Two major recalls have been issued in the past few months for Laundress and Fabuloso cleaning products, due to bacterial contamination of their products. The bacteria found in these products is relatively harmless for healthy people, but can be potentially life-threatening to people with certain chronic health problems. Anyone who has these products should stop using them immediately, and if they suffer any negative health effects, should see a doctor as soon as possible.
What Are Laundress and Fabuloso?
Laundress is a manufacturer of eco-friendly cleaning products including laundry detergent, fabric softener, and a variety of other related products. Fabuloso is a brand of multi-purpose cleaner manufactured by Colgate-Palmolive, the same company that also manufactures Pine-Sol (which itself suffered a major recall for bacterial contamination in October 2022). Each of these brands is used by millions of people across the United States.
Why Were The Laundress and Fabuloso Products Recalled?
Both Fabuloso and Laundress were recalled after it was discovered that they were contaminated with several types of bacteria, including one known as Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This bacteria is common in nature, but should not be present in consumer products, especially not cleaners. While this bacteria is not harmful to most healthy people, it can potentially sicken people who use assistive breathing devices (such as CPAP machines), people who are immunocompromised, and those with open wounds (such as from surgery or burns).
What Are the Effects of This Bacteria From The Laundress or Fabuloso Products?
If the Pseudomonas bacteria is able to enter the human body, it can have a number of negative health effects. Depending on where the infection enters the body and how it spreads, it can lead to a number of symptoms, including:
- Severe rash, including pus-filled pimples
- Coughing or congestion
- Pneumonia
- Headache
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Pain and swelling in bones and joints
- Discolored pus or discharge from wounds
- Urinary tract infections
Symptoms from the disease can persist for days or weeks, depending on the severity of the infection. In extreme cases, it can even be fatal.
What Should You Do if You Have Recalled Laundress or Fabuloso Cleaning Products?
If you have one of these recalled products, you should make sure to stop using them immediately. If you experience any of the symptoms above after using Fabuloso or Laundress products, make sure to see a doctor as soon as possible and tell them about the risk of infection. In addition, if you or someone you love had become ill from using these products, you should speak to a lawyer with experience handling product liability cases, who can assist you with getting compensation 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.