Ting Athlete’s Foot Spray Recall Issued Over Presence of Benzene

Insight Pharmaceuticals has announced a recall impacting two lots of Ting Athlete’s Foot antifungal spray, after discovering the presence of benzene, a known human carcinogen.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a Ting 1% Tolnaftate Athlete’s Foot Spray recall on February 2, after the manufacturer and a third-party lab confirmed detectable levels of benzene in the antifungal spray, which is not listed as an ingredient. It is the latest of a string of aerosol spray product recalls issued in recent years due to the toxic chemical, which has been linked to reports of cancer and other side effects.

Benzene is an industrial chemical that has been associated with the development of several fatal forms of cancer, leukemia and other conditions, such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML), Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), Hairy Cell Leukemia (HCL), Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, Multiple Myeloma, Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDL), Myelofibrosis and Myeloid Metaplasia, Aplastic Anemia and Thrombocytopenic Purpura.

Long-term side effects of benzene exposure have been proven to cause anemia, which is a condition that develops when your blood lacks enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin. Essentially, the chemical causes bone marrow not to produce enough red blood cells, which can damage an individual’s immune system. Federal regulators have determined long-term exposure to benzene can significantly impact blood cells, to the extent it causes cancer such as leukemia, which affects the blood-forming organs.

Similar contamination problems have resulted in lawsuits against the manufacturers of aerosol spray sunscreen, deodorant and other products found in recent years to contain the cancer-causing chemical, resulting in a number of product liability lawsuits and class action lawsuits against manufacturers of the contaminated products.

According to this latest recall notice, two lots of Ting Antifungal Spray products contained unexpected levels of benzene, which came from the propellant used by the manufacturer.

“Benzene is classified as a human carcinogen,” the manufacturer wrote. “Exposure to benzene can occur by inhalation, orally, and through the skin and it potentially can result in cancers including leukemia and blood cancer of the bone marrow and blood disorders which can be life threatening.”

Insight Pharmaceuticals indicates it has received no adverse event reports linked to the recalled antifungal spray products.

The recall includes two lots of Ting 1% Tolnaftate Athlete’s Foot Spray Antifungal Spray Liquid, packaged in 4.5 oz/128 g blue and white aerosol cans, including lot number 0H50545 with NDC 63736-819-05 and an expiration date of 07/24, and not number 1G50645 with NDC 63736-819-05 and an expiration date of 06/25.

The products were sold at retailers nationwide and online.

A similar Ting Athlete’s Foot spray recall was announced in late November 2023, affecting two lots of 2% Miconazole Nitrate Athlete’s Foot Spray Antifungal Spray.

For this latest recall, the company is offering reimbursement for all consumers who have purchased any of the recalled antifungal spray products. It urges consumers who have the products to stop using them immediately and appropriately discard the can after taking a picture of the bottom of the can with the affected lot number.

Consumers with questions about the recall can email Insight Pharmaceuticals at medicalaffairs@prestigebrands.com, visit the website at https://www.prestigebrands.com/contact, or by phone at (800) 344-7239.