Summary
Clorox must pay a $14.15 million penalty for not reporting a bacterial contamination risk in its Pine-Sol cleaners as soon as they knew about it. The government said Clorox delayed telling them about the problem, which could cause harm. The company has agreed to improve its internal safety procedures.
Key Facts
- Clorox is paying a $14.15 million fine for delayed reporting of a bacterial risk in some cleaners.
- The problem involved Pine-Sol scented multi-surface cleaners.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) criticized Clorox for not reporting this issue right away.
- Clorox knew of potential contamination from as early as 2019 but only announced a recall in 2022.
- Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a type of bacteria, was found in the products, posing a risk to people with weakened immune systems.
- As part of the penalty, Clorox must enhance its safety measures and report on compliance efforts annually.
- The CPSC focuses on minimizing injuries and deaths related to consumer products.
