July 2021 Recalls
Johnson & Johnson is recalling five sunscreen products due to trace amounts of benzene, a chemical that can cause cancer. The recalled sunscreens are all aerosol cans: Neutrogena Beach Defense, Neutrogena Cool Dry Sport, Neutrogena Invisible Daily Defense, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer, and Aveeno Protect + Refresh. The sunscreens have been sold nationwide at major retailers including Target, Walmart, CVS, and Walgreens. Benzene is a carcinogen commonly found in other products such as gasoline, plastics, detergents, pesticides, and more. It is also found in outdoor air as a result of gas stations, motor vehicle exhaust, and industrial emissions. The carcinogen is only known to cause adverse health conditions, including cancer, when the levels are high enough or if there is consistent exposure. Regardless, Johnson & Johnson is recalling the sunscreens out of an abundance of caution and customers are being urged to stop using the products. To ask questions or receive a refund, call J&J’s Consumer Care Center at 1-800-458-1673.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is suing Amazon in an attempt to force them to recall hundreds of thousands of potentially hazardous products. The products in question are not sold directly by Amazon but are fulfilled by third parties via Amazon’s platform. Recalled items include 24,000 carbon monoxide detectors that do not alarm in the presence of carbon monoxide, 400,000 hair dryers that do not comply with the “integral immersion protection” standards that are set in place to reduce the risk of electric shock, and children’s sleepwear garments that fail to meet the federal flammability requirements, ultimately posing a fire hazard. Amazon has removed the majority of the products from their platform, has notified consumers via email, and offered customer refunds. However, the CPSC is continuing to pursue the claim, feeling as though Amazon’s response was not sufficient.
Walgreens is recalling 54,000 baby rattles that pose a choking hazard. The affected product is the Disney Baby Winnie the Pooh Rattle Sets, sold between September 2019 through January 2020. Walgreens has decided to recall the product after receiving multiple reports of the feet detaching from the rattle. Consumers have been instructed to immediately take the toy away from children. Those who seek a refund should contact Walgreens at 1-800-925-4733.
