WASHINGTON: Six hand soap products have been recalled across the United States over concerns that they may be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria.
The recall covers more than 2,600 cases of liquid and foaming hand soaps manufactured by St. Louis-based Intercon Chemical Company.
Intercon began the voluntary recall on June 29. However, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified the recall as Class II on September 11.
A Class II recall involves products that could cause temporary or medically reversible health problems. The FDA considers the risk of serious consequences to be remote.
Recalled Soap Products
The six recalled products are:
- Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe
- Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe
- Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap
- Vestis Foaming Hand Soap Fresh Pear Scent
- Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap
- Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap With Moisturizers
The two Intercon-branded products are of particular concern.
They may contain five types of bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens.
The other four products are also listed as potentially contaminated with bacteria. However, specific bacterial strains were not identified.
Health Concerns
Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections affecting the blood, lungs and urinary tract.
People with weakened immune systems may face a higher risk of serious infections from the bacteria.
The recalled products were distributed to 20 recipients across 15 states.
The recipients included 19 wholesalers and one retailer in California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
Check UPC and Lot Numbers
Consumers should check the UPC and lot number on their soap bottles before using the products again.
The affected lot numbers are as follows:
| Product | Recalled Lot Numbers |
|---|---|
| Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe | AF97312, 26-01001, 26-01803 |
| Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe | 26-01001, 26-01803 |
| Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap | BF97303, BF97304, BF97305 |
| Vestis Foaming Hand Soap Fresh Pear Scent | 26-03091 |
| Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap | C3576, 26-01804 |
| Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap With Moisturizers | 26-01001 |
Consumers who have any of the affected products should avoid using them until they confirm that the product is not part of the recall.
