FDA recalls hand soaps over bacterial contamination: Check if you have one at home

Six hand soaps sold across the United States have been recalled because the products meant to clean bacteria from your hands may themselves be contaminated with potentially harmful bacteria.

The recall involves more than 2,600 cases of liquid and foaming soaps manufactured by St. Louis-based Intercon Chemical Company.

Intercon started the voluntary recall on June 29, but the US Food and Drug Administration classified it as a Class II recall on September 11.

That means using the affected products could cause temporary or medically reversible health problems, although the chances of serious consequences are considered remote.

So, which soaps should you check?

The six products are Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe, Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe, Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap, Vestis Foaming Hand Soap Fresh Pear Scent, Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap and Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap with Moisturizers.

The two Intercon-branded soaps are of particular concern.

They may contain five bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens. The other four products are listed as having possible bacterial contamination, but specific strains were not identified.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in the blood, lungs and urinary tract, with people who have weakened immune systems particularly vulnerable.

The recalled soaps were sent to 20 recipients, including 19 wholesalers and one retailer, across California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

Consumers should check the UPC and lot number on their bottle before using it again.

Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe is affected under lot numbers AF97312, 26-01001 and 26-01803, while Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe has affected lots 26-01001 and 26-01803.

Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap carries affected lot numbers BF97303, BF97304 and BF97305, while Vestis Foaming Hand Soap Fresh Pear Scent is affected under lot 26-03091.

For Laura Lynn products, Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap carries affected lots C3576 and 26-01804, while Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap With Moisturizers is affected under lot 26-01001.

The recall remains ongoing.