Unilever's dry shampoo products imported to Vietnam may contain carcinogen

The announcement was given following a notice from Health Canada about Unilever recalling certain dry shampoo batches branded as Dove, TRESemme and Bed Head this month for containing elevated levels of benzene, a carcinogen.

Unilever dry shampoo products that contain benzene. Photo courtesy of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The recalled products were TRESemme Fresh & Clean Dry Shampoo, TRESemme Volumizing Dry Shampoo and Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo, all produced in the U.S. The Dove Invisible Dry Shampoo has not been imported since 2020, and the TRESemme products since 2021, according to the drug administration.

"The administration has requested Unilever to clarify the recall and the distribution status of products in Vietnam, as well as proposing ways to handle the problem and issuing relevant recommendations," Hung said, adding that the administration has yet to receive a detailed report from the company.

The administration is also cooperating with other drug administrations in relevant countries to verify Unilever's reports and to deal with the issue if such product batches are in circulation in Vietnam.

Unilever Vietnam has yet to give a statement regarding the matter, and has not confirmed whether the imported products belonged to the recalled batches in the U.S. and Canada.

Benzene is classified as a carcinogen in humans. Contact with the substance may lead to blood and bone marrow cancer, as well as certain blood disorders that can be life-threatening.

Unilever in the U.S. said the recalled products were produced before October 2021, including products with brands like Dove, Nexxus, Suave, TIGI and TRESemme.