Thousands of bottles made in China, South Korea and America were pulled from shelves between April 2021 and September this year. The gels and sprays – which have become a mainstay during the Covid outbreak – have been found to contain dangerous levels of benzene, a carcinogen that tops the government’s list of the most dangerous solvents. It comes after more than a million bottles of dry shampoo were recalled last month over fears of benzene contamination. A total of 21 hand sanitizer brands have been recalled, including products from The Creme Shop and Ulta Beauty, as well as lesser-known sanitizers sold at TJ Maxx, Marshalls and online. Some of the products appear to be aimed at children with packaging featuring the Star Wars character Yoda, Disney figures and Spiderman. When rubbed into the hands, even in relatively small doses, benzene can seep through the skin and into the bloodstream where it can stop cells from working properly. It is known to cause leukemia and other blood disorders. The recalls involved specific batches of products, with many ending up back on shelves after the contamination issue was addressed. Some foreign-made products have been banned outright, however, after failing to comply with the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) request for a recall. The photo above shows the hand sanitizers that were either recalled or banned from entering the US after benzene was detected in the products. The recalls affected batches, with those currently on shelves not believed to be contaminated
WHICH HAND SANITIZERS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR BENZENE?
The following hand sanitizers have been recalled by the FDA or banned from import due to benzene contamination. The list is published on the agency’s website:
Hand sanitizer isopropyl alcohol antiseptic 75% topical solution, manufactured by Bluebonnet Petrochemical Solutions. CALA Advanced Hand Sanitizer with Aloe Vera Extract, Made by David Cosmetic Co. Ltd. The Creme Shop’s moisturizing hand sanitizers with various fragrances, manufactured by Mirfeel Korea Co. Creme Shop Moisturizing Hand Sanitizer Mint Scent, Made by Mirfeel Korea Co. AOMI hand sanitizer gel and spray, made by Mirfeel Korea Co. CoSo Health hand sanitizer made by Mirfeel Korea Co. TerraPure hand sanitizer, manufactured by Mirfeel Korea Co. Australian Wellness Co. Instant Hand Sanitizer with natural extracts, made by Mirfeel Korea Co. Best Consumer Brand Marvel Spiderman Hand Sanitizer Made by Ningbo Haishu Huayu Industry & Trade. Best Consumer Products hand sanitizer kills germs, made by Ningbo Haishu Huayu Industry & Trade. Best Consumer Brand Hand Sanitizer Made by Ningbo Haishu Huayu Industry & Trade. Disney Princess Hand Sanitizer of the best consumer products, made by Ningbo Haishu Huayu Industry & Trade. Best Consumer Brand Disney Frozen II Hand Sanitizer Made by Ningbo Haishu Huayu Industry & Trade. Best Consumer Products Star Wars Mandalorian Hand Sanitizer Made by Ningbo Haishu Huayu Ind. International Hand Sanitizer Spray 80%, manufactured by Salon Technologies International. Antica Ocean Citron Antiseptic Hand Gel 65%, manufactured by Salon Technologies International. Scentsationalize Disinfectant Non-sterile Alcohol Solution Antiseptic 70% Topical Made by Scentsational Soaps and Candles Fresh Lemon Citron Frais Scented hand sanitizer, made by Scentsational Soaps and Candles. SS Black and White Collection, made by Scentsational Soaps and Candles. Photo Real Collection hand sanitizer, made by Scentsational Soaps and Candles. Artnaturals unscented hand sanitizer natural ingredients, sold by Virgin Scents dba artnaturals.
Many of the hand sanitizers contained more than the temporary legal limit of two parts per million (ppm) of benzene that was in place during the pandemic to help boost production in 2020. Others were withdrawn after containing much lower levels when the limit was reduced to zero again in 2022. Benzene can inadvertently end up in hand sanitizers during the manufacturing process when gels are processed to remove impurities. Cleaning is done using a chemical made with benzene, which can sometimes still contain traces of the carcinogen. The scale of the health effects of benzene-contaminated hand sanitizers in the US is not yet fully understood — but no injuries have been reported so far.
Benzene – the cancer-causing chemical found in hand sanitizers
Benzene is a cancer-causing chemical, also known as a carcinogen, that is widely used in manufacturing in the US. It is used in the creation of plastics, nylon, rubber, paints and adhesive products. It can also be found in cigarette smoke, vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. Long-term exposure to the chemical has been linked to serious damage to a person’s blood. It has been linked to blood cancers such as leukemia and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The chemical has also been linked to anemia. Source: CDC Hand sanitizers have become a mainstay in homes, schools and offices during the pandemic, with sales expected to grow 600 percent in 2020 alone. Among the recalled products are Scent Free hand sanitizer from Artnaturals, sold in 8-ounce bottles for $3.50 each, and three brands from Scentsational Soaps and Candles sold for about $7 each. Artnaturals faced its biggest recall to date last year when 34 different brands had to be returned over fears of benzene contamination. Ulta Beauty – run by Scentsational Soaps and Candles – has recalled three batches of its fresh lemon-scented hand sanitizer spray. When Covid first appeared, the FDA relaxed the rules governing hand sanitizers allowing unregulated manufacturers to produce them provided they follow a certain method. The agency also introduced a temporary legal limit of up to two ppm of benzene allowed in products to help speed up production – amid fears of a national shortage. The loophole was lifted earlier this year, however, with the FDA saying there is now enough hand sanitizer available in the US. The most recent recall was in September and involved a product made in Florida — a hand sanitizer spray from Salon Technologies International. The FDA asked the company to issue a voluntary recall after finding that the product contained benzene. Hand sanitizers from China’s Ningbo Haishu Huayu Industry and Trade and South Korean manufacturer Mirfeel Korea Co are no longer allowed to be imported into the US after the companies failed to issue recalls when benzene was found in their gels. The FDA says benzene should not be used in the manufacture of hand sanitizers, with those found to contain the chemical now being recalled as detailed in a list on the agency’s website. The agency conducts tests to ensure products are free of benzene, and also says manufacturers must check that their products do not contain the chemical. Benzene is commonly found in crude oil, as well as in plastics, resins, and some dyes and pesticides. Last year, an independent lab found that nearly one in five hand sanitizers may contain benzene. Valisure tested 260 bottles of hand sanitizer from 168 brands for the carcinogen purchased at drugstores in the US. A total of 21 were found to contain more than the previous limit of two parts per million. Benzene is at the top of the FDA’s list of hazardous solvents. Inhaling or absorbing the chemical over a long period of time can have devastating health effects because it causes cells in the body to malfunction. Excessive exposure to benzene can also cause the bone marrow to not produce enough red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, as well as blood cancer. It can also wreak havoc on the immune system by changing antibody levels in the blood and killing white blood cells.
