Corrections & Clarifications: An earlier version of this story included a video, which has been removed, that incorrectly identified the nasal spray brand being recalled.
Medical Products Laboratories, a Philadelphia-based medical supply company, has recalled over 41,000 bottles of Walgreens-branded nasal spray due to a possible bacteria that could be dangerous for those with weakened immune systems or respiratory issues.
The product, Walgreens Saline Nasal Spray with xylitol, may be contaminated with bacteria, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) website.
The 41,328 bottles distributed nationwide may contain pseudomonas lactis, a type of bacteria commonly found in the environment, like in soil and water, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
A sign for US drugstore chain Walgreens is displayed outside its store in New York City on March 7, 2025.
The bacteria has also been found in chicken feces, according to a study on bacterial resistance to antibiotics published in 2022.
Pseudomonas lactis bacteria can be harmful to individuals with weakened immune systems or respiratory problems, according to officials in southeastern Massachusetts who shared news of the recall, as well as television station KARE 11. The bacteria can also be harmful to those who are pregnant, according to television station WTVT.
Dr. Daniel Rhoads, Section Head of Microbiology at the Cleveland Clinic, said in a Nov. 26 statement to USA TODAY that pseudomonas lactis bacteria are part of a species commonly found in the environment. It was first named less than a decade ago, Rhoads said.
There have not been many studies on Pseudomonas lactis, but closely related bacteria are generally not associated with human infections. Rhoads mentioned that the potential health impact of this bacterium contaminating nasal saline spray remains uncertain.
Rhoads cited a 2017 study indicating that some Pseudomonas strains can use xylitol, a component of the nasal spray, as a food source.
USA TODAY has reached out to the CDC, FDA and several other medical organizations for more information on the bacteria.
Which Walgreens-branded saline sprays are recalled?
Among the thousands of 45-milliliter bottles recalled are:
Lot # 71409 (expires Feb. 28, 2027)
Lot # 71861 (expires Aug. 31, 2027)
What to do if you have recalled products
Walgreens said in a statement to USA TODAY on Nov. 26 that the FDA told its supplier – the Philadelphia-based Medical Products Laboratories – to issue the recall “out of an abundance of caution.”
The company said customers who have the product should stop using it and take it back to Walgreens for a full refund.
The company added that “the safety of our customers remains our top priority.”
The recall has been classified as Class II by the FDA. Class II recalls are issued when customers who use or are exposed to the products may suffer temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences, according to the agency.
The recall number is D-0179-2026, according to the FDA’s website.
This story has been updated to remove a video.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Walgreens nasal spray recalled over bacteria contamination
