Banana Boat Benzene Lawsuit: The Sunscreen Recall Claims

The Recall

Banana Boat, made by Edgewell Personal Care, was among the sunscreen brands flagged after an independent lab reported benzene — a known human carcinogen — in various sun-care products. Edgewell issued voluntary recalls of certain Banana Boat spray products, including a hair-and-scalp sunscreen spray, stating the benzene came from the propellant rather than an intended ingredient.

As with other sunscreen recalls, benzene is not listed on the label because it is not supposed to be there — which is central to the consumer claims.

The Lawsuit

A class action filed in 2021 alleges Edgewell sold Banana Boat sunscreens contaminated with benzene without disclosing it, and that consumers would not have bought the products, or paid as much, had they known. The complaint stresses that there is no established safe level of benzene exposure and links it to blood-related cancers and disorders. The case has advanced through the courts, with some claims narrowed.

This is an economic and consumer-protection theory; personal-injury claims from benzene exposure would be separate and individually difficult to prove.

What Consumers Should Know

Check Banana Boat spray products against the recall list and stop using recalled lots. Because benzene turned up across several brands and often in aerosol/propellant products, it is worth checking other spray sunscreens as well. Any claim’s status should be verified through the court or an official administrator.