FDA Classifies Hand Soap Recall in 15 States Over Bacterial Contamination Risk

A recalled bottle of hand soap could still be sitting in a workplace, supply closet or shared bathroom months after it was pulled over possible bacterial contamination. The action covers 2,696 cases distributed across 15 states, according to the FDA enforcement report for event 99466.

Intercon Chemical Co. of St. Louis initiated the voluntary recall on June 29, 2026, according to the same FDA record. The agency classified it as a Class II recall on September 11.

Class II applies when exposure to a product may cause temporary or medically reversible health effects, or when the probability of serious harm is considered remote.

The FDA says the soap went to 20 recipients, 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. The record does not provide a state-by-state breakdown of the 2,696 cases, so it does not show which states received the most product.

Six Soaps Account for 2,696 Recalled Cases

Summit 150 makes up the largest part of the recall, with 1,040 cases, followed by Intercon Foaming Pear with 693. The two Laura Lynn products account for another 595 cases combined.

The Laura Lynn soaps were sold through Ingles Markets, while the other four products went through wholesalers, according to Health.com. That distribution pattern is one reason a recalled bottle may turn up outside a home bathroom.

Several products also carry best-by dates well into 2028, giving affected stock a long period in which it could remain in a storeroom or dispenser.

*The source record presents these dates in month/year shorthand. They have not been expanded into a specific day.

Specific Bacteria Were Listed for Two Products

The FDA names five organisms for Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe and Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Serratia marcescens and Serratia nematodiphila.

For the other four products, the enforcement record says only “potential bacterial contamination.” It does not explain why individual organisms were listed for two soaps but not the others, and the record does not state whether illnesses have been reported in connection with any of the six products.

For someone using the soap, the relevant exposure is contact. Bacteria on contaminated hands can reach broken skin, wounds, the eyes or other vulnerable areas.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in the blood, lungs, urinary tract and other parts of the body. Patients in healthcare settings face the highest risk, particularly people with open wounds, catheters or ventilators.

That distinction matters because the FDA still places the recall in Class II, where serious adverse health consequences are considered remote. The classification describes overall recall risk rather than guaranteeing that exposure is harmless for every person.

Check the UPC and Lot Code Before Using the Soap

Matching a brand name is not enough. A recalled and non-recalled bottle can carry the same product name, so the UPC and one of the listed lot codes are what identify an affected bottle.

The FDA record does not set a general refund window or a single return procedure. Returns, replacements or refunds therefore depend on the retailer, wholesaler or other seller that supplied the soap.

Anyone with a matching bottle should stop using it and remove it from the dispenser so somebody else does not continue using it. The same principle applies when checking any recalled product: the exact identifying codes matter more than the brand name alone.

For this recall, the decision comes down to two checks. If the UPC matches the table and the bottle carries one of the affected lot codes, stop using it. If only the brand matches, the bottle has not been identified as part of the recall on that basis alone.