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Brazilian Blowout Solution Contains Formaldehyde
- Starting date:
- October 7, 2010
- Posting date:
- October 7, 2010
- Type of communication:
- Advisory
- Subcategory:
- Cosmetics
- Source of recall:
- Health Canada
- Issue:
- Product Safety
- Audience:
- General Public
- Identification number:
- RA-110003811
- Reason
- Products affected
- What you should do
- Depth of distribution
- Who is affected
- Affected products
- Report health or safety concerns
- What Health Canada is doing
Notice to the reader: This document has been updated by an advisory dated October 26, 2010.
Health Canada is warning Canadians that Brazilian Blowout Solution manufactured by Brazilian Blowout of California has been found to contain unacceptable levels of formaldehyde.
Reason
Health Canada has received complaints of burning eyes, nose, and throat, breathing difficulties, and one report of hair loss associated with use of the product.
Products affected
This advisory is only for the Brazilian Blowout Solution at this time, since it is known to contain formaldehyde. Other similar "Brazilian" smoothing treatment products, made by Brazilian Blowout are not known to be affected. The affected product is only available in salons.
What you should do
- Consumers who have had adverse reactions to Brazilian Blowout treatments are advised to seek medical attention. There is no cause for concern for consumers who have used this product and not experienced any reactions.
- Stylists who use Brazilian Blowout treatments should immediately stop using the affected product.
- Adverse reactions to cosmetics can be reported to Health Canada using a form available on Health Canada's website: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/reportaproduct.
Depth of distribution
The Brazilian Blowout hair smoothing treatment is known to be available at salons across Canada.
Who is affected
Consumers receiving hair smoothing treatments using Brazilian Blowout, and stylists performing the treatment may experience reactions of burning eyes, nose, throat, and breathing troubles.
Affected products
Brazilian Blowout
Hazard identified
Testing conducted by Health Canada found that the Brazilian Blowout Solution contains 12% formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is permitted in cosmetics at less than 0.2% when used as a preservative. Formaldehyde is a known irritant, sensitizer, and is linked to cancer in humans when inhaled chronically over a long period of time. Health Canada believes that the reactions are being caused by formaldehyde becoming aerosolized during the blow drying and flat ironing stages of the treatment. Any procedure containing formaldehyde above the allowable limits places clients and stylists at increased risk.
Report health or safety concerns
Health Canada is interested in receiving reports of incidents or injury reports related to consumer products and cosmetics that have been previously recalled (health and safety related complaints). Incidents or injuries may be about the same hazard or may be about a different hazard related to the same product. An incident report form can be accessed on the Health Canada website.
What Health Canada is doing
Health Canada is working with the exclusive Canadian distributor to address concerns regarding Brazilian Blowout Solution and to stop distribution of this product to salons in Canada. Health Canada is also informing consumers of the risk associated with this product.