clorox recalls pine-sol cleaning products that may contain infection-causing bacteria

in canada, the recall applies to several sizes of pine-sol multi-surface cleaner in the scents lavender clean, lemon fresh and mandarin sunrise, ctv news reports . these products may contain bacteria, and “out of an abundance of caution,” the company is urging people not to use them. customers who have already bought the products can be reimbursed.

in the u.s., the pine-sol recalled the same product in the scents lavender clean, sparkling wave, and lemon fresh, the american consumer product safety commission announced . clorox is also recalling four clorox pro pine-sol all purpose cleaners in lavender clean, sparkling wave, lemon fresh, and orange energy, as well as the clorox professional pine-sol lemon fresh cleaners.

what is pseudomonas aeruginosa?

the bacteria pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in people – mostly in hospital patients – by infecting the lungs (causing pneumonia), the blood, or other body parts after surgery, according to the u.s. centers for disease control and prevention (cdc).

clorox says about 7.6 million units of the recalled products were sold in canada between january 2021 and september 2022, the canadian press reports . there have been no reports of illness received by the company.

according to the cdc’s antibiotic threats in the united states, 2019 report , multidrug-resistant pseudomonas aeruginosa caused an approximate 32,600 infections among hospitalized patients and 2,700 estimated deaths. people considered most at risk are patients on breathing machines, those with wounds from surgery or burns, or people with devices such as catheters.

the cdc also advises hospitals to follow water management plans to protect water quality and reduce the risk of exposure to harmful germs.

as the consumer product safety commission explains, pseudomonas aeruginosa can enter your body if inhaled, through the eyes, or through breaks in the skin. while it isn’t expected to negatively affect people with healthy immune systems, people with weakened immune systems or external medical devices can be at risk of serious infection, the commission added.  

tips to avoid infection

how does product contamination happen in manufacturing?

microbes, like bacteria, can be introduced into products even when good manufacturing practices are diligently followed, according to environmental non-profit greenblue .

preservatives also bring their own health complications, like parabens that have linked to hormone disruptors and other compounds that release formaldehyde, and companies are taking steps to respond to public concerns and disclose the preservatives they use. the u.s. environmental protection agency has identified safer chemical ingredients for manufacturing, but some of these, like certain organic acids, are not effective against all bacteria.