As ironic as it may appear, the Clorox Company has recalled some of its scented multi-surface cleaners and all-purpose cleaners as they may contain bacteria that pose a serious risk to households.
It is widely accepted that bleach products, such as those manufactured by Clorox, are used to disinfect surfaces and prevent the spread of pathogens, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. What caused this recall to take place?
US Consumer Safety Watchdog Flags Clorox Products
A 9News report tells us that the recall does not include the original pine-scented Pine-Sol as it is the only registered disinfectant product by the company. The scented CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners and Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon Fresh Cleaners have both been recalled, according to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission.
The products contained bacteria, including one strain that could seriously infect those with weakened immune systems, per the US consumer safety regulator. Based on a news release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recalled products may contain bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a common environmental bacterium found in soil and water.
Additionally, the authority encourages consumers to halt using the aforementioned products if the date codes printed on the bottle start with "A4" and are followed by a five-digit number less than 22249, which designates products manufactured before September 2022.
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The consumer safety watchdog added that the aforementioned bacteria could enter the body through breaks in the skin, the eyes, or through inhalation. The bacteria typically do not harm people with healthy immune systems.
Certain recalled products, including those made between January 2021 and September 2022, have bacteria in them, according to testing done by the CPSC. During that time, Clorox reportedly produced about 37 million recalled products. The US authority advises the Clorox Company to issue refunds as a remedy.
In a statement, Clorox-owned Pine-Sol stated that "Pine-Sol is voluntarily recalling certain scented Pine-Sol cleaners as we learned that some products may contain bacteria," and advised customers who own products that fit the following description to stop using them right away and follow the instructions to get a refund.
Affected customers can file a refund request at pinesolrecall.com or call the hotline at 1-855-378-4982. The call center and reimbursement form will also be available beginning October 26th, according to the company. Visit their official website here for more information.
In order to receive a full refund of the purchase price, consumers should take pictures of the product's 12-digit UPC code and the date code, discard the product in its container with household trash, and get in touch with Pine-Sol.
Is Bleach Safe to Use as a Disinfectant?
According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, bleach is a powerful and effective disinfectant. Although its active ingredient, sodium hypochlorite, is effective against bacteria, fungi, and viruses, including the influenza virus, it is easily inactivated by organic material.
