Tubes of Badger Kids SPF 30 sunscreen lotion are among those being recalled for contamination.(Photo: Handout)
About 30,000 tubes of Badger sunscreens for babies and children have been recalled after testing found they could be contaminated with bacteria and fungi, the manufacturer says.
The voluntary recall from a leading maker of natural and organic sunscreens includes all lots of the company's 4-ounce SPF 30 Baby Sunscreen Lotion and one lot of 4-ounce SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Lotion, according to a statement from W.S. Badger Co. Inc.
The New Hampshire company says the products all passed testing before they were put on sale, starting in February, but routine quality checks later turned up three microbes: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida parapsilosis and Acremonium fungis. The third microbe was found only in one open sample that had been handled and contaminated, the company says.
The testing suggested all the problems were caused by "preservative instability," the company says.
The recalled products include:
- SPF 30 Baby Sunscreen Lotion tubes with UPC codes of 34084490091 and 634084490114. (Lot #'s 3024A, 3057B, 3063A, 3063B, 3132A, 3133A)
- SPF 30 Kids Sunscreen Lotion tubes with UPC codes of 634084490145 and 634084490169 ( Lot # 3164A)
In an online message, Badger CEO Bill Whyte apologizes for the problems and says no adverse reactions have been reported. He also says he has been reassured by toxicologists that the organisms found in the sunscreens are "unlikely to cause problems except for in immune-compromised persons or for persons with severely damaged skin."
Company spokeswoman Deirdre Fitzgerald says: "We are already reformulating all products in question for improved shelf-life stability for next year's sunscreen season."
To get refunds, consumers can return the tubes to retailers or contact Badger at 1-800-603-6100 or recalls@badgerbalm.com. The company says any adverse reactions should be reported to the Food and Drug Administration.
