Don’t know the details of this Pine-Sol Class Action Lawsuit? Well, it all started when one day, Clorox, the company that produces Pine-Sol, came out with a large recall of about 37 million bottles. Why? It seems that a few of the bottles had been infected with the harmful bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A house with Pseudomonas bacteria is a nightmare, let alone a home with a sick person or people with weak immune systems.
While you are at it, you may take an interest in understanding that a class action lawsuit is now in place targeting Clorox. Furthermore, the most significant aspect is that in case you purchased some Pine-Sol products within the aforementioned period, and even if you were not affected, you are still eligible to be a part of the lawsuit.
When Did All This Happen?
Let’s quickly review the timeline of events. The impacted Pine-Sol bottles were manufactured at Clorox’s Georgia plant from January 2021 to September 2022.
After that, in October 2022, Clorox, as well as regulatory authorities, made known a formal recall together with a request for customers to discontinue the use of a number of Pine-Sol scented versions that were identified by them instantly.
The lawsuit was subsequently taken to the next level in 2024, where Clorox consented to a $5.65 million settlement. Anyone who purchased the contaminated commodities in the stated period of time might have claimed compensation, but the final date for filing was February 7, 2024. So, the window for submitting claims is no longer open if you were not able to do it earlier.
Which Pine-Sol Products Were Affected?
There were some Pine-Sol products that were not recalled. The first Pine-Sol smell (pine fragrance) is okay and was not involved in the issue. The only products affected by the recall were a few of the scented versions. Below is a short list:
- Lavender Clean
- Sparkling Wave
- Lemon Fresh
- Orange Energy
In addition, some of the bottles for commercial or professional use were also withdrawn. The sizes of these ranged from 28 oz to 175 oz jugs, which were usually sold in bulk or through warehouse clubs.
Why Is This Bacteria a Serious Concern?
We should start with the basics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is among the harmful bacteria that are capable of causing lung, blood, eye, skin, and various other infections. Furthermore, if the bacteria get into the body via a cut or by touching a dirty surface, then it is likely to cause infection in more areas of the body.
To be honest, for the majority of healthy people, it is probably not a big deal. However, it can be very threatening to individuals with chronic diseases or whose immune systems are weak, as the condition can progress, leading to hospitalization. This is the very reason why the problem got the whole country’s attention.
Why Was Clorox Taken to Court?
The major cause was product safety and the absence of any caution. Consumers anticipate that cleaning products such as Pine-Sol should eliminate germs, rather than propagate them.
Since or after the COVID-19 pandemic, when the majority of people were concentrating on their homes being super clean, this thing grew into a much bigger issue. The assumption most people made was that their Pine-Sol was helping them, but there were situations where it was a straight-up hindrance.
What Was the Settlement About?
Although Clorox has not admitted to any wrongdoing, they have consented to a payment of $5.65 million to resolve the suit. This arrangement made it possible for the impacted clients receiving a cash payout to file a claim.
If you purchased any of the recalled products, the process was simple: you had to:
- Take a picture of the UPC code and date code on the bottle,
- Throw away the product,
- And submit a claim online through pssettlement.com before February 7, 2024.
