Urgent Recall Issued for Contaminated Hand Soaps

A nationwide recall has been issued for several popular hand soaps, cleansers, and antiseptic products after tests revealed contamination with Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc)—a group of bacteria capable of causing serious and potentially life-threatening infections, including sepsis, especially in vulnerable populations.

Products Impacted

The recalled products, manufactured by DermaRite Industries, include:

• DermaKleen Antiseptic Lotion Soap with Vitamin E (800ml and 1,000ml sizes; Reorder #0090BB, #0092BB)
• KleenFoam Antibacterial Foam Soap with Aloe Vera (1,000ml size; Reorder #0093F)
• DermaSarra External Analgesic Cream (7.5oz tube; Reorder #00188)
• PeriGiene Antiseptic Perineal Cleanser (7.5oz bottle; Reorder #00198)

The affected products were distributed throughout the United States and Puerto Rico and carry expiration dates between July 2025 and February 2027.

What Is Burkholderia Cepacia Complex?

Burkholderia cepacia complex is a group of bacteria commonly found in soil and water, but when introduced into hand soap and similar products, it poses a significant threat to health. The bacteria can survive and multiply in these products, spreading through contact with contaminated surfaces or direct skin contact. According to the CDC, once the bacteria enter the body—especially in people with weakened immune systems or chronic lung conditions—they can cause local infections, chronic lung problems, and even life-threatening sepsis, a severe bloodstream infection that can result in organ failure.

Notably, Bcc is also known for its resistance to many common antibiotics, making infections especially difficult to treat.

Who Is At Risk?

• Immunocompromised individuals: Such as those undergoing cancer treatments, organ transplant recipients, or people with chronic illnesses.
• Patients with chronic lung conditions: Like cystic fibrosis.
• Healthy individuals: Can experience local skin infections, particularly if they have open wounds or minor skin lesions.
• Caregivers: Who may use these contaminated products while attending to at-risk individuals.

Symptoms and Health Risks

Potential symptoms after exposure include:

• Fever and fatigue
• Respiratory infections
• Localized skin infections

In severe cases, especially for those with weakened immune systems, the infection can progress to sepsis and present a life-threatening emergency.

Actions and Advice

• Stop Using Affected Products: Consumers should immediately discontinue use of any recalled items and safely dispose of them as advised by the manufacturer.
• Contact Healthcare Providers: Anyone who experiences symptoms after using these products should seek medical attention, particularly immunocompromised individuals or those with existing lung conditions.
• Check Product Details: Confirm lot numbers and packaging to identify if products are part of the recall. Full details can be found on the manufacturer’s website and through FDA announcements.

Response from DermaRite

DermaRite Industries has notified distributors and customers, urging them to examine inventory and destroy affected products per facility protocol. The company is also providing direct support via voluntary.action@dermarite.com for questions or reporting adverse reactions. As of now, no injuries or illnesses have been officially reported in connection with the recall.

Why This Recall Matters

This recall highlights the importance of ongoing product safety and quality assurance in everyday hygiene products. While hand washing is a key defense against infection, contaminated hand soaps can paradoxically increase risk, especially in healthcare and caregiving settings.

Staying alert to recall notices and following expert recommendations is essential for protecting public health—especially when the threat involves bacteria with the potential to cause life-threatening conditions like sepsis.

In a groundbreaking move that has stirred widespread attention, Bill Gates is backing a California-based startup, Savor, that has developed a lab-made butter made entirely from carbon and hydrogen — without any involvement of animals, plants, or traditional farming. This carbon-made butter promises to be indistinguishable from traditional dairy butter in taste, smell, and texture, but with a fraction of the environmental impact.

How Is This Butter Made?

Savor’s innovative process involves capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the air and hydrogen from water, then heating and oxidizing these components to create fat molecules chemically identical to those found in dairy butter, beef, cheese, and vegetable oils. The result is a creamy butter-like product made without farmland, fertilizers, or greenhouse gas emissions. The company’s food scientist describes the initial product as resembling candle wax, but in molecular terms it is genuine fat.

Sustainability at Its Core

Traditional butter production involves raising cows on farmland, producing significant greenhouse gases such as methane, and consuming vast amounts of water and land. In contrast, Savor’s carbon butter production requires nearly 1,000 times less land and releases zero greenhouse gases during manufacturing. Moreover, the product contains no palm oil, a common ingredient in butter alternatives often linked to deforestation.

Bill Gates, a vocal advocate for sustainable innovations, expressed on his blog:

“The idea of switching to lab-made fats and oils may seem strange at first. But their potential to significantly reduce our carbon footprint is immense. The process doesn’t release any greenhouse gases, uses no farmland, and less than a thousandth of the water that traditional agriculture does. Most important, it tastes really good – like the real thing, because chemically it is”.

Public Reaction: Praise and Backlash

The announcement has sparked a mix of excitement and skepticism. Many admire the potential to transform the food industry and tackle climate change with this innovation. Savor is already partnering with restaurants and food suppliers to launch butter-infused products, such as chocolates, as early as the 2025 holiday season, with broader retail availability expected around 2027.

However, not everyone is on board. Online reactions have included outspoken critics like right-wing radio host Alex Jones, who publicly rejected the product, tweeting:

“Bill Gates’ attempt to roll out disgusting lab-grown meat and butter triggers the MOTHER OF ALL BACKLASHES. We the People aren’t buying it, and we’re certainly not eating it either!“.

Many social media users express distrust specifically tied to Bill Gates’ involvement, reflecting the polarization around new food technologies and high-profile backers.

What This Means for the Future of Food

Savor’s technology represents a bold step towards a future where food production is decoupled from environmental harm. By creating fats and oils from air and water, this new approach can reduce the 7% of global greenhouse gas emissions linked to animal and plant fat production, making it a key player in climate action strategies within the food sector.

As Bill Gates emphasizes, this is not just about butter:

“This is really about how we feed our species and heal our planet at the same time.“.

This innovation in butter production, backed by one of the world’s most influential investors and climate advocates, promises a future where environmental responsibility and culinary delight come together in a single spread. Whether embraced or rejected, it marks a defining moment in the evolving landscape of sustainable food technology.

The so-called “BBL smell” has become a viral talking point on social media, with stories and memes claiming that Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) surgery leaves recipients with a permanent, unpleasant odor. But does a BBL really make you stink? Let’s clear up the rumors with facts from medical experts and real-world patient experiences.

What Is a BBL?

A Brazilian Butt Lift is a cosmetic procedure where fat is liposuctioned from one part of the body and injected into the buttocks for shape and volume. As with any surgery, there’s a period of healing, swelling, and aftercare, including wearing compression garments and sometimes getting lymphatic massages.

Origins of the “BBL Smell” Rumor

Discussion around “BBL smell” started online, with some claiming that the procedure causes a long-lasting or even permanent odor. Theories range from surgical drainage and metabolic changes to people simply struggling to properly clean the area after surgery. Influencers, surgeons, and patients have all weighed in, creating an atmosphere of confusion and exaggeration.

What Surgeons and Experts Say

• Temporary Odor Is Possible: After surgery, some mild smell is normal. This stems from:
  • Fluid drainage for a day or two (mainly saline solution or blood, which usually isn’t odorous unless infected).
  • Wearing tight, warm compression garments that can trap sweat and bacteria.
  • Difficulty reaching and cleaning the area properly during the early healing phase, especially if mobility is reduced or swelling is significant.
• No Lasting or Permanent “BBL Smell”: Once healing is complete and normal hygiene resumes, there’s no medical reason for a BBL to cause permanent odor.
• Misconceptions About Metabolic Changes: Some cite metabolic shifts or anesthesia leaving the body as potential causes, but these are short-lived (lasting hours to days), not months or years.
• Infection Is Rare but Smelly: If an incision site becomes infected, this can cause a foul odor, but infection is uncommon and treatable. Persistent, strong, and unusual smells after the initial recovery period should prompt a visit to a doctor.

The Real Cause: Hygiene Challenges

The main factor that may cause odor after BBL surgery isn’t the surgical procedure itself, but temporary difficulties with personal hygiene. Enlarged or swollen buttocks can make it harder to clean the area thoroughly, especially immediately after surgery. Compression garments can further contribute by trapping heat and moisture. However, as healing progresses and mobility returns, regular washing and good hygiene eliminate any lingering odors.

How to Prevent Any Unpleasant Smells

• Clean Carefully: Use fragrance-free, gentle cleansers and follow your surgeon’s post-op instructions. Consider using wet wipes or a bidet during the recovery phase if reaching is difficult.
• Change Garments Frequently: Clean and replace compression garments, underclothes, and bedding often to minimize bacteria buildup.
• Watch for Signs of Infection: Strong, long-lasting odors accompanied by redness, pus, or fever require prompt medical attention.
• Resume Normal Hygiene: Once you have healed and movement is restored, proper washing will prevent any recurring smell.

Bottom Line

A Brazilian Butt Lift does not make you stink for life. Any post-surgical odor is temporary, related to fluid drainage, sweat, and restricted mobility during recovery. With good hygiene and aftercare, unpleasant smells resolve as your body heals. Persistent odor months or years later would not be due to the BBL itself, but could signal a hygiene issue or rare medical complication.

The “BBL smell” is mostly myth—so you can bounce with confidence, not dread.