Pine-Sol Recall Issued for 37 Million Bottles Contaminated with Bacteria That Can Cause Serious Infections

The bacterial contamination which led to the Pine-Sol recall could cause infections in those with compromised immune systems.

Pine-Sol is recalling millions of bottles of its scented cleaning products because they may contain a harmful type of bacteria that can lead to severe infections for certain individuals.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced the Pine-Sol recall on October 25, impacting more than 37 million bottles of cleaner that may contain bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

While no illnesses have been linked to the recall, the CPSC indicates that individuals with a weakened immune system or external medical devices may face a risk of serious infections requiring medical treatment if they are exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which can enter the body if inhaled, through the eyes or a break in the skin.

Pine-Sol Bacterial Contamination Risks

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an environmental organism found widely in soil and water. While it is not dangerous to most consumers, people with weakened immune systems or external medical devices who are exposed to the bacteria face a risk of serious health complications.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa 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.

Clorox officials indicate they became aware of the contamination following a routine product review by the research and development team.

Pine-Sol Recall

The recall includes certain bottles of Clorox Pine-Sol 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 and includes more than 37 million bottles.

Original Pine-Sol Pine scent is not a part of the recall.

The Clorox products were sold online at amazon.com and other retail websites, at Walmart, Sam’s Club, Dollar General, Target, Home Depot, BJ’s, Kroger, Dollar Tree, Lowe’s, Publix, and other major retailers nationwide for $2.50 to $12.50.

The CPSC recommends consumers immediately stop using the recalled Clorox products and instructs them not to return the recalled bottles to the place of purchase. Instead, before disposing of the product, take a picture of the 12-digit UPC code and the date code. Then dispose of the product in its container with household trash and contact Pine-Sol for a full refund of the purchase price.

Consumers with questions can call (855) 378-4982 or send an email to PineSolRecalls@inmar.com. They can also visit pinesolrecall.com for more information.