WASHINGTON — Retailers in the United States are being urged by health authorities to remove a limited range of acne treatment products from their shelves due to slightly heightened levels of a cancer-linked chemical found during government assessments. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a recall of several lots of six different items that contain benzoyl peroxide, including Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser, Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator, and La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment. The complete list of affected products and their lot numbers was made accessible online on Tuesday.
Despite the recall, the FDA has emphasized that the products pose a minimal risk to consumers. “Even with daily use of these products for decades, the risk of a person developing cancer because of exposure to benzene found in these products is very low,” the agency declared.
Benzene is present in all the recalled items. This chemical is commonly found in crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke; and long-term high-level exposure can lead to leukemia and other types of cancer.
The recent recall affects retail outlets that sell these acne products. FDA officials reassured consumers that they do not need to take any specific actions concerning the recall.
The FDA’s decision to recall the products arose from the testing of 95 acne treatment items. This scrutiny was sparked by reports from independent laboratories indicating elevated benzene levels in various acne treatments.
In recent years, a range of products, including hand sanitizers, aerosol sprays, and sunscreens, have been recalled due to concerns over benzene levels.
