Recent laboratory tests conducted by independent lab Valisure have revealed elevated levels of the carcinogen benzene in various acne treatment products, including those from popular brands like Proactiv, Clearasil, Clinique, and CeraVe. Valisure has filed a petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on March 5, urging the government agency to take regulatory action, revise industry guidance, recall affected products, and suspend sales of benzoyl peroxide in the U.S. market.
Valisure conducted tests on 66 acne treatment products containing benzoyl peroxide. The products were incubated at 50 degrees Celsius for 18 days, and benzene levels were measured on the first, fourth, 10th, 14th, and 18th days. The findings revealed concerning levels of benzene in several products, far exceeding the restricted limit of two parts per million. For instance, on the 14th day of testing, a Proactiv cream containing 2.5 percent benzoyl peroxide tested for nearly 1,800 parts per million of benzene, while a Clinique cream with the same percentage had nearly 400 parts per million.
The affected brands have responded to the findings. A spokesperson for Clearasil’s parent company, Reckitt, dismissed the results, claiming that the lab tests reflected unrealistic scenarios rather than real-world conditions. They expressed confidence in the safety of Clearasil products when used and stored as directed on their labels. Similarly, a spokesperson for Clinique’s parent company, The Estée Lauder Companies, stated that benzene is not used as an ingredient in any of their products and clarified that benzoyl peroxide, an FDA-approved acne treatment ingredient, is not benzene. They emphasized the safety of their products and asserted that no other product in their portfolio contains benzoyl peroxide.
The recent findings by Valisure pose significant risks to the brands listed in the petition. At the time of reporting, shares of The Estée Lauder Cos. had fallen by approximately 1.2 percent, while shares of L’Oréal remained relatively stable with a 0.8 percent gain. The response from other manufacturing companies mentioned in the report, such as L’Oréal and Proactiv, was not immediately available.
