Millions of Popular Cleaning Products Recalled Over Bacterial Contamination Concern
Clorox has recalled 37 million scented Pine-Sol products over potential bacterial contamination.
The bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, was discovered during a routine product review.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an organism primary found in soil and water that poses infection risk to those with weakened immune systems and those that use external medical devices.
On October 25, Clorox announced in a statement with the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission that the company would voluntarily recall approximately 37 million Pine-Sol products due to potential bacterial contamination.
The bacteria, known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is an environmental organism found widely in soil and water, per the statement, and was discovered during a “routine product review,” a brand spokesperson told The New York Times. The recall affects specific scented Pine-Sol products produced between January 2021 and September 2022, including Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, and Lemon Fresh scents, as well as CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, Lemon Fresh, and Orange Energy scents. Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners are also affected.
The safety commission advises consumers to stop using affected products immediately, take pictures of the 12-digit UPC code and the date code, throw it away in its container, and request a refund by filling out this form and calling 1-855-378-4982 with any questions.
Original pine-scented Pine-Sol products are not part of the recall.
“People with weakened immune systems or external medical devices who are exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa face a risk of serious infection that may require medical treatment,” the statement reads. “The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, through the eyes, or through a break in the skin. People with healthy immune systems are usually not affected by the bacteria.” The recall was made out of an “abundance of caution,” per the statement.
To identify whether or not you own an impacted product, check the date codes printed on the bottle beginning with “A4”—the first five digits numbered less than 22249 represent products produced prior to September 2022, the statement says.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa are increasingly antibiotic resistant, and can cause infections in the blood, lungs, and other parts of the body, namely after surgery. The organization’s 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threat Report documented an estimated 32,600 infections among hospitalized patients and 2,700 estimated deaths in the United States in 2017.
To protect yourself against infection, keep your hands and surfaces clean, the CDC says, and if you’re around healthcare workers often or they serve you, remind them to clean their hands before handling external medical devices like breathing machines and catheters.
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