Banana Boat recalls sunscreen due to fire risk

Energizer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ENR), announced today it is initiating a voluntary market withdrawal of the continuous spray Banana Boat sun care products identified in the table below (Click SEE IT to view table) due to a potential risk of product igniting on the skin if contact is made with a source of ignition before the product is completely dry.
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Energizer is voluntarily removing these products from retail outlets because of this potential safety concern. Energizer believes that this issue is associated with the product delivery system, specifically the size of the spray valve opening on the affected products. The spray valve opening on the affected products dispenses more than is typical in the industry for continuous sun care sprays. As a result, the product is taking longer to dry on the skin than is typical with other continuous sprays. If a consumer comes into contact with a flame or spark prior to complete drying of the product on the skin, there is a potential for the product to ignite.

Energizer is notifying its retail partners to stop selling the product. Energizer has received four reports of adverse events involving burns associated with the use of the Banana Boat UltraMist Sport SPF 30 and 50 products in the US, and one event in Canada. Consumer safety is the primary objective of Energizer and therefore it has voluntarily initiated this market withdrawal. As already described, Energizer believes it has identified the cause of this safety concern and expects to offer new Banana Boat continuous spray products shortly.

Consistent with existing warnings on all continuous spray suncare products, consumers should take care to avoid sources of ignition when using these products, should not smoke while using these products, and should not use these products in the presence of a flame or spark.

Consumers who have purchased any of the above listed products are advised not to use them. Consumers with questions or complaints regarding this market withdrawal can contact Energizer by calling Consumer Affairs at 1-800-SAFESUN (1-800-723-3786) Monday through Friday, 8:00AM to 7:00PM Eastern, or by sending an email to: SUNCARE@customerfollowup.info.

These over-the-counter products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers and retailers from January of 2010 through September 30, 2012.

This market withdrawal is being conducted with the knowledge of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.


Adverse events that may be related to the use of these products may be reported to FDA's MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting Program either online, by regular mail or by fax:

Online: www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm
Regular Mail: use postage-paid FDA form 3500 available at:
www.fda.gov/MedWatch/getforms.htm.
Mail to MedWatch, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787
Fax: 1-800-FDA-0178