High street retailer Boots has withdrawn a popular cosmetics product from sale after EU regulators identified unsafe levels of arsenic in the makeup.
The Sosu Peach Dreams Eyeshadow Palette contains an “excessive concentration” of the toxic metal element in certain powder shades, prompting an immediate recall.
The contaminated product was distributed through Boots outlets across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, both in physical shops and via online channels.
Customers who purchased the eyeshadow palette have been advised to “stop using it immediately” due to potential health risks associated with arsenic exposure.
The affected eyeshadow palette is identified by the barcode 5391537262098. Customers who have purchased this item should return it to any Boots shop, where staff will process a complete refund.
Those seeking additional details can contact Boots Customer Care at 1800 719824 (Ireland) or 0800 915 0004 (UK).
The recall follows alerts from EU authorities about the contamination, highlighting ongoing safety monitoring of consumer products across European markets.
An ‘excessive concentration’ of arsenic has been discovered in Sosu Peach Dreams Eyeshadow Palette
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BOOTS
Arsenic
According to Government health information, arsenic has been found as a contaminant in various cosmetic products.
The metal element occurs widely throughout the earth’s crust and can appear in different chemical forms, with certain types presenting greater health hazards than others.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has designated arsenic and its compounds as “cancer-causing chemicals” (carcinogens).
GOV.UK warned: “Long-term exposure to arsenic may cause lung, skin and bladder cancers.”
Customers who have purchased this recalled item should return it to any Boots store
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PAIt’s important to note that short-term exposure to arsenic is “likely to be associated at most with only a very small increase in the risk of cancer”.
However, certain populations face heightened vulnerability to arsenic’s harmful effects.
Pregnant women in regions with elevated arsenic levels in drinking water have shown increased rates of low birth weight babies and infant mortality.
Meanwhile, young children may experience negative impacts on their intellectual development when exposed to the substance.
As well as being associated with cancer risks, contact with arsenic compounds can result in “corrosive” burns to skin or eyes.
Ingesting large amounts may harm the stomach, kidneys, liver, heart and nervous system, “and in severe cases, cause death”.
Anyone experiencing health concerns related to arsenic exposure should consult their GP or ring NHS 111 for medical advice.
While UK regulations maintain strict controls over arsenic levels in water, air and food to minimise health risks, the substance can still appear as an “impurity” in cosmetic products.
Government guidance indicates that adverse health effects depend on various factors, including the dose, exposure method, duration and specific chemical form encountered.
Boots has confirmed to GB News that the recall exclusively impacts shoppers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.