Health Authorities Issue Urgent Recall of Hand Wash Contaminated with Potentially Lethal Bacteria

Shoppers have been urged to return bottles of a popular hand soap after Government officials warned they could be contaminated with infection-causing bugs.

Makers of Elbow Grease Heavy Duty Hand Cleaner, sold in Poundland and Savers stores, claim the wash is ‘super tough’ and ‘breaks down grease, oil and grime’.

According to Mail Online, some batches have been found to pose ‘a microbiological risk’ and they have been tainted by ‘aerobic mesophilic bacteria’.

If used on damaged skin, or if it comes into contact with the eyes, the product may cause infection or irritation, according to an alert from the Office for Product Safety and Standards.

Consumers who purchased the 500ml of the soap should immediately stop using it and check for the barcode 5053249248059 and batch code 00645.

Turkey was given as country of origin and the product was described as ‘a clear plastic bottle with red lid containing yellow hand cleansing gel’.

‘If [your] product is part of the affected batch, consumers should return the item to their place of purchase as soon as possible,’ the alert states.

They include Pseudomonas and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria such as E.coli and Salmonella (Lactobacillus and Streptococcus).