The makers of Banana Boat sunscreen recalled 500,000 bottles of spray-on lotion following reports of people catching on fire after applying the product and coming close to an open flame.
The recall includes aerosol products like Ultra-Mist Sport, Ultra-Mist Ultra Defense and Ultra-Mist Kids. The manufacturer, Energizer Holdings Inc. says it is pulling 23 varieties of Banana Boat Ultra-Mist sunscreen off store shelves.
A company spokesman said there have been reports of five people suffering burns after using the sunscreen in the last year. Four burn cases were reported in the U.S. and one in Canada. More than 20 million units have been sold since Ultra-Mist launched in 2010, according to the spokesman. The products were distributed nationwide to wholesalers and retailers from January 2010 through September 30, 2012.
Energizer says that the spray valve on the Ultra-Mist’s bottle is over applying the product, taking longer to dry, raising the risk of flammability and causing burns. “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,” the company said.
In June we reported about a man who was grilling on his deck when flames started spreading up his arm, to his chest, neck, back and ears. Everywhere he had sprayed the sunscreen, flames engulfed his body. The victim stated, “No warning that says this product is flammable when applied to your skin or for a period of time when applied to skin.” He sustained second-degree burns.
Energizer Holdings said that they have notified the U.S. Food and Drug Administration about this voluntary recall.
Consumers who purchased the products are being told not to use them. More information is available from the manufacturer at 1-800-SAFESUN or by sending an email to SUNCARE@customerfollowup.info. For a complete list of recalled sunscreen products, check the Banana Boat website.
Contact one of our Gacovino Lake attorneys at 1-800-246-HURT (4878).
