Many people rushed out at the beginning of the pandemic and stocked up on supplies. That was especially true of bathroom supplies. Personal hygiene is crucial to avoid becoming ill. And no one wanted to be left without toilet paper or other bathroom essentials when areas were issuing stay at home orders! Since then, with every fresh wave of news on TV, there seems to be a run on the stores’ supplies. If one of the things you bought was flushable Cottonelle wipes, you should check to see if they have been recalled.
Some Cottonelle Flushable Wipes and Cottonelle GentlePlus Flushable Wipes made between Feb. 7, and Sept. 14 have been recalled as they may have been contaminated with bacteria. That means, if you have bought Cottonelle Flushable Wipes during the pandemic, there is a chance they are included in the recall.
The bacteria, called Pluralibacter gergoviae, can cause serious infections, even in otherwise healthy people. You can enter the lot number on your packaging on the website to see if your product is in the recall. If you would prefer to call, they can be reached Monday-Friday, 9-5 Eastern Time at 1-800-414-0165.
“Pluralibacter gergoviae rarely causes serious infections in healthy individuals,” Kimberly-Clark, the makers of Cottonelle, said on its product recall information page. “However, individuals with weakened immune systems are at a heightened risk of infection.” If your wipes aren’t in the recall, they are safe to use.
Pluralibacter gergoviae is resistant to antibiotics, which makes infections hard to treat. The bacteria can cause gastrointestinal, respiratory and urinal infections. So far, the company said in a statement, they have only had “non-serious complaints” of minor infections and irritations. But they said that people should stop using them immediately and call their doctor if they have any concerns about their exposure.
The bacteria isn’t related to COVID-19, but it is irritating to have another thing to worry about during this already worrying time. It’s even more frustrating that it’s caused by something meant to help us stay clean and healthy! We want all our customers to stay safe and healthy so look up any wipes you have in your bathroom today!
