This week, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall on eight Pine-Sol disinfectant cleaning products over concerns that they may be contaminated with infection-causing bacteria.
The recall applies to approximately 37 million cleaning products the company has made since early 2021. This includes the following products lines:
Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners
CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners
Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners
Varieties of these product lines include the following scents:
Lavender Clean
Sparkling Wave
Lemon Fresh
Orange Energy
In a somewhat standard public response, the commission’s release said, “In an abundance of caution, Clorox is recalling all of the above-described products manufactured at its Forest Park, Georgia facility through September 2022.”
Specifically, the agency has named the natural bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa as the concern, as infection with this bacteria can potentially result in a compromised immune system. According to a paper released by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), contracting this bacteria can lead to infections in both the blood and the lungs.
The CDC also warns, “The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, through the eyes, or through a break in the skin.”
Furthermore, they continue, there is a particularly greater concern after surgery as the bacteria can spread from surfaces to medical equipment and, of course, hands. Obviously, then, the elevated concern is even higher right now as Covid-19 patients need ventilators; ventilators that may eventually be shared with those affected by the bacteria described in the recall. Catheters also maintain a risk of cross-contamination.
Unfortunately, the CDC goes on to advise “These germs can be multi-drug resistant” as they have displayed some resistance to antibiotic drugs.
It is even more unfortunate, perhaps, that the sale of disinfectant cleaners—like those listed in the recall—has shot up greatly the past few years because of the pandemic.
In response to the recall, Clorox has said they will refund the purchase price of any product affected when accompanied by a receipt. Without a receipt, Clorox has also promised to refund the manufacturer’s suggested price as long as you have proof of purchase. This includes a photo of the 12-digit UPC code on the product package, as well as the date code.
