Twenty-four brands, some recognizable, are affected—here's what germ-conscious consumers (and certain professionals) need to know.
You carry those antiseptic wipes everywhere for superior assurance against microbial transmission. Especially since 2020, you’re not messing around. (Us too.)
Which is why you’ll want the intel on a mass disinfectant recall, published Tuesday in a low-profile report by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA revealed that “212,607,900 containers” of 24 brands of products described as antiseptic wipes and towelettes were recalled “nationwide within the USA” on January 20. Several of the brands appear to be sold through major retailers, including Walmart and Amazon.
The FDA cites “CGMP deviations” as the prompt for the recall, standing for Current Good Manufacturing Practice. The FDA explains this standard: “CGMP provides for systems that assure proper design, monitoring, and control of manufacturing processes and facilities. Adherence to the CGMP regulations assures the identity, strength, quality, and purity.”
Though it’s not confirmed, it seems possible that production processes didn’t adhere to U.S. purity standards. If that were the case, the wipes and towelettes could be contaminated or contain a different amount of antiseptic than what’s indicated on the label. (Many infectious disease clinicians recommend sanitizer products of at least 60% alcohol composition to kill microbes on skin.)
The recalling firm is Connecticut-based ACME United Corporation. Reads their site: “For over 150 years, Acme United Corporation, has been a leading worldwide supplier of innovative cutting, measuring, first aid and sharpening products to the school, home, office, hardware, sporting goods and industrial markets with operations in the United States, Canada, Europe (located in Germany) and Asia (located in Hong Kong and China).”
Tuesday’s report states the FDA has assigned the event as a Class II recall, meaning their experts have determined it to be “a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote.”
Note that it appears both consumer products and those sold into the healthcare setting could be impacted. First Aid Only, Medi-First, and Dynarex BZK are sold at major national retailers and listed for sale on Walmart and Amazon. Brands affected by the recall, along with identifying details, are as follows (the full list can be found in the report):
First Aid Only BZK Antiseptic Towelettes — 100 Wipes
Lot numbers: MN26222 · MN34722 · MN25922 · MN00523
First Aid Only BZK Antiseptic Towelettes — 50 Wipes
Lot numbers: MN34722 · MN34722B
Dukal BZK Antiseptic Towelette — 1,000 Packs per case
Lot numbers: MN31621 · MN14522 · MN15522 · MN28122 · MN31522 · MN04223 · MN06023 · MN17223 · MN25123 · MN33123 · MN33523
Piedmont Sanitizing Hand Wipes — 1,000 Bulk
Lot numbers: MN22222 · MN05523
Max Packaging Antibacterial Towelette — single towelette, 4×7
Lot numbers: MN24523 · MN27123 · MN28223
Savannah Antibacterial Towelettes — single towelette, 4×7
Lot numbers: MN24623 · MN27023 · MN32423 · MN300724
Medi-First Antiseptic Wipes — 100 wipes per box
Lot numbers: MN15922 · MN31022 · MN27223
Med Nap BZK Antiseptic Towelettes — 100 towelettes
Lot numbers: MN09322 · MN15222 · MN21622 · MN31822 · MN06223 · MN06323 · MN12523 · MN16123 · MN20523 · MN20623 · MN20723 · MN23223
Med-Nap BZK Antiseptic Towelettes — 1,000 Bulk
Lot numbers: MN23323 · MN31323 · MN21622 · MN13123
WipesPlus Hand Sanitizing Wipes — single wipe
Lot numbers: MN16022 · MN33922 · MN31222 · MN16522 · MN17022 · MN03323 · MN34622
Dynarex Obstetrical Towelettes — 100 packets
Lot numbers: 52347-R · 52348-R · 52349-R · 52350-R · 52351-R · 52352-R · 53518 · 53519
Med-Nap Cleansing Towelettes — 1,000 Bulk
Lot numbers: MN15923 · MN25822
Med-Nap Cleansing Towelettes — 100 towelettes
Lot numbers: 52347 · 52348 · 52349 · 52350 · 52351
WipesPlus Hand Sanitizing Wipes — 100 count
Lot numbers: MN27922 · MN21722 · MN21822 · MN27422 · MN27522 · MN25422
Acme United Hand Sanitizing Wipes — 1,000 per case
Lot numbers: MN24922 · MN31122
Green Guard Antiseptic Wipes — 25 wipes per box
Lot numbers: MN15922 · MN18223 · MN10123 · MN27223 · MN01023
Dynarex BZK Antiseptic Towelettes — 100 packets
Lot numbers: 52347-R · 52348-R · 52349-R · 52350 · 52351-R · 52352 · 53518
Dynarex BZK Antiseptic Towelettes — 1,000 packets
Lot numbers: 53518 · 53519
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Instant Hand Sanitizing Wipe — 1,000 per case
Lot numbers: MN12122 · MN27523 · MN30922
Custom Packaging Co. Antimicrobial Alcohol Hand Wipe (Isopropyl Alcohol 70%) — bulk
Lot numbers: MN15423 · MN16422 · MN26322 · MN03423 · MN09722 · MN31722 · MN15722 · MN13722
Products listed without accompanying reported lot numbers:
Touchpoint BZK Antiseptic Towelettes — 1,000 Bulk
Wellstar Cobb Hand Wipes — 1,000 Bulk
FSR Sanitizing Hand Wipes — 1,000 Bulk
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Instant Hand Sanitizing Wipes — 1,000 Bulk
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