Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) has stated the news of the presence of cancer-threatening ingredients in the dry shampoos of FMCG major Unilever in the US. HUL said that it does not manufacture or sell dry shampoo in India. However, some media reports have claimed that HUL's dry shampoos are easily available on other online websites including Amazon India.

According to a Business Today report, at least two variants of Dove Dry Shampoo Spray – Dove Dry Shampoo, Fresh Coconut, and Dove Dry Shampoo Spray, Fresh and Floral are available for purchase on Amazon India. Both the shampoos come in packs of 141 grams and cost Rs 625 each. As per the details available, the products are manufactured by Unilever in the US and imported and distributed by United Distributors, a Bengaluru-based company in India.

Presence of benzene in dry shampoo

Unilever United has decided to withdraw it due to the high presence of benzene in its dry shampoo. Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen. It can cause other cancers, including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow. Dangerous aerosol dry shampoo has been recalled in the US market by the drug regulator after the cancer-causing compound benzene was found in a variant of the shampoo.

Dove Dry Shampoo has high benzene levels

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall order on October 21 to withdraw such products from the market. According to the US drug regulator, Dove dry shampoos - especially those manufactured before October 2021 - have high benzene levels. This can increase the risk of leukemia, bone marrow blood cancer, and blood disorders. This can also lead to death.

Higher levels of benzene in Nexus, Suave, TGI

Not only Dove, but other Unilever products such as Nexus, Suave, TGI (Rockaholic and Bed Head), and TRESemmà have also been asked to be recalled by the US drug regulator due to possible high levels of benzene. Unilever said it has recalled select lot codes of dry shampoos produced before October 2021 in the US and Canada.