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🧸 Product IT April 11, 2025

Clairol — Herbal Essences

Shampoo, advertised for smooth or curly hair.

📷 Safety Gate / European Commission · Source
Additional photo
Clairol — Herbal Essences
📷 Safety Gate / European Commission · Source
Risk level
Serious risk
Type
Chemical
Category
Cosmetics
Hazard
According to the list of ingredients, the product contains 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products. BMHCA may harm the reproductive system, may harm the health of the unborn child and may cause skin sensitisation.
Origin
Italy

⚖️ Actions ordered by authorities

  • ▸ (to: Distributor) Ban on the marketing of the product and any accompanying measures
Barcode (GTIN): 5410076520299
🗄
Archived (older alert)
This alert was reported 520 days ago and has been moved from our active feed to the archive. The original safety information still applies — we have no confirmation from the issuing agency that the product is safe again. Refer to the official notice for the current status.
📈 Timeline
119 days in total
May 17, 2026 September 13, 2026
Daily snapshot data starts accumulating once the scheduler runs — for now this is interpolated from the agency's first/last dates.

What is this? This is a bottle of Herbal Essences shampoo or conditioner made by Clairol. The product lists a chemical called BMHCA that should not be in cosmetics.

What's happening? The shampoo or conditioner has a banned ingredient. BMHCA can hurt the reproductive system, harm an unborn baby, or irritate skin.

Does this affect me? If you used this product in Italy, you may be at risk. Pregnant people and those planning a baby should be especially careful.

What should I do? Stop using the product right away. Ask your pharmacist or doctor if you have any health concerns.

🤖 This plain-language summary is automatically generated from the official agency notice using AI. It is for general information only — not medical advice. For decisions about your health, always consult a pharmacist or doctor and read the official source linked below.

🔬 Medical / technical details (for professionals)
Brand(s) / product name(s)
Clairol
Agency-published detail

Risk level: Serious risk · Type: Chemical · Category: Cosmetics · Hazard: According to the list of ingredients, the product contains 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products. BMHCA may harm the reproductive system, may harm the health of the unborn child and may cause skin sensitisation. · Origin: Italy

First published
April 11, 2025
Last refreshed by us
3 months ago
Severity (as classified)
High
Official source
https://ec.europa.eu/safety-gate-alerts/screen/webReport/alertDetail/10093426

All information on this page comes from the official agency notice. We translate and summarise it; we don't add or edit facts.

❓ Frequently asked questions

▸ What is this product recall alert about?
Clairol — Herbal Essences. Risk level: Serious risk · Type: Chemical · Category: Cosmetics · Hazard: According to the list of ingredients, the product contains 2-(4-tert-butylbenzyl)propionaldehyde (BMHCA), which is prohibited in cosmetic products. BMHCA may harm the reproductive system, may harm the healt...
▸ When was this alert issued?
This alert was issued on April 11, 2025 by EU Safety Gate.
▸ Which countries are affected?
The alert applies to Italy.
▸ How serious is this alert?
Serious risk. A serious risk means the product or medicine can cause significant harm. Treat the alert as urgent.
▸ What should I do?
If you have this product at home, stop using it and return it to the point of purchase for a refund. Keep the receipt if you have one — most retailers refund without it for safety recalls.
▸ Where can I find the official notice?
The full official notice is published on ec.europa.eu.

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⚠️ We aggregate official notices. We do not give medical advice. For medical or legal decisions, consult the source agency and a qualified professional.