The FDA has classified a recall of six hand soap products as Class II after testing found potential contamination with five strains of bacteria. The soaps were distributed to 15 states, and while most were sold to wholesale buyers rather than directly to shoppers, two of them are store-brand soaps sold at retail.
Which hand soaps are being recalled?
Saint Louis-based Intercon Chemical Co. issued the voluntary recall, which covers six products and their specific lot codes, as listed in the FDA enforcement report:
- Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe (28.7 fl. oz.) — lots AF97312, 26-01001, 26-01803
- Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe (1000 mL / 34 fl. oz.) — lots 26-01001, 26-01803
- Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap (28.7 fl. oz.) — lots BF97303, BF97304, BF97305
- Vestis Foaming Hand Soap, Fresh Pear Scent (33.8 fl. oz.) — lot 26-03091
- Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap (8 fl. oz.) — lots C3576, 26-01804
- Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap with Moisturizers (7.5 fl. oz.) — lot 26-01001
The two Laura Lynn products are the ones most likely to be sitting in someone’s home, since that’s a store brand distributed by Ingles Markets. The other four are largely commercial or institutional products, meaning you’re more likely to run into them in an office restroom, school, or other public facility than to have bought one yourself.
What bacteria were found, and how dangerous is this?
Testing identified potential contamination with five bacterial strains: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Serratia marcescens, and Serratia nematodiphila. These are common environmental bacteria, and for most healthy people washing their hands normally, the risk is low. The concern is concentrated among people who are already vulnerable. The CDC notes these bacteria pose the highest risk to someone on a ventilator, with open wounds, or using a device like a catheter, which is part of why a recall affecting institutional and healthcare-adjacent settings matters more than the raw product count suggests.
What does a “Class II” recall actually mean?
Class II is the FDA’s middle tier. It covers situations where exposure to a product “may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences,” or where the chance of serious harm is considered remote. It’s a step below Class I, which is reserved for products with a reasonable probability of causing serious injury or death. One detail worth noting on timing: Intercon issued the voluntary recall back on June 29, but the FDA didn’t formally classify it as Class II until September 11, which is why the story is surfacing publicly now, months after the products were first pulled.
Where were these soaps distributed?
The recall covers more than 2,600 combined cases sent to 20 consignees, 19 wholesale and one retail, across 15 states: California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
What should you do if you have one of these soaps?
Check the lot code on the bottle against the list above, since the recall applies to specific lots rather than every unit of these products. If yours matches, stop using it and contact the retailer where you bought it about a refund or return. Anyone who develops symptoms they believe are connected to a recalled product should contact a healthcare provider, and adverse reactions can be reported to the FDA through its MedWatch program.
Is this the same as the DermaRite soap recall?
No, and it’s worth keeping them separate, because two hand soap recalls landing within a few months of each other has caused some confusion. The DermaRite recall is a different action entirely: DermaRite Industries, a New Jersey manufacturer, recalled hand soaps, cleansers, moisturizers, and skin protectants over contamination with a different bacterium, Burkholderia cepacia. That recall began August 8 and was expanded August 27 to cover 16 product types distributed across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Different company, different bacteria, different products. DermaRite set up a support line at 888-943-5190 for that recall, which is the one to call if your product is from that list rather than this one.
