The Laundress has recalled around eight million of its household products across the United States, including many in Colorado, after potentially dangerous bacteria was found in some of the brands, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said.
“People with weakened immune systems, external medical devices, and underlying lung conditions who are exposed to the bacteria face a risk of serious infection that may require medical treatment,” the commission said in a public notice. “The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled, or through the eyes or a break in the skin.”
The commission is investigating nearly a dozen cases of bacterial infections reported in connection with the contaminated products.
The Laundress, which is owned by Unilever, recalled bottles of laundry detergent, fabric conditioner and other cleaning products produced between January 2020 and September of this year.
Recalled bottles have lot codes beginning with:
- ‘F’ and the last four digits 9354 and under.
- ‘H’ and the last four digits 2262 and under.
- ‘T’ and the last four digits 5264 and under.
“The recalled products can contain bacteria, including Burkholderia cepacia complex, Klebsiella aerogenes and multiple different species of Pseudomonas, many of which are environmental organisms found widely in soil and water, and some may also be found in humans,” the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notice read.
A class action lawsuit was filed in California against Unilever over the contaminated products. The plaintiff claims the company “delivered a biological weapon” into people’s homes.
The products contain bacteria that can multiply in households because it is “a superbug that is antibiotic resistant,” the lawsuit states.
That type of bacteria is known to have “caused multiple fatal outbreaks in infant wards at hospitals throughout the country,” the suit adds.
The Leader reached out to Unilever for comment but did not immediately hear back.
The products were sold at Target, Nordstrom, The Container Store, Bloomingdale’s, Brooklinen, Saks Fifth Avenue and other major retailers. They were also purchased on Amazon and TheLaundress.com.
The Laundress created a website dedicated to the recall, where consumers can learn how to receive a reimbursement for their purchased products.
