The cosmetic multinational L'Oreal has been forced to withdraw a product from La Roche-Posay from the US market due to the possible presence of benzene, a substance linked to cancer, as reported by the magazine Newsweek, citing Servimedia.
This media outlet reports that the French company, globally led by Nicolas Hieronimus, in coordination with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has had to make the decision to ensure the safety of its consumers and withdraw the acne treatment product Effaclar Duo from the La Roche-Posay brand.
Different tests, as reported by various US media outlets, revealed that products with benzoyl peroxide not only contain benzene but can also release it into the air, posing a risk of inhalation.
Valisure, an independent laboratory in Connecticut, USA, detected benzene contamination in products using benzoyl peroxide. This is because benzoyl peroxide breaks down rapidly. Based on these results, the laboratory urgently requested the competent US government agency to withdraw the contaminated treatments.
"In close coordination with the FDA, we have proactively decided to withdraw the remaining units of the current formula of Effaclar Duo," stated L'Oreal in a statement, as reported by Bloomberg. Spain continues to market this product in pharmacies, and there is currently no alert from the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices, according to Servimedia.
The FDA explains that benzene is a chemical present in crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke, and exposure to it can increase the risk of cancer. The entity evaluated 95 acne products containing benzoyl peroxide and detected six with elevated levels of benzene.
The same media outlets indicate that, in the case of L'Oréal products being withdrawn from the US market, benzene was detected in acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide, a common ingredient in these types of products.