Hand Soap Recall, FDA Classifies Intercon Chemical Bacteria Contamination as Class II

The FDA has classified a recall of six foaming hand soap products as Class II, meaning exposure could cause temporary or reversible health problems. St. Louis-based Intercon Chemical Company first pulled the products back in June over potential bacterial contamination, and two of them tested positive for five separate bacterial strains. Here’s which products are affected, where they were sold, and what to do if you have one.

Recall Snapshot

Recalling Firm	Intercon Chemical Company (St. Louis, MO)
Recall Initiated	June 29, 2026
FDA Risk Classification	Class II (assigned September 11, 2026)
Products Affected	6 hand soap products, more than 2,600 combined cases
Contamination Found	Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Serratia marcescens, Serratia nematodiphila (confirmed in 2 of 6 products; the other 4 are flagged for potential contamination with strains not specified)
Distribution	20 consignees (19 wholesale distributors, 1 retailer) across 15 states
States	California, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin
Reported Illnesses	None confirmed publicly as of this writing

What’s Actually Wrong With These Products

A Class II classification means the FDA considers it unlikely that exposure to these soaps would cause lasting harm, though it could cause temporary or medically reversible symptoms — this isn’t the agency’s highest-risk tier, but it isn’t nothing either, especially for people with weakened immune systems. Two of the six products, both branded “Intercon” or “Clearly Better,” tested positive for five different bacterial strains: Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Serratia marcescens, and Serratia nematodiphila. The remaining four products — sold under the Summit 150, Vestis, and Laura Lynn brand names — were recalled for potential bacterial contamination, but the FDA’s notice doesn’t name a specific strain for those.

Pseudomonas and Serratia bacteria are common in soil and water, and on their own they don’t usually bother healthy people. The real risk shows up in healthcare settings, in people with compromised immune systems, or through cuts and broken skin — Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause infections in the blood, lungs, or urinary tract, and Serratia marcescens infections are more commonly linked to hospitals and long-term care facilities than to a home bathroom sink.

Which Products Are Recalled

Product	Size	Distributed By / For
Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe	28.7 fl. oz.	Intercon Chemical Company
Clearly Better by Intercon Foaming Pear Hand Soap With Aloe	1000 mL (34 fl. oz.)	Intercon Chemical Company
Summit 150 Foaming Hand Soap	28.7 fl. oz.	Manufactured for R.I. Williams Company, Conover, NC
Vestis Foaming Hand Soap, Fresh Pear Scent	33.8 fl. oz.	Vestis
Laura Lynn Honey Apple Crisp Liquid Hand Soap	8 fl. oz.	Distributed by Ingles Markets, Inc., Asheville, NC
Laura Lynn Foaming Pear Scent Hand Soap With Moisturizers	7.5 fl. oz.	Distributed by Ingles Markets, Inc., Asheville, NC

Most of these products moved through wholesale distribution rather than a single retail chain, so they may show up in workplaces, healthcare facilities, or institutional bathrooms as easily as at home — with the exception of the two Laura Lynn products, which went through Ingles Markets, a supermarket chain operating in Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.

What to Do If You Have One of These Products

1. Stop using the soap immediately, even if it looks and smells normal — bacterial contamination isn’t something you can see or smell.
2. Check the product name and size against the table above; the recall covers specific sizes, not every product a brand sells.
3. Don’t rely on visible signs of spoilage — if it matches the recalled product name and size, treat it as recalled.
4. Contact Intercon Chemical Company directly with questions about your specific product or lot.
5. If you develop signs of infection — redness, swelling, fever, or a wound that isn’t healing — after using one of these products, especially on broken skin or a healthcare setting, contact your healthcare provider and mention the recall.
6. If you’re a business or facility that received these products through wholesale distribution, pull them from use and check with your supplier about a return or credit.

[INTERNAL LINK: link to your existing page on filing a product injury claim or consulting an attorney after a recalled product, if you have one]

Sources Used in This Article

• News4Jax — “FDA recalls six hand soap products over bacterial contamination risk,” September 15, 2026: https://www.news4jax.com/news/2026/09/15/fda-recalls-six-hand-soap-products-over-bacterial-contamination-risk/
• NBC Chicago — “Intercon Chemical Co. hand soap recall classified by FDA”: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/hand-soap-recall-issued-for-products-sold-in-15-states-including-illinois/3989902/
• The Healthy — “Hand Soap Recall: 6 Soaps Pulled Over Bacterial Risk”: https://www.thehealthy.com/news/hand-soap-recall-september-2026/

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, legal content researcher and founder of AllAboutLawyer.com. Facts verified against FDA recall classification reporting from News4Jax, NBC Chicago, and The Healthy on September 17, 2026. Last Updated: September 17, 2026.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical or legal advice. If you’re experiencing symptoms, consult a healthcare provider. Recall details can change — confirm current status directly with the FDA before taking action.