Clorox Faces Pine-Sol Class Action Lawsuit Over Infection Risks

Class action lawsuit alleges Clorox failed to properly test Pine-Sol for bacterial contamination that poses serious infection risks for consumers

A class action lawsuit has been filed against Clorox over its recent Pine-Sol recall, pursuing damages on behalf of consumers who were exposed to a dangerous bacteria in the cleaning products, which may cause severe and potentially life-threatening infections.

The complaint (PDF) was filed late last week by Charles Scandore in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, seeking to establish a nationwide class for all consumers who purchased recalled Pine Sol products, with the expectation they were safe and free from harmful bacteria.

Pine-Sol Recall 2022

The Clorox Pine-Sol recall was first announced on October 25, impacting approximately 37 million bottles of certain scented cleaners that may contain Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria, which is a type of germ that can cause serious side effects including infections in the blood and lungs (pneumonia), and other parts of the body.

The recall included Scented Muti-surface Cleaners in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, and Lemon Fresh scents; CloroxPro Pine-Sol All Purpose Cleaners in Lavender Clean, Sparkling Wave, Lemon Fresh and Orange Energy scents; and Clorox Professional Pine-Sol Lemon fresh cleaners. Affected bottles have date codes beginning with the prefix “A4” and followed by a five-digit number less than 22249. The products are sold in bottles of 28, 48, 60, 100, 144, and 175 fluid ounces. The recalled products were manufactured at Clorox’s Forest Park, Georgia, facility between January 2021 and September 2022.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria in the Pine Sol can enter the body if it is inhaled, touches the eyes or breaks through the skin. For individuals with a weakened immune system or those using external medical devices, the Pine Sol contamination could pose a risk of serious health complications.

While Pseudomonas aeruginosa is not dangerous to most healthy individuals, it is a predominant cause of lung infection among people with cystic fibrosis. It is also a danger to those undergoing chemotherapy. While most people do not face a risk, a small number can become severely ill. It is also difficult to treat because the bacteria is resistant to most antibiotics.

Pine Sol Class Action Seeks Refunds and Medical Monitoring

The Pine-Sol class action lawsuit accuses Clorox Company of deceptively marketing and mislabeling its recalled products as safe for its intended use, indicating that Scandore and other consumers paid a premium for the recalled cleaning products based on false, deceptive, and misleading claims made on the products labeling and packaging, which does not mention the risk of Pine-Sol containing Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

“Consequently, Plaintiff and Class Members lost the entire benefit of their bargain when what they received was a cleaning product contaminated with a known bacterium that is harmful to consumers health, and lives, which is even more so true for immunocompromised individuals.”

Scandore claims The Clorox Company has taken advantage of consumers’ desire for cleaning products that are safe and free of toxins or contamination. As part of The Clorox Company’s attempt to capitalize on financial gains over the demand for safe cleaning products, Scandore claims the manufacturer makes claims that the products are safe without properly testing for bacteria before offering the products for sale to consumers.

The class action lawsuit seeks to award class members statutory damages of $500 per transaction, punitive damages and other expense reimbursements and compensatory damages.

The complaint also seeks to have the court establish a blood testing program for class members to monitor individuals’ health and diagnose at an early stage any ailments associated with exposure to Pseudomonas aeruginosa.