Product Safety Australia has recalled five popular sunscreens immediately after a cancer-causing ingredient was found in the batches.
Australians have been requested to discard five products as they possess Benzene that could potentially cause cancer.
According to Product Safety Australia, five concerning products may have Benzene, a cancer-causing ingredient, added inadvertently during manufacturing.
Four of the recalled products are from the Cancer Council and Nivea, which are sold all across Australia.
Product Safety Australia recall notices for the two famous brands were issued on Wednesday and were asked to discard them immediately.
Two batches of Cancer Council’s sensitive sunscreen SPF 50+ products – the 110ml tube and 200ml pump pack – were officially recalled for containing Benzene.
Both were sold between October 1, 2020, and June 1, 2021.
Nivea’s Sun Protect and Moisture creams have been officially recalled for the same reasons.
The affected products from Nivea are the 200ml bottle of SPF30 Moisture Lock cream and SPF50+ 65ml roll-on sunscreen.
Both the products were sold between 27 July 2021 and 22 April 2022.
Meanwhile, a batch of 2XP SPF50+ Bronze Protect sunscreen Lotion was also recalled for containing Benzene. The recall came two days before the above-mentioned products.
Product Safety Australia announced that Benzene was detected above the acceptable limit in the products.
It is urged to stop using Benzene-affected products and contact the stores for refunds.
Consumers who are using Cancer Council sunscreens are urged to contact the manufacturer, Vitality Brands Worldwide, for a refund.
Nivea sunscreens and moisture creams users can go to the company’s website for a refund.
While those who purchased 2XP sunscreen are urged to contact Coles at Hawthorn East or contact Heritage Brands Customer Service for a refund.
“Benzene is classified as a carcinogen (a substance that could cause cancer) and is allowed to get rid of if found above acceptable limits in any sunscreen products,” PSA said in a statement.
