Understanding the Recent Hand Soap Recall

Q: What’s in the news right now?

Recently, some hand soaps and lotions from another company were recalled because they were found to contain Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC)—a group of bacteria that can sometimes cause infections in people with very weak immune systems.

For healthy people, the risk is much lower, but the FDA required a recall out of caution.

Q: Could this happen to Synbio products?

Our products are fundamentally different. The recall involved accidental contamination; microbes that weren’t supposed to be there. Synbio products are intentionally formulated with carefully selected, beneficial Bacillus probiotics that are safe, stable, and tested.

Every batch is screened to confirm that only the microbes we put there are present, and nothing else.

Q: How does soap or lotion even get contaminated with germs?

It sounds backwards—soap growing bacteria—but it can happen when:

• Water used in manufacturing isn’t perfectly clean.
• Preservatives fail or aren’t effective against resistant strains like BCC.
• Dispensing bottles get “topped up” instead of replaced, allowing germs to grow inside.

The bottom line: soap and lotion are mostly water, and without strict controls, some bacteria can take advantage.

Q: How are Synbio products different?

• Deliberate, not accidental: We only use safe, beneficial microbes, never whatever happens to be in the water supply.
• Farm-grown, not factory slip-ups: Our strains are cultivated under controlled conditions, not accidentally introduced.
• Tested and transparent: Each production run is screened for quality and safety.
• Built for balance: Our products are designed to support a healthy biome, not disrupt it.

Q: What should we take away from this news?

Not all cleaning products are created equal. The recall is a reminder of why microbial safety matters.

At Synbio, we’ve built our entire approach on that principle: Knowing exactly what’s in the bottle, why it’s there, and how it helps.