It’s been a rough few months for some of the biggest manufacturers of health and beauty products—specifically, those in the form of aerosol sprays. First, Procter & Gamble (P&G) issued a voluntary recall of a number of their aerosol spray antiperspirants in November, then followed it up with a similar recall of aerosol hair care products a month later.
This time, it’s the manufacturer of Sure and Brut aerosol sprays, which recently issued a voluntary recall of a number of their products, according to an announcement from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Like the P&G recalls, this one is because of a concerning, cancer-causing chemical called benzene found in the sprays. Here’s what to know.
What is included in the recall
Although HRB Brands—the company behind Sure and Brut—says benzene isn’t an ingredient in any of their recalled products, an internal review showed that unexpected levels of the carcinogen were found in the propellant that sprays the product out of the can. HRB Brands also notes that all of the recalled products were owned and distributed by Helen of Troy Limited prior to June 7, 2021.
As of right now, there have been no reports of illness or other adverse events related to the products included in the recall—which HRB Brands says was issued “out of an abundance of caution.”
The recalled products all have expiration dates on or before August 2023, and include the following spray deodorants and antiperspirants:
- Brut Classic Antiperspirant Aerosol (4 oz) (UPC 00827755070085)
- Brut Classic Antiperspirant Aerosol (6 oz) (UPC 000827755070108)
- Brut Classic Deodorant Aerosol (10.0 oz) (UPC 00827755070047)
- Brut Classic Deodorant Aerosol (154g) (UPC 00827755070177) [*only sold in Canada]
- Sure Regular Antiperspirant Aerosol (6.0 oz) (UPC 00883484002025)
- Sure Unscented Antiperspirant Aerosol (6.0 oz) (UPC 00883484002278)
What to do if you have recalled products
If you check the label on your Sure or Brut spray products and find one included in the recall, stop using it immediately. But if you plan on requesting a refund for it, take pictures of the bottom of each can, as well as its barcode, to ensure you have the information you need to fill out the refund request form. Then you can throw it out.
You can also contact the manufacturer directly with questions by calling 1-866-615-0976 from Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. PT.