By Joseph Chalfant
Facebook is recalling 4 million components from its Oculus Quest 2 virtual reality headset.
The company is recalling the removable foam facial interface. Facebook decided to recall the component after customers reported skin irritation where the foam interface touched users. The recall is voluntary and in coordination with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
“We’ve been working hard to address the issue, working with experts and making adjustments to our manufacturing process, and communicating proactively with regulators,” the company said in a release. “The safety and comfort of every customer is our top priority. As part of this commitment, we are now offering a free silicone cover to Quest 2 headset and Quest 2 Fit Pack owners globally.”
Facebook has decided to ship out a silicon covering for free to combat the issue. The company is not requiring customers to return their Quest 2s to get their cover. Instead, Facebook has set up a site to walk customers through the request process.
The CPSC received 5,716 reports of skin irritation, 45 of which required medical attention. The agency claims that the foam interface can cause “facial skin irritation and reactions including rashes, swelling, burning, itching, hives, and bumps.”
“We took the skin irritation reports very seriously as soon as we learned about them and, beginning in December, we promptly conducted a thorough investigation including receiving advice from leading dermatologists and toxicologists,” said Head of Facebook Reality Labs Andrew Bosworth in a release.
“These experts have advised that skin irritation can occur in some segments of the population from many household items—even things like tomatoes or shampoo—and that the rates we’ve seen are in line with expectations,” he continued.
Bosworth stressed that the fault was not due to malpractice.
“Our investigation determined that our manufacturing process is safe, meaning no unexpected nor hazardous contaminants were found in the Quest 2 foam interface or manufacturing process,” he said.
Facebook has not asked all customers to stop using their Quest 2s but did urge anyone who experiences a reaction to stop and contact Facebook to request a silicon cover.
