according to Health Canada data.

In announcing the recall, Canada’s Unilever said an internal investigation identified an aerosol propellant as the source of “potentially elevated benzene levels” in several batches of dry shampoo products.

Canada’s Unilever said it does not use benzene as an ingredient in its products, and the recall was made “out of an abundance of caution.”

The Unilever dry shampoo recall wasn’t just limited to Canada. In the US, Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head) and TRESemmé products were also recalled last month.

Benzene is a carcinogen, and exposure to the chemical by inhalation or absorption, through the mouth or through the skin can lead to leukemia, blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders that can be life-threatening, according to Health Canada.

“However, daily exposure to benzene at the levels found in the tests in the recalled products is not expected to cause adverse health effects,” the agency said.

Health Canada is advising Canadians who are concerned about their health after using the recalled products to talk to their healthcare provider.

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