You’re standing in the personal care aisle, grabbing a cheap stick of deodorant because, honestly, who wants to spend twelve bucks on something that just goes under your arms? Power Stick has always been that reliable, budget-friendly option. It’s everywhere—Dollar General, Family Dollar, local convenience stores. But lately, people are frantically searching for the Power Stick deodorant recall FDA status, and the reality is a bit more nuanced than a simple "yes" or "no."
It’s scary. One day you’re using a product, and the next, there’s a headline about benzene or some other chemical you can’t pronounce.
Safety shouldn't be a luxury. When we talk about the FDA and personal care products, we’re looking at a massive oversight system that sometimes feels like it’s playing catch-up. If you’ve got a stick of Power Stick in your drawer right now, you’re probably wondering if you need to toss it or if the internet is just doing that thing where it blows everything out of proportion.
The Benzene Scare and Personal Care Products
The whole conversation around the Power Stick deodorant recall FDA findings really traces back to a massive wave of recalls that hit the industry starting around 2021. Valisure, an independent laboratory based in New Haven, Connecticut, started testing batches of aerosol sprays. They found benzene. Benzene is a known human carcinogen. It’s not something you want anywhere near your skin, let alone your lymph nodes.
What happened next was a domino effect. Giants like Procter & Gamble and Old Spice had to pull products.
People started looking at every budget brand. Power Stick, manufactured by New High Ridge Brands (formerly part of the High Ridge Brands portfolio), came under the microscope. The concern wasn't just about what was in the formula, but how it was made. Contamination usually happens during the manufacturing process, specifically with the propellants used in spray cans.
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What the FDA Actually Says About Power Stick
Let’s get the facts straight. As of early 2026, there isn't a massive, active, "stop everything" federal recall specifically targeting Power Stick's entire line the way we saw with some other brands. However, the Power Stick deodorant recall FDA logs do show historical actions and "voluntary" withdrawals that have kept consumers on edge.
In the past, High Ridge Brands faced significant financial restructuring, including Chapter 11 bankruptcy. During these periods of corporate upheaval, quality control often becomes a talking point for regulators. When a company changes hands or faces liquidation, the FDA keeps a closer eye on production facilities to ensure that "budget-friendly" doesn't become "safety-negligent."
Why "Voluntary" Recalls Are Often Misunderstood
The FDA doesn't always come in and shut a factory down immediately. Most of the time, they issue a warning or share data with the company, and the company "voluntarily" recalls the product to avoid a PR nightmare or a massive lawsuit.
If you see a Power Stick product missing from shelves, it might not be a formal FDA mandate. It could be the retailer—like Dollar General—deciding the risk of a lawsuit isn't worth the $1.25 profit margin. They pull it quietly. This creates a "shadow recall" effect where the consumer is the last to know.
Is It Just the Sprays?
Most of the benzene issues in the industry have been linked to aerosols. Think about the butane or propane used to blast the deodorant out of the can. If those gases are contaminated, the whole product is compromised.
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Power Stick is famous for its solid sticks. Generally, solids are much safer from a chemical contamination standpoint because they don't use those high-pressure propellants. But that doesn't mean they're entirely in the clear. Cross-contamination in factories that produce both sprays and solids is a real thing.
Checking Your Batch Numbers
If you're worried, look at the bottom of your deodorant. There’s a lot code. It’s usually a string of letters and numbers that seems meaningless.
Honestly, the easiest way to check is to head to the FDA’s Enforcement Reports database. You can search by the manufacturer name. If you see "New High Ridge Brands" or "Lander Co." (an older name associated with these products), you can see if your specific lot is flagged.
It’s tedious. Nobody wants to spend twenty minutes on a government website over a stick of deodorant. But if you’ve been using it for years, it’s worth a look.
The Problem with Budget Personal Care
We have to talk about why these recalls seem to hit the cheaper brands harder. It’s all about the supply chain.
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When a company is trying to keep the price point under two dollars, they are sourcing ingredients from the cheapest possible suppliers. Sometimes those suppliers are overseas with less stringent oversight. If a batch of raw materials is tainted with heavy metals or industrial chemicals, it might not be caught until the product is already on the shelf at your local discount store.
The FDA’s "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS) list is huge, but it's not foolproof. The agency is often reactive rather than proactive. They wait for a problem to happen—or for an independent lab like Valisure to blow the whistle—before they step in.
Understanding the Risks of Benzene Exposure
- Long-term impact: Chronic exposure to benzene can lead to blood disorders, including leukemia.
- Absorption: Your underarms have thin skin and lots of sweat glands, making them prime real estate for chemical absorption.
- Cumulative effect: It’s not just one spray. It’s the use of that spray every morning for five years.
What Should You Do Right Now?
If you are holding a Power Stick product and you’re feeling uneasy, just stop using it. It’s not worth the stress. Switch to a brand that has a cleaner "track record" or move away from aerosols entirely.
Natural deodorants have their own issues (like baking soda rashes), but they rarely have benzene problems. If you stick with Power Stick, try to find the "Aluminum Free" versions or the solid sticks, as these have historically been less likely to be involved in the major chemical contamination recalls that have plagued the industry recently.
Keep an eye on the news. These things move fast. One day a product is fine, and the next, there's a class-action lawsuit. If you've experienced unusual skin irritation or health issues you think are linked to the product, report it to the FDA’s MedWatch program. That’s how these recalls get started in the first place—enough people complaining to the right people.
Actionable Next Steps for Consumers
- Inspect the label: Check for the manufacturer name. If it says "New High Ridge Brands," stay updated on their corporate filings and any safety notices they release.
- Ditch the aerosols: If you’re worried about benzene, the simplest move is to stop using spray deodorants from any budget brand. Solids and gels are fundamentally different in how they are manufactured.
- Use the FDA Search Tool: Go to the official FDA Recall Search page and type in "Power Stick" or "High Ridge Brands." This is the only way to get the most current, non-hyped information.
- Verify with Retailers: Often, stores like Family Dollar or Dollar Tree will post their own recall notices near the entrance or on their corporate websites before the news reaches national headlines.
- Save Your Receipt: If a formal recall is issued, you’re usually entitled to a full refund or a replacement product, but you'll need proof of purchase or at least the physical product to show the lot code.
The situation with the Power Stick deodorant recall FDA status serves as a reminder that being a "smart shopper" isn't just about finding the lowest price—it's about staying informed about what those lower prices might actually cost you in the long run. Keep your eyes on the batch numbers and don't be afraid to swap to a different brand if the data starts looking shaky.