Kimberly-Clark, the company behind the brand Cottonelle, announced a recall on flushable wipes saying some packages may be infected with bacteria.
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On the official product recall website, the brand listed Cottonelle Flushable Wipes and Cottonelle GentlePlus Flushable Wipes manufactured between Feb. 7 and Sept. 14 and shipped to the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, as possible contaminated items. Other products that fall outside of these conditions were not affected by the recall.
The bacteria found in compromised flushable wipes are called pluralibacter gergoviae. According to the company statement, the naturally occurring bacteria can cause infections but typically not in healthy people, however, those with underlying conditions may be at risk.
“However, individuals with weakened immune systems are at a heightened risk of infection. Consumers can identify the recalled product by looking for specific lot numbers found on the bottom of the package and verifying it with the lot checker on the Cottonelle® website,” the website stated.
Despite the wide recall, Cottonelle stated that the low-rate of complaints included slight reactions.
“At this time there is a low rate of non-serious complaints, such as irritation and minor infection, reported for the affected wipes.”
Kimberly-Clark and Cottenelle also said the coronavirus pandemic exists outside of the product recall. The contaminated wipes do not transmit COVID-19 and the outbreak was not caused by an employee who tested positive for the virus, according to the company website.
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For consumers worried their products may be included in the recalled products, Kimberly-Clark provided a digital tool for confirmation. Those who believe they may have had infected wipes and used the full product before throwing the packaging away are directed to call Kimberly-Clark’s Consumer Service team.