Kimberly-Clark, a manufacturing company behind big names like Kleenex and Huggies, recalled several lots of Cottonelle Flushable Wipes and Cottonelle GentlePlus Flushable Wipes that were manufactured between Feb. 7 and Sept. 14 after discovering that these products may contain Pluralibacter gergovaie, a bacteria that is known to cause infections. “Individuals who have a weakened immune system, suffer from serious pre-existing conditions, have been treated surgically, or belong to another sensitive group of persons are at particular risk of infection,” the company said in a statement on Oct. 9. Kimberly-Clark said that there have been no reports of serious infection as a result of these wipes, but that there has been a “low rate of non-serious complaints, such as irritation and minor infection, reported for the affected wipes.” This is worrying, as the coronavirus targets the same groups of people more susceptible to infection from the bacteria found in these wipes. The existence of a co-infection involving a respiratory virus like the coronavirus and a bacterial infection—like one the affected wipes could cause—is also a concern. A Chinese study published in The Lancet on March 28 found that 50 percent of coronavirus patients who died also had secondary bacterial infections. And there’s historically a precedent for this, as well. According to a notable 2008 study published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases, a majority of deaths from the 1918 flu pandemic were actually the result of secondary bacterial infections. Kimberly-Clark, however, notes that there is currently “no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 associated” with any of their products, including the recalled wipes. And the company said in their statement that the decision to recall these Cottonelle wipes has “nothing to do with COVID-19.” But these wipes aren’t the only products that have been pulled from shelves. For more products that have been recently recalled, keep reading. And for coronavirus news you may have missed, find out how COVID Can Live for a Month on These 2 Items You Touch Every Day. Several popular dog food products have just recently been recalled by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for containing high levels of aflatoxin, a mold byproduct that could hurt your pet if they eat a lot of it. The recall included 21 popular dog foods, all manufactured by Sunshine Mills. And for more pet products that will be hard to find, discover why Petco Just Took This Controversial Product Off Its Shelves. In August, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (UCPSC) recalled two versions of the Super Soaker water gun, a popular summer toy for children. Both the green-and-orange Super Soaker XP 20 and the orange-and-blue Super Soaker XP 30 were recalled because a decorative sticker placed on the products had ink that contained lead surpassing the amount allowed by the federal government. The recall affected nearly 54,900 water guns. And for more ways to keep your kids safe, These Are the Safest Ways to Disinfect Your Kids’ Toys.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Lowe’s recently had to recall a specific brand of fan because of consumer injuries. Harbor Breeze’s Kingsbury indoor ceiling fans were taken from the shelves and online store after the manufacturer received 76 reports of the fan’s light globe falling, resulting in at least four laceration injuries. And for more home products to keep your eye on, These Are the Secret Health Dangers Lurking Inside Your Home. Several kinds of spices from the The Spice Hunter were recalled on Oct. 12, including parsley, cinnamon, pepper, paprika, and garlic. According to the FDA, these products were voluntarily recalled by the manufacturer because they had potentially been contaminated with salmonella. And for more useful content delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.
