Intercon Chemical Co., based in St. Louis, voluntarily recalled six types of hand soap on June 29 due to potential bacterial contamination. The FDA upgraded the recall to a Class II risk classification on September 11, indicating possible temporary health effects from exposure. The recalled products include various scents and sizes sold across 15 states, with concerns over bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens. Affected consumers are advised to stop using the soap immediately and seek medical help if they experience any illness symptoms.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-17,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The FDA upgraded a voluntary recall issued by Intercon Chemical Co., a Missouri-based company, from June 29 to a Class II status on September 11 over bacterial contamination fears. The recalled soaps were found potentially contaminated with bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens, which can cause infections. Six specific products are involved: Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe (28.7 fl. oz.), Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe (34 fl. oz.), Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap (28.7 fl. oz.), Vestis Foaming Hand Soap, Fresh Pear Scent (33.8 fl. oz.), Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap (8 fl. oz.), and Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap With Moisturizers (7.5 fl. oz.). These products were distributed to 20 recipients across 15 states, including North Carolina, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Texas, and Washington. The recall affects a total of 2,696 cases of soap. People are advised to stop using the recalled soaps immediately if they have them and seek medical advice if symptoms occur.
Written for “Hand Soap Recall Due To Contamination” on 2026-09-18,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Before you reach for the hand soap by your sink, you might want to double check the bottle.
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you → reach → bottle
Intercon Chemical Co. issued a voluntary recall for 2,696 cases of hand soap back on June 29 — and late last week, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) bumped that recall up to a Class II risk classification, which is the second-highest level they issue.
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they → issue → classification
Six different products are on the list, and they were sold across 15 states.
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they → sell → states
Keep reading to find out which states were affected and what this may mean for you.
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this → keep → you
Why was hand soap from Intercon Chemical Co. recalled?
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soap → recall → Co.
Intercon Chemical Co., based in St. Louis, voluntarily recalled six hand soap products on June 29 after testing raised concerns about potential bacterial contamination.
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testing → base → contamination
On September 11, the FDA classified the recall as Class II, meaning exposure to the affected soap could lead to temporary or medically reversible health effects.
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exposure → classify → effects
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Pseudomonas and Serratia bacteria are often associated with infections acquired in healthcare settings, though they’re naturally present in the environment, including in soil and water.
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they → accord → soil
In total, the recall covers 2,696 cases of handsoap.
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recall → cover → handsoap
The impacted hand soaps are listed below:
- Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe, 28.7 fl. oz.
- Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe, 34 fl. oz.
- Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap, 28.7 fl. oz.
- Vestis Foaming Hand Soap, Fresh Pear Scent, 33.8 fl. oz.
- Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap, 8 fl. oz.
- Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap With Moisturizers, 7.5 fl. oz.
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soaps → list → Moisturizers
These soaps were sold in the following 15 states:
- California
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Iowa
- Maryland
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Texas
- Washington
- Wisconsin
What to do if you have the recalled hand soap
If you have any of the six recalled products in your home or workplace, stop using them immediately.
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you → sell → them
At this time, there is no information on whether or not Intercon is offering refunds to customers who purchased recalled hand soap.
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who → be → soap
Finally, if you’ve used the soap and start feeling unwell — even mildly — seek medical attention right away.
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you → use → attention
Other hand soaps to use instead
Just because the above hand soaps were recalled, doesn’t mean you should stop using hand soap all together.
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you → use → soap
The below hand soaps are products NBC Selected has written about previously or ones that our editors love — none of which have been recalled at the time of publishing.
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none → write → publishing
NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin says that this aloe-scented hand soap is a personal favorite — she says the formula is hydrating and she appreciates how budget-friendly it is.
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it → say → ?
Also nice: You can purchase large bottles of soap to refill the original dispenser, and refill bottles are recyclable once they’re empty.
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they → purchase → dispenser
Malin has also used Clean Cult’s hand soap to refill her dispensers.
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Malin → use → dispensers
The soap comes in recyclable paper cartons and the formula contains aloe as well as essential oils.
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formula → come → aloe
You can purchase the soap in scents like Sea Minerals, Lemon Verbena and Wild Lavender.
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You → purchase → Minerals
I love a fancy hand soap — it’s a little treat I give myself.
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I → love → myself
The scent is a combo of citrus and wood and the formula leaves my hands soft after washing.
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formula → leave → hands
I also like how the sleek bottle looks great sitting on my bathroom sink.
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bottle → like → sink
NBC Selected senior editor Shalwah Evans has been using this soap for the last five years after a friend bought her a bundle as a housewarming gift.
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friend → use → gift
“I like that it’s mild enough that it doesn’t dry out my hands and leave my finger webs white and crispy, but it also makes my hands feel clean when I use it, especially after handling food,” she says.
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she → like → food
She buys the refill cartons and keeps a bottle on her bathroom sink and kitchen sink at all times.
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She → buy → times
If you need to clean your hands on the go, this Touchland trio is a solid pick.
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trio → need → go
The dye-free, hydrating spray doesn’t have the sticky residue of gel sanitizers, smells great and moisturizes skin.
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spray → hydrate → skin
Just remember: Hand sanitizer isn’t a replacement for proper hand washing, but it’s a great backup when soap and water aren’t available.
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soap → remember → washing
I am a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who regularly covers wellness and lifestyle, among other topics.
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who → cover → topics
I have also written about the cyclosporiasis outbreak, the recent recall on eggs and how to relieve shoulder pain.
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I → write → pain
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