Recall Alert: 8 Million Units Of Laundry, Household Cleaning Products May Contain Bacteria

A company is recalling various laundry and household cleaning products, as they may contain certain bacteria. About 8 million units of the products are affected.

Various The Laundress products are affected by the recall, according to the announcement on the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) website. They include laundry detergents, fabric conditioners and various household cleaning products.

The problem is that the recalled products may contain certain bacteria including Burkholderia cepacia, Klebsiella aerogenes and various Pseudomonas species — bacteria that may be found in soil, water and even humans, such as in the case of Klebsiella bacteria.

While these bacteria don't typically cause infection in people who are considered "healthy," people with weakened immune systems, those with chronic lung conditions and those who need devices such as breathing machines may be at risk of developing a serious infection.

These bacteria have been known to cause infections in hospital settings and in hospitalized patients being treated for other conditions. B. cepacia, for instance, is known to be particularly risky for patients with cystic fibrosis, while a Pseudomonas infection may be fatal in a patient who is already quite ill. These have also developed resistance to the antibiotics typically used to treat them.

In the case of the current recall, the company knows of 11 cases of consumers who reported a Pseudomonas infection. Whether the products are related is still under investigation.

"The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, or through the eyes or a break in the skin," the announcement noted. "To date, testing has identified bacteria in certain recalled products, including those produced between January 2021 and September 2022."

As mentioned, some 8 million units of the products are affected. They may be identified by their lot codes beginning in prefix F with the last four digits being "9354 or less," beginning in H with the last four digits being "2262 or less" or beginning in T with the last four digits being "5264 or less."

A sample of the code may be seen in one of the photos shared by the CPSC in a tweet.

A full list of the recalled The Laundress products may be found here. They were sold online via various platforms including the company's website and Amazon.com, as well as in stores such as Bloomingdale's, Saks Fifth Avenue and Target, according to the CPSC. Some of the products were also sold in Canada, where a recall is also being issued.

Those who find that they are in possession of the recalled products are being advised to stop using them "immediately." Instead, these customers may contact the company to get a refund. They may do so by visiting the recall website and clicking on the "Get Started" button at the bottom of the page.

"After requesting a refund, consumers should dispose of the product by closing the bottle tightly and placing it in household trash," the company noted. "Do not empty the product prior to disposal."

Those who have washed their clothes using any of the affected laundry products are being advised to rewash them for those who may be at higher risk for an infection, although "the risk of bacteria being present on cleaned clothes is low." Other instructions from the company are available here.

Customers who are developing symptoms of an infection should "immediately contact your health care provider for guidance."

On the other hand, those in possession of The Laundress products that are not covered by the recall may continue using them, the company noted.

Those with questions may contact the company at (800) 681-1915.