Clorox, the company that makes Pine-Sol, voluntarily recalls tens of millions of bottles of scented Pine-Sol cleaning products that may be contaminated with massive bacteria. The recalled products may contain a bacteria called Pseudomonas Aeruginosa which is an environmental organism widely found in soil and water. Thus, individuals who are exposed to such bacteria could face a risk of serious infection that requires immediate medical treatment.
This type of bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, through the eyes, or through a break in the skin. Fortunately, those who have a healthy immune system are not typically affected by the bacteria. The testing has identified bacteria in particular recalled products which entails those produced between January 2021 and September 2022. Clorox produced around 37 million recalled products in that period.
Such recall entails Pine-Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, and Lemon Fresh scents, CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners, in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, Lemon Fresh, and Orange Energy scents, and Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners, along with date codes that start with the prefix "A4" and followed by a five-digit number smaller than 22249. These products are sold in bottles of 28, 48, 60, 100, 144, and 175 fluid ounces.
May cause irritation of the respiratory tract
The company, on the other hand, notes that its signature product which is the Original Pine-Sol (Pine Scent) is not part of the said recall. According to a white paper by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), such germs can cause both blood and lung infections, specifically after surgery when they can circulate from surfaces and hands to medical equipment. The commission added that while the bacterium is unlikely to affect individuals with healthy immune systems, those with compromised systems should beware.
Those who are at particular risk for infection entail patients who use ventilators as it was more common during the Covid-19 pandemic as well as those needing catheters or have certain wounds from surgery or burns. The CDC added that the germ found in the Pine-Sol products has displayed resistance to antibiotic drugs and gradually the germs can become multi-drug resistant; It may also cause irritation of the respiratory tract and can cause severe eye irritation.
Disinfectant cleaners became popular and in demand at the start of the pandemic in 2020 when scientists stressed that the disease could be transmitted easily by surviving on surfaces and transferring to humans only through hand contact with the face. Also, way back then, it was considered essential to prevent the transmission of the said disease, per NBC News.
What should consumers do after the recall?
Consumers of the recalled products are advised to immediately stop using products that have date codes printed on the bottle that starts with "A4" and represents products produced prior to September 2022. Moreover, consumers must take photos of the 12-digit UPC or The Universal Product Code and the date code, dispose of the product indicated in the container with household trash, and quickly contact Pine-Sol for a full refund of the purchase price along with the receipt or of the manufacturer's suggested retail price if there's no receipt.
This product can be sold via Amazon and additional retailer websites and at Walmart, Target, Home Depot, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and other major retailers nationwide for between $2.50 and $12.50, Consumer Product Safety Commission reported.
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