Table of contents
- Latest Fabuloso Cleaner Lawsuit Updates
- August 26, 2024: EPA Orders Stop-Sale of Imported Fabuloso Products
- March 13, 2024: Fabuloso Settlement Claim Deadline Passes
- November 15, 2023: Judge Gives Initial Approval to Class Settlement
- February 8, 2023: Colgate-Palmolive Recalls Fabuloso Cleaners
- What Is Pseudomonas Aeruginosa?
- Who May Be Affected?
- Reported Injuries or Damages
- Recall and Regulatory Background
- Evidence to Preserve
- Filing Deadlines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Is There a Fabuloso Cleaner Lawsuit?
- Has There Been a Recall on Fabuloso?
- What Did the EPA Find About Imported Fabuloso Products?
- What Does CDC Research Say About Antibiotic-Resistant Infections?
- Does the Fabuloso Recall Cover Antibacterial Fabuloso?
Colgate-Palmolive recalled Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaners sold in the United States and Canada on February 8, 2023. The bottles can contain Pseudomonas bacteria. The CPSC reported no injuries from the recalled bottles. Three consumer class suits followed the recall.
They led to a $2 million class settlement. The suits raised consumer protection and warranty claims. A federal judge in New York gave it initial approval in November 2023.
No MDL has been formed. The claim deadline passed on March 13, 2024. If you still have a recalled bottle, stop using it and check its lot code. You can ask Colgate-Palmolive for a refund or replacement.
Latest Fabuloso Cleaner Lawsuit Updates
August 26, 2024: EPA Orders Stop-Sale of Imported Fabuloso Products
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said its Region 7 issued stop-sale orders to three grocery distributors in Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska for certain Fabuloso products on August 8, 2024 [1].
The orders covered illegally imported, Spanish-label Fabuloso disinfectant products with glutaraldehyde. They went to Estancia La Bodega, Pan-Y-Mas and Promex. The 2023 recall involved a different product, Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaners.
March 13, 2024: Fabuloso Settlement Claim Deadline Passes
The claim deadline passed for the Fabuloso class settlement, according to Consumer Action, a consumer nonprofit that tracks class actions [2].
The settlement covered purchases of recalled products between December 14, 2022 and November 14, 2023. It resolved three suits filed by buyers against Colgate-Palmolive over the recalled cleaners.
November 15, 2023: Judge Gives Initial Approval to Class Settlement
A federal judge in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York gave initial approval to a $2 million class settlement, Bloomberg Law reported [3].
The deal resolved three proposed class suits that followed the February recall. The lead plaintiffs were Elizabeth Dixon, Jeannie Patora and Arnold Thomas.
February 8, 2023: Colgate-Palmolive Recalls Fabuloso Cleaners
The CPSC announced that Colgate-Palmolive was recalling about 4.9 million Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaners in the United States and about 56,000 in Canada [4].
The agency said the cleaners can carry Pseudomonas bacteria. It numbered the recall 23-115. The notice tells consumers to stop using the product.
What Is Pseudomonas Aeruginosa?
According to the CDC, Pseudomonas is a group of bacteria commonly found in the environment, like in soil and water. The most common type causing infections among humans is Pseudomonas aeruginosa [5].
The Fabuloso recall is about Pseudomonas bacteria in a household cleaner sold in the United States and Canada, and the recall notice names those bacteria as the hazard.
Who May Be Affected?
People who bought a recalled Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaner may be affected. The lot code begins 2348US78 through 2365US78 or 3001US78 through 3023US78. Check the lot code and UPC on your bottle.
The cleaners were sold in stores and online from December 2022 through January 2023. The price was between $1 and $11. CPSC says people with weak immune systems, external medical devices or lung conditions face a risk of serious infection.
Whether any person qualifies for a claim depends on individual facts and needs a legal review of your purchase and health records.
Reported Injuries or Damages
The CPSC lists incidents and injuries from the recalled cleaners as none reported. No federal personal-injury lawsuit or MDL names Fabuloso. The class suits alleged consumer protection violations and breach of warranty. They cited possible bacterial contamination.
The CPSC says the cleaners can contain Pseudomonas bacteria. These include Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The bacteria can enter the body if inhaled. They can also get in through the eyes or a break in the skin.
CPSC says people with healthy immune systems are usually not affected. The CDC says P. aeruginosa can resist antibiotics. That can make infections hard to treat.
Recall and Regulatory Background
The CPSC recall remedy is a refund or replacement from Colgate-Palmolive. Consumers should photograph the UPC and lot code. Then they should dispose of the product in its container with household trash, without emptying it.
A recall does not establish liability. It also does not show that the cleaner caused any illness or injury to a particular person.
Evidence to Preserve
Keep these items about your purchase and any health effects:
- A photo of the product’s UPC and lot code, taken before disposal as the recall instructs, plus the bottle’s scent and size.
- Purchase receipts, order confirmations or loyalty-card records that show where and when you bought the cleaner.
- Any correspondence with Colgate-Palmolive about a refund or replacement for the recalled bottle.
- Medical records, test results and a dated symptom timeline if an infection is suspected, kept in one place.
- Photographs of any skin or eye reaction, taken with dates so the changes can be tracked.
Filing Deadlines
Filing deadlines are set by state law. They vary with where you live and when the exposure, illness or injury happened and was diagnosed.
Missing a deadline can end a claim even when the facts are strong, so talk with a lawyer promptly about the deadline that applies to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is There a Fabuloso Cleaner Lawsuit?
Yes, there was a Fabuloso cleaner lawsuit. Three class suits, styled Dixon, Patora and Thomas v. Colgate-Palmolive, led to a $2 million class settlement that received initial approval. The company was the only defendant, and the court has not decided any claim on its merits.
Has There Been a Recall on Fabuloso?
Yes, there has been a recall on Fabuloso: CPSC called recall 23-115 a fast track recall. Colgate-Palmolive answers recall questions at 855-703-0166 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, and at www.Fabulosorecall.com.
What Did the EPA Find About Imported Fabuloso Products?
The EPA found that the imported Spanish-label Fabuloso disinfectant is not approved in the U.S. as a household disinfectant because of potential health risks. EPA said a U.S. English-label antibacterial Fabuloso contains an approved active ingredient. A Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary in Mexico makes both versions.
What Does CDC Research Say About Antibiotic-Resistant Infections?
Research from the CDC says multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa caused an estimated 32,600 infections among hospitalized patients in 2017. The CDC also estimated 2,700 deaths in the United States that year. These figures describe the bacterium in general.
Does the Fabuloso Recall Cover Antibacterial Fabuloso?
The Fabuloso recall does not cover Antibacterial Fabuloso. CPSC recall 23-115 applies only to Fabuloso Multi-Purpose Cleaners with the listed lot codes, and no Fabuloso Antibacterial variants or other Fabuloso products are included.