Pharmacies remove J&J sunscreens from shelves after carcinogen found in certain sprays


July 15 (Reuters) – Drugstore chains CVS Health (CVS.N), Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA.O) and retailer Walmart Inc (WMT.N) have started pulling sunscreen products from Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ.N) off their shelves after J&J said it had detected a carcinogenic chemical in some samples.

Pharmaceuticals and consumer goods company J&J voluntarily recalled five Neutrogena and Aveeno brand aerosol sunscreens on Wednesday and advised consumers to stop using the products and throw them away after internal tests found low levels of benzene in some sprays.

The recall comes two months after online pharmacy Valisure filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) saying it found benzene levels higher than recommended in more than one dozen of products that offer protection or relief from sunburn, including sprays. and lotions.

Walmart said Thursday it had started removing the affected products and that customers who purchased the items could return them for a refund. CVS and Walgreens have said they are complying with the recall.

CVS added that it had also halted sales of two of its sunburn healing products, which were featured in Valisure’s petition. Other products containing benzene above recommended levels came from privately held Fruit of the Earth and Sunbum.

The two companies did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.

Benzene is classified as a potentially carcinogenic substance depending on the level and extent of exposure.

J&J, whose shares closed down 1.2% at $ 168.37, said benzene was not an ingredient in its sunscreen products and was investigating the cause of the contamination.

Johnson & Johnson’s Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport Sunscreen, which is part of a voluntary recall of five Neutrogena and Aveeno brand aerosol sunscreen products after a carcinogenic chemical was detected in some samples, is on a shelf in a store in Gloucester, Massachusetts, United States, July 15, 2021. REUTERS / Brian Snyder

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“Daily exposure to benzene in these aerosolized sunscreen products at the levels detected in our tests is not expected to have adverse health consequences,” the company said.

J&J recalled aerosol sunscreens are Neutrogena Beach Defense, Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport, Neutrogena Invisible Daily defense, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer and Aveeno Protect + Refresh.

The company is in contact with other regulators about the recall, a J&J spokesperson said, adding that Wednesday’s announcement was specific to voluntary action taken in the United States.

The recall is another blow to J&J, one of the world’s largest producers of consumer health products. The company is already facing a series of lawsuits related to its talc-based products, vaginal mesh implants and opioid pain relievers.

A 2020 study by scientists from the FDA, which also regulates sunscreens as cosmetics, found that certain ingredients in sunscreens are absorbed into the bloodstream and need to be tested to see if they are safe. . He proposed a rule that requires sunscreen manufacturers to provide additional information about the active ingredients in their products.

“The FDA evaluates and evaluates the information provided in these citizen petitions and generally initiates an independent testing and verification process,” said FDA spokesperson Jeremy Kahn.

Kahn said the FDA is working with manufacturers in case his testing raises safety concerns.

Valisure filed several petitions with the FDA regarding the presence of carcinogens in drugs, including metformin for the treatment of diabetes, which was later recalled by the agency.

Reporting by Sabahatjahan Contractor, Manas Mishra and Trisha Roy in Bengaluru and Micahel Erman in Maplewood, NJ; Editing by Anil D’Silva and Shounak Dasgupta

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