Kimberly-Clark faces class action for contaminated wipes

Consumer goods giant Kimberly-Clark is facing a class action lawsuit in the United States. The charge is negligence in the sale of Cottonelle wipes, contaminated by bacteria.

In a complaint filed last Friday, 16, in the federal court in Dallas, California users represented consumer classes across the country and the state, who purchased “millions of contaminated, dangerous and now-worthless flushable wipes” from company based in Irving, Texas.

Last month, the company carried out a recall, that is, withdrew Cottonelle Flushable Wipes and Cottonelle and GentlePlus Flushable Wipes wipes. The warning was posted on Cottonelle website.

The recall for Cottonelle wipes applies to products sold in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean and is limited to specific batches manufactured between February 7, 2020 and September 14, 2020. No other Cottonelle products were affected by the recall, according to company.

K-C claims that the products may show the presence of Pluralibacter gergoviae, a natural bacterium that lives in the environment and also in the human body.

Although it is rare for Pluralibacter gergoviae to cause a serious infection in healthy people, those with weakened immune systems are at an increased risk of infection.

So far, the company has reported that it has only received what it calls a “low rate of minor complaints, such as irritation and mild infection.”

Kimberly-Clark also points out that this bacterium is not related to Covid-19 and, therefore, consumers are not at risk of contracting the coronavirus from products affected by the recall of Cottonelle Flushable wipes.