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Hand soap recall hits 15 states over bacteria concerns
Intercon Chemical Co. is voluntarily recalling six hand soap products. The company acted after fears emerged that bacteria could have contaminated them. The US Food and Drug Administration confirmed the recall in an enforcement report. Nearly 2,700 cases of hand soap are affected. Intercon first initiated the recall on June 29, 2026. Officials then classified it as a Class II recall on September 11, 2026.
What is being recalled
Six products fall under this recall. The products span several brand names sold through wholesale and retail channels across the country. The list below shows each product along with its lot codes and best by dates.
- Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe, 28.7 fl. oz., lot codes AF97312, 26 01001 and 26 01803, best by dates 01/12/2028, 03/13/2028 and 03/28. The FDA flagged potential contamination with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Serratia marcescens and Serratia nematodiphila.
- Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe, 1000mL (34 fl. oz.), lot codes 26 01001 and 26 01803, best by dates 03/13/28 and 03/28. The same bacterial contamination concerns apply here too.
- Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap, 28.7 fl. oz., lot codes BF97303, BF97304 and BF97305, best by dates 02/03/2028, 02/04/2028 and 02/05/2028. This product faces general bacterial contamination concerns.
- Vestis Foaming Hand Soap, Fresh Pear Scent, 33.8 fl. oz., lot code 26 03091, best by date 05/28. This product also faces bacterial contamination concerns.
- Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap, 8 fl. oz., lot codes C3576 and 26 01804, best by dates 11/05/26 and 03/28. This product faces bacterial contamination concerns as well.
- Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap with Moisturizers, 7.5 fl. oz., lot code 26 01001, best by date 03/13/28. This product faces bacterial contamination concerns too.
The products reached 20 consignees. That group includes 19 wholesale locations and one retail location. Affected states include North Carolina, Mississippi, North Dakota, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, New York, Texas, Maryland, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, California and Washington.
Why this recall matters
A Class II recall carries a specific meaning. It tells us the FDA expects only mild or reversible health effects from exposure. Serious harm, by contrast, is considered unlikely. This classification sits one step below a Class I recall. The FDA reserves that top category for cases with a reasonable chance of serious harm or death.
Even so, these two Intercon branded products involve bacteria that deserve real attention. Pseudomonas aeruginosa stands out in particular. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies this bacteria closely. The agency, known as the CDC, calls it one of the most common Pseudomonas types behind human infections. The CDC also notes that it can resist antibiotics, which makes those infections harder to treat. As a result, the bacteria can cause infections in the lungs, urinary tract and bloodstream. People who are already unwell or immunocompromised face the highest risk.
Who faces the greatest risk
Healthy people who wash their hands with an affected product face little risk in most cases. That lines up with the Class II classification. However, the calculation changes for people with weakened immune systems, open wounds or underlying health conditions. For this group, repeated exposure to Pseudomonas or Serratia bacteria deserves closer attention. That risk grows when a contaminated product touches skin or mucous membranes repeatedly.
Hand soap also carries its own risk factor worth noting. Families use these products daily, often several times a day. Meanwhile, multiple household members, including children and older adults, typically share the same bottle.
What to do if you have one of these products
Stop using any of the recalled products right away. Check the lot code and best by date against the list above. If your product matches, do not use it again. Instead, dispose of it or return it to the place of purchase. It remains unclear whether Intercon Chemical Co. is offering refunds. The recall was still ongoing at the time of publication.
Anyone who notices symptoms of a bacterial infection after using one of these products should contact a healthcare provider. Be sure to mention the exposure during that conversation. So far, no one has publicly reported an illness connected to this recall.
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