Walmart recalls room spray for “rare and dangerous” bacteria linked to 2 deaths
The retailer sold about 3,900 bottles of Better Homes and Gardens-branded-Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones in six different scents, according to a recall notice posted Friday by the Consumer Protection Safety Commission.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tested a sample of the product this week and found it contained the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes melioidosis, a rare but serious disease with about a dozen cases reportedly annually in the U.S.
Ho hum. Another recall. I don’t do that aromatherapy crap, so… Wait a minute.
Consumers are urged not to use — or even open— the recalled spray. Instead, they are advised to wear gloves and double bag the bottles in zip-top clear resealable bags, which should be placed in a small cardboard box and returned to a Walmart store for a refund. The company is also offering a $20 Walmart gift card for customers who return the product.
That’s intriguing; don’t open, wear gloves, double bag, then box it up. I’d never heard of Burkholderia pseudomallei, so I looked it up. The very first result was the CDC’s Major characteristics of Burkholderia pseudomallei. And this was right at the top of their page:
SAFETY: As soon as Burkholderia is suspected, perform ALL further work in a Class II Biosafety Cabinet using BSL-3 practices.
(emphasis in the original)
Aromatherapy: Think of it as evolution in action.
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