Pine-Sol Bacterial Contamination Settlement Reached for $14.15M With CPSC

Settlement follows a recall of more than 37 million potentially contaminated bottles of Pine-Sol manufactured at Clorox’s Forest Park, Georgia, facility between January 2021 and September 2022.

The Clorox Company has agreed to pay a $14.15 million civil penalty after failing to quickly report that some Pine-Sol multi-surface cleaning products were contaminated with potentially dangerous bacteria.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Clorox Pine-Sol settlement on January 27, reporting that despite taking steps to mitigate potential bacterial contamination, the company failed to promptly report the issue.

In early 2019, Clorox microbiologists found bacterial contamination in storage tanks and finished Pine-Sol products. The contaminant was identified as a possible Pseudomonas species, a type of bacteria known to survive in disinfectants and contaminate cleaning products.

Exposure to Pseudomonas bacteria can cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections, including wound, bloodstream, lung and device-related infections. The risks are especially high due to antibiotic resistance, rapid disease progression, and severe complications in infants, older adults and people with weakened immune systems.

Pine-Sol Recall

Shortly after discovering the contamination at its production facility, Clorox received reports that some Pine-Sol products appeared cloudy on store shelves. A distributor also warned that potentially affected products had already been shipped to multiple retail locations.

As a result, the CPSC and Clorox announced a recall of more than 37 million bottles on October 25, 2022, warning that the products could contain bacteria capable of causing serious infections, particularly in people with weakened immune systems or medical devices, and may require medical treatment.

The following month, a class action lawsuit was filed against Clorox over its Pine-Sol products, seeking damages for consumers exposed to bacteria that may cause severe and potentially life-threatening infections.

Clorox Pine-Sol Settlement Agreement

Although the company took measures to address the risk of bacterial contamination, the CPSC indicates that it failed to promptly notify the commission as required by law.

“This proposed settlement sends a clear message: firms that delay reporting serious hazards do so at their own risk.”

— Peter A. Feldman, CPSC Acting Chairman

In addition to the $14.15 million civil penalty, the settlement requires Clorox to strengthen its compliance program and maintain internal controls to ensure adherence to the Consumer Product Safety Act. The manufacturer also agreed to submit annual reports assessing the effectiveness of its program and internal controls.

Sign up for more safety and legal news that could affect you or your family.