FDA Citizen Petition #5: Benzene in Sunscreen Products
Valisure expanded its investigation into consumer health products by detecting benzene, a known human carcinogen, in a wide range of sunscreens and after-sun care products, including both chemical and mineral-based formulations in sprays, gels, and lotions.
Classified as a drug product by the FDA, sunscreen is one of the most widely used over-the-counter healthcare items in the U.S. Valisure tested 294 batches from 69 companies and found substantial batch-to-batch variability—even within the same brand. Key findings included:
- 14 lots containing 2.78–6.26 ppm of benzene
- 26 lots with detectable levels between 0.11–1.99 ppm
- 38 lots with trace amounts under 0.1 ppm
- 217 batches showed no detectable benzene
The presence of benzene across multiple product formats and formulations raised critical concerns about manufacturing practices and supply chain contamination, particularly in products intended for direct, repeated skin exposure.
Valisure submitted a detailed FDA Citizen Petition and called for recalls of the contaminated products. The findings led to recalls of major brands, including Neutrogena, Aveeno, and Banana Boat, and amplified the national conversation around safety in daily-use consumer products.
Full Petition & Supporting Documents:
- Press Release - Valisure Detects Benzene in Sunscreen
- Full Citizen Petition – Contains lists of products where benzene was detected
- Attachment A – Contains a list of products where benzene was not detected
- Attachment B – Resolution from the American College of Cardiology regarding independent testing
- Summary Timeline of consumer product recalls due to benzene
Media Coverage Highlights:
- Bloomberg: Sunscreen With Leukemia-Causing Benzene Is Latest Summer Worry
- CBS News: Carcinogen found in some popular sunscreens and after-sun products including Neutrogena, tests show
- Chemical & Engineering News: Lab finds benzene in 78 sunscreens and sun-care lotions
- Cosmetics Business: Human carcinogen benzene detected in sunscreens
- CNET: Lab asks FDA to recall 40 batches of sunscreen from Neutrogena, Banana Boat, and more
- Happi: Is There Benzene in Sunscreen?
- Health: Benzene, a Known Carcinogen, Was Found in 78 Batches of this Popular Sunscreen and After-Sun Products
- InStyle: Your Sunscreen Might Have a Carcinogen In It, According to a New Report
- MedPage Today: Bad Day Sunshine: Benzene Found in Many Sun Care Products
- PopSugar: Certain Sunscreens Were Contaminated With a Carcinogen — Here’s What You Need to Know
- Shape: The Carcinogen Benzene Was Found In 78 Popular Sunscreens
- The People’s Pharmacy: Should You Worry About Benzene in Some Sunscreens?
- USA Today: Dozens of popular sunscreens have been contaminated with benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer, report finds
