Dry Shampoo – A Favorite Among Beauty Products is Recalled
Consumers across the United States purchase beauty and haircare products with the expectation that the products they are using are safe. Safety can mean different things to many people, but the general consensus is that if it’s on the shelf to purchase, then it must be safe to apply to your skin, hair, nails, etc. However, quite recently, a multinational corporation announced a massive recall on a popular type of hair product that consumers buy on a regular basis.
Unilever, one of the top ten leading beauty manufacturers in the world, recently issued a voluntary recall for several of its dry shampoo products sold in the U.S. The list of products spanned multiple brands under the Unilever corporation, and if you are wondering what dry shampoos were recalled, here is the comprehensive list of those products and their consumer UPC codes.
Additionally, the company set up a website to advise consumers who had purchased the listed products as to how to get rid of them, and to inform them of how they could request a refund from Unilever. Retailers were also notified and advised to remove the products from their shelves.
Dry Shampoo Recall List
There were 19 dry shampoos affected by this recall, all of which are products distributed by the following brands:
- Dove
- Bed Head
- Nexxus
- Suave
- Tresemmé
Reason for Recall
The reason for this extensive product recall is due to the fact that they detected benzene, a known human carcinogen, at elevated levels. The source of contamination is linked to the propellant used in the aerosol cans. All affected products were produced before October 2021, and according to Unilever, they recalled the products out of an abundance of caution.
Benzene is a known carcinogen that has been linked to blood related cancers including multiple variations of leukemia. According to the CDC, it can also cause damage to the immune system, including the loss of white blood cells and (non-Hodgkin lymphoma).
Long Term Effects of Benzene Contamination
Benzene is a highly flammable chemical that disperses quickly in the air and is found in tobacco smoke, exhaust fumes, industrial emissions, as well as glues, furniture wax, paint, and even detergent.
Elevated levels of benzene, when contracted through the lungs, can show up within minutes to hours and symptoms may include:
- Drowsiness
- Rapid/Irregular Heartbeat
- Tremors
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Unconsciousness
- Death (in extreme cases)
Benzene exposure through contaminated food or drink can cause various severe symptoms, as well, such as stomach irritation, vomiting, convulsions, dizziness, irregular heartbeat, drowsiness, and death.
Benzene, known to be a cancer causing chemical, can also have a number of long-term effects. These include, but are not limited to, anemia, damage to the immune system, cancer, irregular periods and shrunken ovaries.
Unfortunately, according to the FDA’s data, there have been a number of recalls issued for other types of products recently, in addition to these dry shampoo aerosol products, due to high levels of benzene, including hand sanitizers, sunscreen, antiperspirant sprays, antifungal spray, and more.
The Impact on Consumers
The biggest issue that comes to light with the recent Unilever product recall, is how easily our health is put at risk by corporations. The dangers of being a consumer lie in the lack of care and forethought companies put into the production of their mass marketed products.
Even with innumerable safety regulations, strict ingredient oversight and product testing, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration still cannot oversee every move a company makes before distributing their products to consumers. Additionally, many consumers feel that the U.S. FDA is not strict enough with their safety regulations and guidelines.
Despite the fact that beauty companies across the world see some of the largest profits imaginable, Unilever having made over 24 billion dollars in revenue in 2021, safety regulations often fall short in the name of maximizing profits, order fulfillment, and speeding up production.
Additionally, third party companies that are based in countries outside the U.S. often provide ingredients or product components to these large manufacturers. This means that the products used to make the final products which hit U.S. stores may not be held to the same standards and regulations as those enforced by the FDA.
The outcome of these subcontracting agreements results in situations like the massive Unilever dry shampoo recall, and may lead to serious safety concerns for consumers.
Personal Injuries Caused by Product Safety Issues
When consumers purchase a product at their local store or online, they expect it to be both safe and effective. This is especially true if the product is a cosmetic, medication, or consumable item.
However, the health regulations these companies are expected to abide by can’t protect us if a corporation has intentionally ignored them, or there was an oversight in production. When consumers are left unknowingly in the dark about potential hazards hiding within products they bring home, it can lead to serious health issues, including long term illness and life-altering injury.
If you have been harmed by using a product that was falsely marketed as safe and now find yourself faced with a cancer diagnosis or other injuries, it’s important to find a law firm you can trust to help you during this difficult time.
What to do if You are Harmed by A Defective Product
When a product is marketed and sold, consumers expect that the product is safe. When this turns out to be false, and you or a family member is physically harmed as a result, the manufacturer may be liable for the injuries you have suffered.
Illnesses and injuries that occur after using unsafe products can range from mild to severe. Some individuals affected by unsafe products suffer with long-term disabilities. These situations can result in costly medical bills, lost wages, disfigurement, ongoing health issues, etc.
If you are seriously harmed by a product, it is important to get in touch with a reliable personal injury attorney as soon as possible. At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, our team specializes in personal injury cases that include product liability.
Why Choose Our Law Firm
At Van Wey, Metzler & Williams, you will find personal injury attorneys in Dallas, TX who care about you and your wellbeing, not just your case.
When you work with Kay Van Wey, you will find she prioritizes clients’ needs and takes a hands-on approach to building every case. This means her clients receive the opportunity to focus on themselves and their families during the overwhelming process of filing a personal injury lawsuit.
Navigating the legal system is complex, and especially taxing when you are trying to recover from an injury or illness that was caused by someone else’s mistake. For clients who have been injured by dangerous products, filing a personal injury claim can be exceptionally difficult. This is because proving your injury or illness was the direct result of a manufacturer’s negligence can be complicated.
For more than 30 years, Kay Van Wey has put her clients first by dedicating herself to understanding the legal landscape surrounding personal injury lawsuits. She knows precisely how to assess the facts, and uncover the negligent practices that lead to these types of injuries.
When you work with Kay Van Wey, you aren’t just working with a personal injury lawyer, you are working with an experienced attorney who has made it her mission to seek justice for victims of wrongful injury, illness, and death. No one should know what it feels like to go through a tragedy that could have been prevented had others simply been more careful, but when these situations arise, Kay Van Wey and her team are here to help.
Our goal is always to achieve justice for victims of personal injury and help them obtain the compensation they deserve. If you, or someone you care about, has experienced an illness that may be tied to one of these recalled dry shampoos, we invite you to reach out to our team and schedule a free consultation where we can help determine your next steps — call today.