Essential Oil Recalled After Bacteria Outbreak In Minnesota

MINNESOTA — Walmart is recalling about 3,900 bottles of an essential oil spray after one of them was found to contain Burkholderia pseudomallei, a dangerous bacteria that causes melioidosis.

Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed four linked cases —including two deaths — of melioidosis in patients from Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, and Texas.

A bottle of "Better Homes and Gardens Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones" was found in the home of one of the patients who died of melioidosis. That particular bottle contained Burkholderia pseudomallei, the CDC confirmed.

The aromatherapy room spray was sold at 55 Walmart stores and online from February 2021 through October 2021 for about $4. Customers can receive a refund by returning it to Walmart.

"Better Homes and Gardens Aromatherapy," is on the label of the 5-ounce glass bottle. Six versions of the spray are being recalled:

• 84140411420 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lavender & Chamomile
• 84140411421 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lemon and Mandarin
• 84140411422 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lavender
• 84140411423 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Peppermint
• 84140411424 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lime & Eucalyptus
• 84140411425 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Sandalwood and Vanilla

The CDC has provided the following instructions for people who purchased a bottle of the essential oil:

Stop using this product immediately. Do not open the bottle. Do not throw away or dispose of the bottle in the regular trash.

Double bag the bottle in clean, clear zip-top bags and place in a small cardboard box. Return the bagged and boxed product to a Walmart store.

Wash sheets or linens that the product may have been sprayed on using normal laundry detergent and dry completely in a hot dryer; bleach can be used if desired.

Wipe down counters and surfaces that might have the spray on them with undiluted Pine-Sol or similar disinfectant.

Limit how much you handle the spray bottle and wash hands thoroughly after touching the bottle or linens. If you used gloves while handling the bottling or cleaning, wash hands afterward.

If you have used the product within the past 21 days and have fever or other melioidosis symptoms, seek medical care and tell your doctor you were exposed to the spray. If you do not have symptoms but were exposed to the product in the last 7 days, your doctor may recommend that you get antibiotics (post-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent infection.

Find out more information on the recall here.