Old Spice and Secret recall sprays after cancer-causing chemical detected

Procter & Gamble Co. is recalling some of its Old Spice and Secret aerosol antiperspirant sprays after benzene, a cancer-causing chemical, was found in some products.

The company said it had notified retailers to stop selling the products and said that anyone who owns the sprays should throw them away.

The recall impacts 18 products in total, including eight Old Spice items and 10 Secret sprays that have an expiration date through September 2023. Customers who bought the products were eligible to apply to get reimbursed for their purchase on the Old Spice or Secret websites. 

The company said that “daily exposure to benzene in the recalled products at the levels detected in our testing would not be expected to cause adverse health consequences.”

Procter & Gamble added that its other products including body sprays, solid sticks and gel antiperspirants and deodorant products were unaffected by the recall, and customers could continue to use those items normally. 

The company also noted that it “has not received any reports of adverse events related to this recall and is conducting this recall out of an abundance of caution.”

The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) says benzene can be cancer causing in humans. Specifically, long-term exposure to high levels of benzene can cause leukemia. 

Earlier this year, Johnson & Johnson recalled five aerosol sunscreen products, including four Neutrogena products and one Aveeno product, after finding low amounts of benzene in the items.