Why You'll Want To Think Twice Before Slathering On Your Jergens Moisturizer
Other than cleaning your skin, one of the most common ways people practice good skincare is by applying a moisturizer. Based on the U.S. Census data and Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS), more than 228 million people in the United States used lotions, creams, and moisturizers in 2020 (via Statista).
Interestingly, when we think of product contamination, we usually think of food and drinks. However, skincare products can also become contaminated with bacteria that can be harmful to your health. According to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), a popular skincare brand voluntarily recalled one of its moisturizing products on March 11, 2022.
Kao USA Inc., has asked consumers to discontinue the use of its three-ounce and ten-ounce Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer product. It is possible that several units of the moisturizer that were manufactured between October 1, 2021, and October 18, 2021, may be contaminated with a bacterium that could pose health risks to people with weakened immune systems (per FDA).
Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer may be contaminated with Pluralibacter gergoviae
According to Kao USA, Inc., Pluralibacter gergoviae typically does not pose a health risk to healthy individuals. However, the bacterium may increase the likelihood of infection for people with weakened immune systems (per WebMD). An investigation is still ongoing to determine the scope of the contamination, but in the meantime, Kao USA Inc. has removed the products from its warehouses and is working with retailers to remove it from the shelves, according to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA).
If you have a bottle of Jergens Ultra Healing Moisturizer, you should look at the back of the product for the lot code printed in black ink. The affected lot codes for the 3-ounce size single bottles (UPC 019100109971) and for the three packs (UPC 019100267114) are: ZU712851, ZU712871, ZU712911, ZU722881, ZU712861, ZU712881 and ZU722851. The lot codes for the 10-ounce size (UPC 019100109988) are: ZU722741, ZU722781, ZU732791, ZU732811, ZU722771, ZU732781, ZU732801 and ZU732821 (via WebMD).
Any adverse health event from using the Jergens product should be reported to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at (888) 463-6332 or through the MedWatch website (per FDA).