Henna Cones

Health Canada has issued a warning to the public and industry in Canada regarding certain henna cone products that pose a chemical hazard due to potential phenol content, which might not be disclosed on the product label.

Phenol, a prohibited ingredient according to Health Canada's Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist, can lead to severe skin reactions such as chemical burns, redness, blistering, and pain if it comes into contact with the skin.

Following three incident reports linked to henna cones, Health Canada conducted sampling and testing on various products, confirming the presence of phenol. Consequently, a new recall was announced on March 22, 2024, for three henna cone products found to contain phenol. Previous recalls for the Shakeel Bhai Mehndi Waley Special Bridal Cone were issued on April 11, 2017, May 25, 2017, and May 2, 2018, identifying specific manufacturers and importers. However, there may be other distributors and importers of these products throughout Canada.

Health Canada suspects that additional henna cone products available in Canada might also contain phenol. Consumers are advised to report any adverse reactions to these products to enable appropriate enforcement measures to be taken. It is crucial to cease using and selling these henna cones immediately and dispose of them in regular household garbage to prevent any further risks.

What you should do 

• Consumers should immediately stop using the henna cone products that have been recalled, as well as any henna cone products that cause irritation to the skin (i.e. burning sensation, redness, or blisters). Dispose of them in regular household garbage.
• To check for any possible skin irritation to a henna cone product, consumers can apply a small amount of the product to their forearm as a patch test.
• If skin irritation does occur, with a recalled product or from use of another henna cone product, wash the affected area thoroughly with soap and water and seek medical attention if symptoms persist or worsen.
• Consumers are encouraged to report any health or safety incidents related to the use of these products by filling out Health Canada's Consumer Product Incident Report Form.
• In Canada, it is prohibited to sell cosmetics that contain any substance that may cause harm to users when used according to the directions on the label and under normal use. A list of these substances is described under the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist.
• Sellers of the products should immediately stop selling the products if they do not meet the Canadian cosmetic requirements and dispose of them.

Source and more images: Health Canada