Hand Soap Recall: 6 Products Pulled Over Bacteria Found Inside the Bottles
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If you’ve got a foaming hand soap bottle under your bathroom or kitchen sink right now, it’s worth a thirty-second check. Six hand soap products have been recalled after lab testing found five different types of bacteria growing inside them.
The recall comes from Intercon Chemical Company, and the products shipped to stores and facilities in 15 states. The Food and Drug Administration classified it as a Class II recall on September 11, 2026, meaning the products could cause temporary or reversible health problems.
What Was Recalled
Six specific hand soap products are affected, sold under several different brand names:
Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap with Aloe (28.7 fl. oz.) — lots AF97312, 26-01001, and 26-01803
Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap with Aloe (34 fl. oz.) — lots 26-01001 and 26-01803
Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap (28.7 fl. oz.) — lots BF97303, BF97304, and BF97305
Vestis Foaming Hand Soap, Fresh Pear Scent (33.8 fl. oz.) — lot 26-03091
Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap (8 fl. oz.) — lots C3576 and 26-01804
Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap with Moisturizers (7.5 fl. oz.) — lot 26-01001
Laura Lynn is the store brand at Ingles Markets grocery stores, so if you shop at Ingles in the Southeast, that’s the one to check first.
Why It’s Being Recalled
Testing on the soap found several types of bacteria: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Serratia marcescens, and Serratia nematodiphila.
These bacteria are most dangerous in healthcare settings. People with weakened immune systems, open wounds, surgical incisions, or medical devices like catheters and ventilators face the highest risk of infection. For most healthy people washing their hands at a bathroom sink, the everyday risk is lower, but the FDA still recalled the product because contaminated soap has no business being sold at all, and vulnerable family members or guests could be exposed without anyone realizing it.
Intercon Chemical Company initiated the recall on June 29, 2026. The FDA’s Class II classification on September 11 confirmed the health risk and made the recall official in the agency’s enforcement database.
Where the Recalled Soap Was Sold
The affected products were distributed to 15 states: California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin.
Because these soaps are sold under different names for different retailers and facilities, it’s possible to have one of them without recognizing the “Intercon” name on the label at all.
What To Do If You Have It
Stop using the soap right away. Check the product name and lot number against the list above, since the lot number is usually printed on the bottom or back of the bottle.
If it matches, don’t keep using it “until it runs out.” Discard the bottle or return it to the store or facility where you got it. If you worry you might have been exposed and you have a weakened immune system, an open wound, or a medical device like a catheter, it’s reasonable to mention it to your doctor.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if I have one of the recalled hand soaps?
Match the product name on your bottle to the six listed above, then check the lot number, usually printed on the bottom of the bottle. If it doesn’t match a listed lot, it isn’t part of this recall.
Is this hand soap dangerous for a healthy person?
The bacteria involved mainly cause infections in people who are already vulnerable — those with weakened immune systems, open wounds, or medical devices like catheters. Healthy people face a lower everyday risk, but the FDA still recommends discarding the product rather than continuing to use it.
What should I do with the recalled soap?
Stop using it immediately and either discard it or return it to the place you purchased it.
Were there any reported illnesses?
No illnesses have been reported in connection with this recall as of the FDA’s Class II classification.
Where can I verify this recall myself?
The FDA publishes all recall classifications, including this one, in its Enforcement Reports database.
Bottom Line
Six hand soap products sold in 15 states are being recalled after bacteria were found inside the bottles. Most healthy people face a modest risk, but if you or someone in your household has a weakened immune system, an open wound, or a medical device, check your soap bottle now and toss it if the lot number matches.
For more on how bacterial contamination shows up in unexpected household and medical products, see our coverage of the Centric Compounding IV vial recall and the broccoli sprouts Salmonella recall.
