I was convinced by the company that their GSE (the only ingredient besides water) has no additives such as triclosan. | BabyCenter. Later, we got a box of Costco Kirkland baby wipes. Well, back in March 24, Valisure, a company that tests and checks the composition of different health-related products, announced that they had found benzene in samples from 44 hand sanitizer products. Accessed 4 May 2022. I do have a screenshot of the brands Q&A section that revealed this information some time ago. Yet the agency took no enforcement action. Parents worry about the possible recall of these baby wipes with the ongoing formula shortage in the US, including Parents Choice Formula, following the massive Similac recall involving Cronobacter and Salmonella bacteria. "Sam Wilson was a very disgruntled employee," Rudolph said. These complaints were from October 2014. That's because they can come in direct contact with wounds, bloodstreams and spinal fluid. Some products may have inappropriate ingredients too. wipes recall It hasnt. Is Sealy Soybean Foam-Core Crib Mattress Safe? Great to know, thanks! But you are not likely to get such levels of exposure even if you are bathing in or covering yourself head-to-toe in hand sanitizer so that you look like a glazed doughnut. As it follows from our post, WaterWipes baby wipes contain benzalkonium chloride. What are your thoughts on using wipe warmers with Watervwipes? They sent the whistleblower letter to the FDA in October 2006. Our new Plastic-Free Original wipes are the same formula and purity as before, with just 2 ingredients: 99.9% ultra-purified water and a drop of fruit extract to naturally cleanse the skin. 30 Apr. "It was either manufactured filthy or it is inadequately preserved and allowed low numbers of microorganisms to grow to unacceptable levels.". There have been no recalls of products made in the Sheboygan plant, according to FDA records. Parents Choice Wipes Recall 2022 Explained amid Heavy Metals and Arsenic Fears. Once i started using them it made a big big biiigg difference. Join our informed consumer community and get our free guide the 5 Powerful Steps To A Non-Toxic Home. Never had any mold or bacteria problem and no rash. "I am damn proud of what we do here. Im leaning more and more to the water wipes that at least acknowledge their preservative such as phenoxyethanol as I feel theyre actually more honest than all these companies targeting the natural market and only disclosing what sounds good to concerned parents. And we have not talked about the cloth ingredients of the wipes. They explained to me that the Grapefruit Seed Extract (GSE) in their water wipes for babies contained only three components. Hi Laura: this is awful. Read more here and here. What store brand is It can also affect your marrows ability to produce white blood cells, the guardians of your immune system. Rockline, which makes wipes for retailers under different brand names, announced a nationwide recall later that month of 20 brands of potentially contaminated baby wipes but said they posed little risk. Gerber Good Start Powdered Infant Formula - 3/17/2023. "Contamination doesn't seem like something I should have to worry about, but obviously there is cause for concern," she said. As the FDA investigated Rockline's 2006 contamination, the hunt was launched in the Arkansas plant for the whistleblowers. Hi, do you know if the Jackson Reece wipes are ok? ~Irina. Frequently Asked Questions Recalls, Corrections and Removals (Devices). FDA, 17 Mar. Wipes Suite 317, To read our affiliate policy, click here. But only if you handled them extremely carefully. Rockline has not alerted the public about the latest recall. But there are no rules governing baby wipes manufacturers, only suggestions. Two weeks later, on Nov. 7, 2006, an FDA investigator arrived unannounced and found problems including faulty product testing and poor sanitation. wipes were sold in the cleaning supplies section of stores instead of with the personal care and hand sanitizer products in the health and beauty aisle, the suit alleges. FDA manuals suggest examining cosmetic firms that make "high-risk" products such as those used on infants, because they pose "the greatest potential health hazard if they become contaminated with bacteria.". Wipes also can be considered devices if they are included in an injection kit, for instance. When purchased online. It is good to know. People with weakened immune systems or external medical devices who are exposed to Pseudomonas aeruginosa face a risk of serious infection that may require medical treatment. Therefore, it looks like unacceptable levels of benzene somehow got into the hand sanitizer during the manufacturing processes used by the factories in China that make these ArtNaturals products. But it took me such a long while to decipher their ingredients. Wish they would be honest with the process some kids react to even small amounts of chlorine. This research assessed the microbial properties and the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of 15 random cosmetic products. I came across these Water wipes a few weeks ago when my 2 year old had a severe diaper rash that we could not get cleared up. Thank you for reaching out to I Read Labels For You! The Hartland-based Triad Group was raided by federal agents in April and recalled sterile alcohol wipes used in hospitals and other products. Have you or anyone else queried this at all? Thank you! No FDA inspector returned to the plant. Dont forget to add a box of WaterWipes baby wipes to your baby registry. Or should they? Suite 317, We never noticed mould till I opened the underside lid of my nappy change bin and it was covered in black mould. However, that fact gave me pause because the wipes might be prone to bacteria growth while they are used. 2023 www.jsonline.com. Second, any product that contains water should have a broad-spectrum preservation system to prevent the growth of mold and bacteria in order to keep babies safe from infection. I have been using these on myself post c-section and could figure out what was making my vagina feel like I just applied peppermint. We use them as the package directions indicate which has not been a problem for us. A spokesman for Rockline told the Journal Sentinel the initial test results were contradictory but once the company saw there was a problem, it notified customers and the FDA. One can locate the lot numbers on the upper front portion of the box. Jacques' case is pending. Water Through your research have you find it common that they smell like chemicals ? Hi, I bought some packs of waterwipes and the first one I opened smelled very strong, like maybe bleach? You can withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the unsubscribe button in emails that you receive. Ive been using WaterWipes since shortly after we brought my little guy home from the hospital. "That is filthy," Sutton said. That kind of defiance has landed other companies in trouble with the FDA, according to Marcia Crosse, head of health care for the General Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress. The mould was there before i opened it and does not expire unitl 2016. (View the FAQs below to see which brands are evaluated.) In the words of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), leukemia is abroad term for cancers of the blood cells.. Now you may be wondering what the bleep benzene is doing in hand sanitizer? Ive just recently started to follow your blog. ~Irina, Hi I just came across your blog as I just opened a fresh pack of water wipes to find they are all mouldy! And the recalled lots were Scent-Free and not Volcano-Scented, Forest Fire-Scented, or Chain Smoker-Scented hand sanitizer products. And then the question arises about whether such a small amount of benzalkonium chloride is enough to protect these wet wipes from growing bacteria and mold. Fingerprinting and DNA swabs were next. Hi, I didnt see the made of baby wipe brand on the list. He would fight us so much when it was time to change his diaper, even if it was just wet, because his bottom hurt so bad. Very concerning, i used a wipe on his face before realising Currently waiting on a response from them. Thank you! The agency cannot order a recall of wipes - sterile or not. Randy Rudolph told the newspaper that Wilson was an unstable man who tried to hurt the company, and his letter to FDA was riddled with inaccuracies. The pack is in date and there was no damage to the pack. My baby is 6 months old and weve havent even finished 2 boxes. Recall on Parents Choice Wipes (How to find the lot number ) On January 22, the CPSC, in conjunction with Playtex, announced a recall on 1.25 million Playtex pacifier holder clips in the US and 150,000 in Canada. The case claims, however, that the Wipe Out! Kirkland Signature Baby Wipes So just a caution to spot test these first if your infant has not yet been exposed to citrus. Companies are not required to report contamination but are encouraged to notify the FDA of a recall. Recalls The clips were recalled because they can crack and separate, which poses a choking hazard to small children and young babies. Potentially contaminated wipes were making it to market because the company routinely shipped them before the results of lab testing were available, according to FDA and company documents. Did you know about this? I use these wipes to remove makeup, but have noticed that the ingredients list has changed and they now dry and irritate my skin. No problem with mould nor bacterial infections on his bottom, though I was always conscious of the lack of preservatives in these wipes so now that were using less of them we only have one pack opened at once and finish it well within 4 weeks. However, Im querying the water if they are made with Irish public system water do they have fluoride in them??? The Sheboygan plant added baby wipe production in the 1990s and now has 700 workers. You might look into downloading my Baby Wipes Rating List as well: https://ireadlabelsforyou.com/best-baby-wipes-rating-list-ebook/ ~Irina. This just proves my theory that their preservation system is not sufficient to be safe. In addition, they said that there was no food in the wipes for germs to grow, even after the opening of the pack. Five years ago, whistleblowers sent a letter to federal regulators warning that contaminated baby wipes were streaming out of an Arkansas factory - and the Wisconsin-based owner wasn't telling the government or the public. Water Wipes are the ONLY ones that dont cause a rash on my daughter. eight-ounce bottles Scent Free Hand Sanitizer (Photo: getty), smoke and benzene into the air. If the problems were serious, they said, the FDA would have taken action. Please tick here if you would like to receive e-mails from WaterWipes in relation to our products and any special offers or promotions which we may be running. Benzalkonium chloride decreased fertility in both sexes of mice, even when it was just used to clean their cages (source). Their preservative capacities while in use were the focal point of the study. WebWaterWipes Biodegradable Original Baby Wipes (Select Count) WaterWipes. Your membership is the foundation of our sustainability and resilience. Makes me wonder why it irritated her so badly. really scared me! Portsmouth, Now lets talk about why I wanted to make sure that these wet wipes do have a sufficient preservation system. Its typically found in crude oil, volcanoes, forest fires, and cigarette smoke. Madison Dapcevich is a former writer for Snopes. I think anyone who had moldy packs, they must have been shipped poorly in too high a temperature. Save 15% on Water Wipes on select items. Packaging feels different so I believe packaging helps preserve them I never put them in my dispenser for this reason. Our baby range are the world's purest baby wipes and purer than cotton wool and water. However, a few internet users claimed that the product had been withdrawn and that Walmart was initiating refunds for those who brought the items back to stores. Any suggestions would be appreciated! 155 Fleet Street, Item model number : 980040803. They now contain grapefruit seed extract and soapberry extract. The whistleblowers were ultimately fired. A bacterium that can cause toxic shock syndrome was listed in company lab results, but not noted in FDA reports. But I was thankful for their willingness to walk me through the creation process of their wipes in detail. We even tried Viva paper towels and pure water and she got a rash. We havent had a single problem since we started using them. Understanding and protecting premature babys skin, WaterWipes Announces 2022 Pure Foundation Fund Winner, Changing Diapers and Understanding Babys Stool, your baby registry checklist guide: must haves for baby, plus hints and tips from other parents, advice from a midwife mom: birth and the fourth trimester. It typically takes repeated exposure over a longer period of time (e.g., over a year) to such levels of benzene to cause problems. And that just mold that we can detect with our eyes. "I would not put stock into his comments.". Recalls This recall affects a total of 23,388 containers (35-ounce, 992-gram containers) Return or Refund Processing: Customers with any concerns should contact Perrigo Consumer Affairs at 866-629-6181 or Sarah.Barwacz@perrigo.com Customers can also process their refund at any Walmart store. Weve also updated our packaging to reflect the new WaterWipes inside. On the one hand, I applaud the manufacturer for disclosing a full list of ingredients. Would you be willing to make a list of say your top 10 or 20 brands you recommend. Parents around the country use baby wipes on their infants and young toddlers many times a day, never suspecting that these products may be unsanitary or unsafe for use on a babys or childs skin. As strong as they are gentle, made for effectively cleaning from head-to-toes. Know that this is 50 times smaller than the limit set by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel, cosmetic industry organization, for people with healthy (not diseased) skin. Hickok wrote in her inspection report that the firm used tap water without additional filtration or treatment. I feel there is no wipe lie this . When benzene cause your bone marrow to produce abnormal cells, the result can be leukemia. I got an email today saying there had been many costumer complaints because they were making babies skin turn orange. On October 4, the FDA announced that they had found unacceptable levels of benzene, acetaldehyde, and acetal contaminants in samples of the ArtNaturals scent-free hand sanitizer. Thanks. UPC : 078742206356. Two reasons. Company records showed a more virulent bacterium,Staph aureus, was found on Rockline wipes twice in 2006. WebDescription. The website stated that the product contained arsenic and mercury, leading to an unexpected color change. According to the same, only a few lot numbers were being recalled from stores. Recall But as their popularity has surged, the FDA is saddled with a patchwork of rules. The company received positive results of four different bacteria in September and October 2006, yet no recall was launched and no customers were notified, according to FDA reports and company documents. Thank you for the question! The study found benzethonium chloride, methylparaben, and triclosan in commercial products labeled as grapefruit seed extract. "It is about as high as you can get.". At the time, Valisure had also released a copy of a letter addressed to the FDA that requested a recall of identified batches of hand sanitizer products on the basis that, due to contamination with a known human carcinogen and other restricted contaminants, these products are adulterated under Section 501 of the FDCA (21 U.S.C. All infections were traced to a contaminated baby shampoo. Babyganics Extra Gentle 4. Back in 2014, when I was putting together the first edition of the Baby Wipes Rating List, I looked into the safety claims of WaterWipes baby wipes. We are trusted, non-toxic consumer product researchers on a mission to help you make informed decisions about the products you buy. I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. have you heard anything else- been using for a few days now- but want to make sure they do not contain anything like parabens , synthetics or triclosan still! Do we know the concentration of this substance in the WaterWipes baby wipes? This survey states that synthetic disinfectants such as benzethonium or benzalkonium salts were detected in most commercial GSE products. Wilson wrote back that the private investigator hired by Rockline had interviewed employees and done handwriting analysis and computer searches. explore the range for body In this study researchers examined the antimicrobial efficacy and the content of preservative agents of six commercially available grapefruit seed extracts. Water Wipes are precisely what they claim to be, a clean and straightforward wipe without added chemicals, and we couldn't love them more. My conclusion got confirmed in a private consultation with a person experienced in microbiology. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) has deemed benzene a carcinogen. Hi, ive just read your blog to see if anyone had experienced mould in the wipes like i have in the last packet i brought. First, grapefruit seed extract may contain harmful contaminants that act as preservatives. 3123. Ogden,Slank's assistant, was fired with Wilson and the other whistleblower after they were accused of violating the company's email policy by making unprofessional comments about supervisors. It appears the rumor began with a product removal alert dated April 28, 2022, that was shared to Twitter two days later. A subsequent lawsuit provided a rare view into the wipes maker's operations by making public a series of internal Rockline documents. "Wet wipes are not well-regulated, which has shown itself to be a problem as they are difficult to preserve as a product and difficult to manufacture in a sanitary manner," said Scott Sutton, a New York-based microbiologist who has worked as a consultant to cosmetic manufacturers for 25 years. By law, both plants are supposed to be inspected every two years. "I wouldn't want to use a wipe with organisms at that level, especially on a baby," said Charles Gerba, a microbiology professor at the University of Arizona and a member of an FDA advisory board. WaterWipes (USA) Inc., Ben Poston of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report. In 2007, Rockline issued a new recall of wipes from the Arkansas plant, FDA documents show. Rumors of Parents Choice Baby Wipes being recalled have made rounds on the internet. Although it doesnt pose a medical risk to healthy people, it can cause serious health complications or bacterial infections for those with Please enable JavaScript to experience this websites full functionality. Internally, Rockline worked to find and punish the person top executives referred to as "the mole," doing handwriting analysis and considering DNA samples and fingerprints of workers, records filed in court show. The Hartland-based Triad Group was raided by federal agents in April and recalled sterile alcohol wipes used in hospitals and other products. The FDA has not inspected several thousand drug and device makers in at least five years, and hundreds of plants have not seen an inspector in a decade. Instructions were specified to the Claims Team concerning what they must do regarding the segregation of the lot numbers. Kristal: they make two kinds of wipes now: with soapberry extract and without. I have researched every single ingredient (including the cloths) of 50 baby wipes and published my findings in the Baby Wipes Rating List so you can decide on the go which baby wipes are right for your baby. while researching Water Wipes, I found out not only about the Benzalkonium Chloride (which WW now acknowledge but still dont put on the packaging) but also that the water they use is activated. Hi, Jaci! Huggies Natural 9. In 1989, the family-run company bought a plant owned by Midwest Converting in Springdale, Ark. In September 2006, Rockline received a report from its outside lab that there wasBurkholderia cepaciaon its wipes,according to the company records. Both sued in federal court. about one of them). 4 May 2022, https://web.archive.org/web/20220504144710/https:/community.babycenter.com/post/a77720658/parents-choice-baby-wipes-recall. Made with 99% water, up & up fragrance free cloth-like baby wipes are soft, thick and durable, yet gentle enough for use on babys face, hands and bottom. There is some evidence that this well-known irritant may cause contact allergy even at concentrations as low as 0.1% (source). Get the latest on new products and stories from our community. I am about to share with you the nearly six-year history of my contacts with the company that makes WaterWipes. I have been using these WaterWipes for 18 months. Best Sellers Rank: #159,959 in Health & Household ( See Top 100 in Health & Household) #264 in Personal Cleansing Wipes. Generally, in baby wipes purified or filtered water is used. FDA records show the agency learned of the contamination from the whistleblower letter, and the FDA didn't know the company was doing a recall until its unannounced inspection. Nothing else has changed. Recall In a world of more noise, choices and advice, less can be more. All of these 10 lots include eight ounce bottles of the product, bear a Universal Product Code (UPC) of 816820028205, and have an expiration date of May 1, 2022. newborn baby skin care: soft, smooth but incredibly sensitive. You must respect the instructions on the packet and you will have no problem, even on sensitive skin. Please logout and login again. wrote to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, an FDA investigator visited Rockline's Arkansas plant, An FDA report noted that company leaders thought sanitation problems, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. I chose the waterwipes because i figured they were the most pure and simple. All hand sanitizers are not the same. No serious injuries or illness have been definitively linked to the contaminated wipes. I confirm that I am over 16 years old and that I have reviewed and agree to the Terms and Conditions and have reviewed the Privacy Policy. Snopes readers sent our team the following screenshots as examples of the types of social media posts they were seeing online: As of this writing, Snopes has not been able to independently verify whether a recall had been issued by either Walmart or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the governmental agency that oversees product recalls, corrections, and removals. Package Dimensions : 12.6 x 8.2 x 6.9 inches; 8 Pounds. "If we were filthy, we would be shut down," he said. Thanks. We use them for poopy diapers only as theyre expensive but we love them. I'm on a mission to help you make informed and practical decisions about the products you buy. We have never experienced any problems with them and I love that they are pure and simple. Fragrance Free Baby Wipes How can we prevent contamination in cosmetic products? Get the latest on new products and stories from our community. "We give these companies our business, and we trust they are putting out a safe product.". They are tested prior to going on the market, and production plants are supposed to be inspected by the FDA every two years. "Whether 97,000 or 9.7 million, it is just not relevant," said David Steinberg, a microbiologist and industry consultant who works for Rockline. An FDA inspector overlooked key problems in the Arkansas plant in 2006. he wrote. I have been using them for more than 3 years now and really love them and dont know which other one I would have used if they were proved to be nasty as well! "Randy Rudolph said neither himself or anyone else at the Sheboygan plant are familiar with the baby wipe products or formulas," the 1992 FDA report read. It makes me wonder: has the concentration changed? Zeppos said the Arkansas facility was clean. amazon wipe recall! Baby Wipes