4 yrs, 8 mths ago

Product Recall

Hi everyone,

Just came across this product recall and thought I’d post it here for anyone interested. The Neutrogena Visibly Clear Light Acne Mask reported concerns of eye safety.

46 comments 32 voices

Replies

  • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

    I emailed J & J and this is their response

    Thank you for contacting the Consumer Care Centre.

    The health and safety of the people who use Johnson & Johnson products is our top priority. In the United States, the voluntary decision to remove specific aerosol sunscreen products is being made out of an abundance of caution. While the use of these products would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences, we believe this is the right decision to ensure consumers are confident in using sunscreen products.

    In Australia and New Zealand we are currently reviewing our aerosol sunscreen products and we will be in contact again shortly to update you on this.

    Sunscreen use is critical to public health. Melanoma incidences continue to increase worldwide, and the majority of cases are caused by excessive sun exposure. It is important that people everywhere protect their skin and continue to take appropriate sun protection measures, including the continued use of alternative sunscreen.

    Once again, thank you for taking the time to contact us.

    Yours sincerely
    JOHNSON & JOHNSON PACIFIC

    • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

      Thanks for the update, Meedee!

      • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

        No worries misfortune8 This is one recall on wanted to be on top of. Not that people have been coming to stay with me for a while (thanks covid) but when they do I make sure that there is a good supply of sunscreen here for them to use. Im lucky enough to live on the high dunes of the beach so sunscreen gets used a lot here.

  • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

    The recall is a safety precaution by Johnson & Johnson, probably because it does not want to face another class action down the years after its debacle with its baby talcum powders.

    There are other companies which produce products, that are not sunscreens, that contain benzene in the formulation. This actually came to light maybe two months ago based on a study conducted by a random company called Valisure (US-based online pharmacy) with dodgy and misleading claims in its reports. Up to the consumer if they want to be cautious and bin their product or return them.

    Let me just say this. A couple of years there was a random study conducted in France that produced a similar result and instigated fearmongering about benzophenone in suncreens. The results were sketchy and were heavily criticised by peer reviews thereafter because they were presented in a deliberately misleading way. It turned out that the company behind the study was financed by a cosmetic brand which was about to launch a mineral sunscreen range and the intention to market their sunscreen range as “safe” compared to its rivals already established on the market. This could be reminiscent and certainly reminds me of that.

    Benzene is a trace contaminant that is not deliberately included in formulations. It can be produced as a result of an impurity in an ingredient in a formulation or as a byproduct from the manufacturing process.

    Contrary to the media articles, the results do not corroborate that benzene is in specific products. To be accurate, you would need to check the same product, batch lot, expiry date, etc. to see whether you have the same sunscreen that Valisure tested and match the results. Concentrations varied between products tested by Valisure, including the same product but different batch – which goes back to my point that this is not something that is deliberately part of a formulation.

    If you are actually going to be seriously concerned with benzene, it calls for a bit of proper education about this. Benzene is pretty much everywhere and you are likely exposed to it on a daily basis. For example, it can be produced by petrol (i.e. petrol fumes), cigarette smoke, bushfires, and even indoor fumes. There are bits of benzene in most manufacturing plastics and a lot of typical household products release it over time. It is in our food and it is in our drinking water.

    What is important to understand about this type of chemical and basically anything labelled carcinogenic (i.e. known to cause cancer) is the quantity you are exposed to. None of the above has been proven to lead to cancer. In fact you inhale about 3-40 micrograms per cubic meter of benzene every day, which is estimated to be a thousand times less than the actual amount considered to be problematic enough to be linked to cancer. What you would need is industrial level exposure to benzene on a daily basis.

    Benzene is also not really absorbed into your skin as much you think – it evaporates off it and can also be diluted with whatever else it is mixed with.

    Anyway, I have ripped a lot of this from Lab Muffin’s post here for ease of reference: https://labmuffin.com/will-benzene-in-sunscreens-give-you-cancer-with-video/

    tl;dr Nothing to worry about. Ditch your sunscreens if you think you cannot live with the idea of an infinitismal amount of benzene exposure in your sunscreens, bearing in mind you are already exposed to benzene in other ways that are not deemed as harmful. By the way, for further perspective, bacon is also categorised as carcinogenic. You would have to be eating it all the time though for there to be a concern.

  • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

    This is seriously good information that I wouldn’t have been aware of if not for BH and your explanation Ethelinde. Thank you!

  • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

    Nothing noted yet on the ACCC website

    • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

      Since it`s not listed there, it mightn`t be such a worry after all, as explained by Ethelinde below.

      • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

        Yeah I think its just USA but our news outlets jumped on it and havent given all the information so they are being a bit misleading. ggrr

  • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

    misfortune8 I just googled so I could read the article about the sunscreen recall but from what I can gather its US only and not something we need to worry about.
    Least thats how I read what they are saying and I cant find any recall notice here in Australia so perhaps it was just in the manufacturing process in the US.

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

    • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

      I got the news from Yahoo News Australia, so I assume it`s relating to the Aussie market? We`ll have to see if there`s any news on this. My sister saw it on Sunrise.

      • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

        Oh darn….. I have some of the Beach Defense and the ultra sheer Neutrogena. If we are to return them I wonder where we take them??

  • 2 yrs, 8 mths ago

    Johnson & Johnson is voluntarily recalling five Neutrogena and Aveeno brand aerosol sunscreen products after detecting a cancer-causing chemical in some samples.

    The recalled aerosol sunscreens are
    Neutrogena Beach Defense
    Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport
    Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense
    Neutrogena Ultra Sheer
    Aveeno Protect + Refresh

    au.news.yahoo.com/urgent-recall-popular-sunscreens-cancer-causing-chemicals

  • 3 yrs, 9 mths ago

    Another product recall FYI – BECCA Cosmetics Light Shifter Brightening Concealer purchased from Sephora.

  • 4 yrs ago

    Another product recall – this time for Kotia Rejuvenating Serum

    • 4 yrs ago

      Thanks heaps for putting this on here Janefre. I have a tube of this and it`s the matching batch number. Only been using it for a few months and about half empty so will ditch the rest. I won some of their products last year on beauty heaven and within about 4 weeks of starting to use this the smell changed . Luckily I don`t fall into any of the groups at the bottom of the warning!

  • 4 yrs, 1 mth ago

    I just saw this product recall warning on another site, haven’t heard of the brand before either.

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