Colgate-Palmolive Recalls Cleaning Products

Colgate-Palmolive has issued a recall of Fabuloso cleaner units due to bacterial exposure.

The household goods company issued a notice announcing this recall on February 8.

The recall affects 4.9 million units in the United States and 56,000 more in Canada. The company is recalling these cleaning products due to the possibility that they contain the Pseudomonas species of bacteria. These strains include Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens.

The affected units were sold by major retailers — Dollar General, Family Dollar, The Home Depot, Sam’s Club, and Walmart — and on online websites like Amazon between December 2022 and January 2023.

Pseudomonas is a type of bacteria typically found in soil and water, according to the CDC. Human exposure to Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to lead to infections in the blood or lungs, known as pneumonia. This germ is responsible for an estimated 51,000 infections in hospitalized patients each year in the United States. Since about 13% of these cases become drug-resistant, there are about 440 deaths per year associated with this infection.

The ability of this germ to adapt to antibiotic treatment makes it a type of superbug.

Pseudomonas fluorescens is not usually thought of as harmful to humans. However, some research has connected it to maladies like Crohn’s disease.

The CDC linked an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to EzriCare Artificial Tears eye drops earlier this month, as previously reported by The Dallas Express.

Colgate-Palmolive warned that those with compromised immune systems, external medical devices, or underlying lung conditions who are exposed to the bacteria could face a serious infection that may require medical intervention.

While no incidents or infections have been reported, the company advised customers to stop using the recalled items and contact customer service for a full refund or a free replacement.

Fabuloso said on its website that if a customer product states “Made in Mexico” on the label, it is not included in the recall. The company details the list of recalled items as follows: