2 Sunscreen Brands Have Recalled 20,000 Products Sold Nationwide
Updated: Jul. 02, 2024
The brands are sold at retailers like Walmart and Amazon, but there may be concern over an active ingredient which could be carcinogenic.
A spring 2022 survey by the American Academy of Dermatology revealed Americans are more aware of the necessity of sun protection than we were five years prior. Still, getting all ages to apply it can take some convincing. This week, the US Food and Drug Administration reports two sunscreen brands that manufacture products marketed to protect the whole family have been recalled after having been sold online and at retailers across the country.
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Aloe Gator Sunscreen and Bull Frog Sunscreen are both recalling products due to an active ingredient being “out of specification,” according to the recall notices. By the FDA’s standards, this refers to “test results that fall outside the specifications or acceptance criteria established.” This has been categorized as a Class II recall.
| What Each FDA Recall Classification Means | |
| Class I Recall | This is the most severe recall type, issued for products that could cause serious health issues or death. |
| Class II Recall | This type involves products that may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health effects. |
| Class III Recall | This is for products that are unlikely to cause health problems but fail to comply with FDA labeling or manufacturing regulations. |
The active ingredient contained in the three recalled sunscreen products is octocrylene, which is a compound often used in sunscreen due to its reported “ability to neutralize UV radiation dissipated by sunlight, and to minimize skin damage from prolonged sun exposure,” according to the National Library of Medicine.
However, octocrylene has come under fire in recent years because of its potential carcinogenic properties. According to a 2021 study published in Chemical Research in Toxicology, octocrylene can naturally degrade into the chemical benzophenone over time, which is “a suspected carcinogen that can interfere with key hormones and reproductive organs,” according to Yale Medicine. Lead researchers of that study even called on the FDA to remove sunscreens containing octocrylene due to its dangers.
Bull Frog is recalling a reported 9,697 units of a product that appears to be sold through Amazon, Walmart, and other major retailers. Aloe Gator is recalling about 10,000 units across two products which appear to be sold through Amazon.
The recalled sunscreens include:
- Bull Frog SPF 50 Amphibious Lotion with Water Armor Tech, Broad Spectrum Sunscreen with UVA/UVB Protection, NEW WT. 5 FL OZ (148ML)
- ALOE GATOR, (Octocrylene 8%, Octyl Methoxycinnamate 6%, Benzophone 3 6%, Octyl Salicylate 5%), SPF 40+, Broad Spectrum Protective Gel, Sport Performance, NET WT 4 OZ (113g) – 6,264 units recalled
- ALOE GATOR, (Octocrylene 8%, Octyl Methoxycinnamate 6%, Benzophone 3 6%, Octyl Salicylate 5%), Original Formula, SPF 40+, Broad Spectrum Protective Gel, Sport Performance, NET WT 1 OZ (28 g) – 4,013 units recalled
The recalled Bull Frog sunscreen bears an expiration date of March 31, 2026. Both recalled Aloe Gator sunscreens bear an expiration date of January 31, 2025.
The recall notices do not contain instructions for customers who bought the recalled products and are seeking a refund. However, Bull Frog Sunscreen can be contacted on its website. The website and phone number listed on the back label of Aloe Gator Sunscreen products are no longer in use.
Originally Published: June 06, 2024
