Six liquid and foaming hand soaps shipped to 15 states are under a recall that the FDA has classified as Class II because of possible bacterial contamination. The products were made or distributed by Intercon Chemical Company of St. Louis, and the agency says two of them may contain several species of Pseudomonas and Serratia bacteria, according to its enforcement report.
The recall itself is not new. Intercon began it on June 29. What changed is the FDA's formal risk classification, assigned on Sept. 11, which gives households and workplaces a fresh reason to check the soap by the sink.
The bacteria named in the report mainly cause infections in people who are already vulnerable. The concern is greatest for anyone with a weakened immune system, a surgical wound, or a medical device such as a catheter, because hand soap is supposed to remove germs, not add them.
The Recalled Soaps and Where They Went
The recalled products went to 20 companies, 19 wholesale and one retail, in California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin, according to a summary of the FDA notice by The Healthy. The FDA has not said which cities or stores received the products.
Two products carry the specific contamination warning. Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap with Aloe, 28.7 fl. oz. (UPC 789745002981), covers lot codes AF97312, 26-01001, and 26-01803. Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap with Aloe, 1000 mL (UPC 789745002615), covers lots 26-01001 and 26-01803. Both may contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Serratia marcescens, and Serratia nematodiphila.
Four others were recalled for potential bacterial contamination, with no specific organisms named. They are Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap, 28.7 fl. oz. (lots BF97303, BF97304, and BF97305); Vestis Foaming Hand Soap, Fresh Pear Scent, 33.8 fl. oz. (lot 26-03091); Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap, 8 fl. oz. (lots C3576 and 26-01804); and Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap with Moisturizers, 7.5 fl. oz. (lot 26-01001).
Several of these soaps appear intended for workplaces and institutions, so many people may have used them in offices or public restrooms rather than at home. The two Laura Lynn products come in typical household sizes and are an Ingles Markets store brand. Ingles announced its own recall of the two soaps in July and said customers could return them to a store for a full refund, WSPA reported. Ingles operates stores in six Southeastern states: Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
Bacteria That Target Vulnerable Patients
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is common in soil and water and can cause infections in the blood, lungs, and urinary tract, or in other parts of the body after surgery. The CDC says these infections typically occur in healthcare settings, and that patients on ventilators, those with devices such as catheters, and people with open wounds from surgery or burns face the highest risk. Some strains resist nearly all antibiotics, which makes treatment harder.
The CDC lists contaminated hands among the ways the germ spreads and advises caregivers to clean their hands before and after caring for wounds or touching a medical device. That makes the soap caregivers use especially important.
Serratia marcescens is also found in the environment, and its infections commonly spread in hospitals and long-term care facilities, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
The FDA defines a Class II recall as a situation in which use of or exposure to a product "may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences" or in which the chance of serious harm is remote. That places it in the middle tier, below the most urgent Class I category.
Several facts remain unconfirmed. The published recall details do not say whether any illnesses have been reported, how the contamination occurred, or whether the four products without named bacteria tested positive. The Healthy said it had asked Intercon for comment. Readers should confirm product names and lot numbers against the FDA enforcement record or with the retailer.
Steps for Households and Caregivers
Check any foaming or liquid hand soap bought at Ingles or supplied by an employer, school, or facility that uses the brands above. Compare the product name, size, and lot code on the bottle. If it matches, stop using it and follow the store's return or disposal instructions. Ingles has said customers can return the recalled Laura Lynn soaps for a full refund.
Households with someone who has a weakened immune system, is recovering from surgery, or uses a urinary catheter or IV line should take the check seriously. People in those groups should contact a clinician if they develop fever, chills, redness or drainage at a wound or device site, painful urination, or new breathing trouble after using a recalled soap. Severe symptoms, confusion, or signs of sepsis need emergency care.
For everyone else, there is no reason to stop washing hands. Switching to a soap that is not part of the recall is enough. Plain soap and water remain one of the simplest ways to limit the spread of respiratory and stomach germs heading into fall, when COVID-19 activity is already elevated nationally, according to the CDC.
Workers who notice a recalled brand in a break room or restroom can alert facilities staff. Caregivers in group homes, schools, and clinics should confirm their supply with their distributor.
The FDA may update its enforcement record if the recall expands or closes. MedicalDaily will report any new lots, illness reports, or company statements.
Key Questions Answered
Which hand soaps were recalled? 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, and two Laura Lynn hand soaps sold by Ingles Markets.
Why were they recalled? For potential bacterial contamination. The FDA says two of the products may contain several Pseudomonas and Serratia species.
Which states received the soaps? California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Is this a new recall? No. The company began the recall on June 29. The FDA classified it as Class II on Sept. 11.
Who is most at risk? People with weakened immune systems, open wounds, or medical devices such as catheters or ventilators.
What should I do if I have one? Stop using it, check the lot code, and return or discard it according to store instructions. Contact a clinician if you are at high risk and develop signs of infection.
Should I stop washing my hands? No. Use a soap that is not part of the recall.
