Another day, another major corporation caught putting consumers at risk. This time, it’s global cosmetics giant L’Oréal, which has issued a recall on its Effaclar Duo acne treatment over concerns it may contain benzene—a known carcinogen linked to serious health risks.
Yet, despite a year’s worth of warnings, the Biden administration’s FDA failed to take action, leaving millions exposed to potentially dangerous products.
The trouble began a year ago when Valisure, an independent lab in Connecticut, flagged acne treatments containing benzoyl peroxide—including L’Oréal’s Effaclar Duo—for potentially forming dangerous levels of benzene. The lab urged the FDA to take swift action, calling for stricter regulations and product recalls.
But what did the FDA do? Nothing of substance. Instead of prioritizing consumer safety, the agency responded with a weak “interim response letter,” claiming it needed more time to “review and analyze” the evidence. In other words, the bureaucrats in Washington dragged their feet while Americans continued to buy and use products that may be exposing them to a cancer-causing chemical.
Now, with L’Oréal scrambling to pull its acne treatment from shelves, the FDA is finally “coordinating” on the recall—but only after the damage has been done.
Effaclar Duo, marketed under L’Oréal’s French brand La Roche-Posay, has been promoted as a top-tier acne treatment, selling for $35.99 with promises of “fast and visible results in less than 3 days.” But what customers weren’t told was that, under certain conditions, the product’s benzoyl peroxide could degrade, producing unacceptable levels of benzene.
“In close coordination with the FDA, we have proactively decided to remove the limited remaining units of the current formula of Effaclar Duo from retailers,” L’Oréal told Bloomberg in a carefully worded statement.
Translation? They got caught and are now trying to minimize the fallout.
According to Valisure’s findings, benzoyl peroxide-based medications are “fundamentally unstable” and can generate dangerous levels of benzene when exposed to higher temperatures—something that happens frequently during shipping, storage, and everyday use.
This isn’t just about one acne cream. Valisure’s investigation found benzene in a range of common personal care products, including other acne treatments like Proactiv, as well as sunscreens, antiperspirants, dry shampoos, and even hand sanitizers.
Stores like Target and CVS Health have been unknowingly selling contaminated products to unsuspecting consumers for years. Meanwhile, the FDA—which exists to regulate and protect—has been asleep at the wheel.
This situation is yet another example of major corporations prioritizing profits over safety and a government too incompetent—or too compromised—to hold them accountable. Americans deserve better.
Instead of focusing on useless climate initiatives and woke social justice policies, maybe the Biden administration should start doing its actual job—like making sure people aren’t rubbing cancer-causing chemicals into their skin.
