Several popular acne and skin care products sold in the United States have been voluntarily recalled after testing revealed elevated levels of benzene, a known carcinogen. However, Health Canada has confirmed that these recalled products are not authorized for sale in Canada, meaning there is no impact on the Canadian market.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated an independent review of 95 acne products after third-party testing raised concerns about benzene contamination in products containing benzoyl peroxide. Following the investigation, the FDA confirmed six products with elevated benzene levels and issued a voluntary retail-level recall for:
- La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo Dual Action Acne Treatment (MYX46W – April 2025)
- Walgreens Acne Control Cleanser (23 09328 – September 2025)
- Proactiv Emergency Blemish Relief Cream Benzoyl Peroxide 5% (V3305A; V3304A – October 2025)
- Proactiv Skin Smoothing Exfoliator (V4204A – July 2025)
- SLMD Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Lotion (2430600 – March 2025)
- Walgreens Tinted Acne Treatment Cream (49707430 – March 2026)
Benzene is an industrial chemical found in various plastics, dyes, and detergents. While it is classified as a carcinogen, the FDA stated that even with daily, long-term use, the risk of developing cancer from the levels detected in these products is very low.
Additionally, the agency’s own testing found fewer contaminated products than initially reported, with over 90% of tested acne products showing undetectable or minimal benzene levels.
A Health Canada spokesperson confirmed that none of the recalled products are authorized for sale in Canada, ensuring that Canadian consumers are not impacted by this recall.
For consumers in the U.S., the recall is limited to retail-level removals, meaning retailers are instructed to pull affected products from shelves and online stores. However, there is no directive for consumers to return or discard products they may already own.