Eight million cleaning products from The Laundress, Inc., have been recalled after it was discovered they may contain bacteria that is dangerous to people with weak immune systems or certain medical conditions. This recall affects a variety of different products from The Laundress, including laundry detergent, fabric softener, and others, which have been sold across the United States. Anyone with one of the affected products should dispose of them as soon as possible and contact the company for a full refund.
What is The Laundress?
The Laundress is a manufacturer of cleaning and laundry products that are sold online and in stores across the United States, including on Amazon.com, and at stores such as Bloomingdale’s, The Container Store, Saks Fifth Avenue, Target, Nordstrom. The company is a subsidiary of Unilever, a British multinational conglomerate with an annual revenue of more than $6 billion. Among other things, it sells laundry detergent, fabric conditioner, towels, soap, kitchen cleaners, and dish detergent.
Why Were These Products Recalled?
A recall was issued for more than eight million products manufactured by the Laundress after it was discovered that they were contaminated with a variety of bacteria. These include Burkholderia cepacia complex, Klebsiella aerogenes and multiple different species of Pseudomonas. While most of these bacteria do not pose a threat to healthy people, they are potentially dangerous to people with suppressed immune systems, people who use certain medical devices, and people with chronic lung conditions. The recall affects products sold to the public until September 2022.
What Danger Do These Products Pose?
When people use these products, and especially if a contaminated product makes contact with an open wound, it can lead to a potentially dangerous infection. These can include painful rashes, swelling around joints, headaches, diarrhea, pneumonia, and urinary tract infections, among other issues. Thus far, eleven people have been diagnosed with Pseudomonas infections related to this contamination.
What Should You Do?
If you have one of the products listed for recall (a list of which can be found here) you should immediately seal the product and throw it out, then contact the company for a refund. Do not pour out any liquid inside before doing so. If you have suffered an infection due to exposure to a contaminated product, you should speak to a lawyer with experience dealing with product liability issues, who can help you to get justice for the harm you have suffered.
Williams Cedar is a law firm dedicated to helping clients with personal injury, environmental law, and civil rights cases. We specialize in assisting clients who have been injured due to exposure to environmental toxins, including veterans and their loved ones. If you need legal assistance due to toxic exposure or other related matters, please give us a call at our New Jersey and Pennsylvania offices at (215) 557-0099, or visit our contact page.