Health Canada issues Canada-wide warning on contaminated baby wipes

If you think you have purchased some of the recalled wipes, you can see the lot numbers on the inside plastic bag and on the outside of the container, as shown here.

If you think you have baby wipes like these, they may be among the recalled lots, a Health Canada advisory warns.

If you or someone else in your household uses disposable baby wipes, you’ll want to check the brand name of the product.

That’s because Health Canada has issued an advisory following a recall by Nutek Disposables Inc. of Personnelle Baby Wipes and Cuties Baby Wipes.

This recall involves all Personnelle Baby Wipes and Cuties Baby Wipes with lot date numbers before and including lot number 29414.

The recall came after complaints of odour and discolouration of the wipes. The company then conducted testing which showed the presence of the bacteria Burkholderia cepacia (B. cepacia) in some of the baby wipe products, Health Canada said.

In general, this bacterium poses little medical risk to healthy people.

But people who have certain health problems like weakened immune systems or chronic lung diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis, may be more susceptible to infections with B. cepacia, Health Canada said.

Complaints about the wipes included rash, irritation, infections, fever as well as gastro-intestinal and respiratory issues. In some cases, medical attention was sought, Health Canada noted.

Nutek Disposables Inc. has received two unconfirmed reports of injury from Canadians who purchased the baby wipes in the United States or online, although Health Canada said it had has not received any reports of consumer incidents or injuries related to the use of these products.

About 164,000 units were distributed for sale in Canada up to Oct. 21.

Consumers who purchased these wipes should stop using them immediately, the advisory said, and may return the product to the place of purchase for a full refund.

Consumers may also contact the company at 1-855-646-4351 from Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST and Saturday, Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.

Consumers who have a weakened immune system or chronic lung disease and who have used one of the affected products, should call their doctor promptly for medical advice, Health Canada said.

Canadians can report any health or safety incidents related to the use of this product or any other consumer product or cosmetic by filling out the Consumer Product Incident Report Form here.