Recall Sparks Nationwide Warning for Dog Owners

Dog owners have been advised to request a refund for their purchases of Project Watson Eyelid Wipes after the pharmaceutical company behind the product received reports of bacteria growing inside the container.

According to a release from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bausch + Lomb has ordered a recall of 32,000 units of the eyelid wipes made for dogs over risk that unintended bacteria and fungi may grow while the product's container is open and in use. The substance could pose "a risk of serious infection to people with weakened immune systems" and those with wounds, the commission said. No illnesses have been reported in consumers or pets.

The company issued the recall after it received reports from seven consumers who saw "a substance developing in the container after the product had been opened and in use." The CPSC said that consumers should dispose of the recalled wipes in their household trash.

The recalled product can be identified by its lot numbers printed on the bottom of its circular container. The two numbers that have been recalled are A09050 and A10055. The wipes, which cost from $13 to $15, were sold at nationwide retailers including PetSmart, Walmart, Chewy.com and Amazon.com from February 2023 through March 2024.

Consumers who have purchased the recalled product should stop using the eyelid wipes immediately and request a refund through the website, eyelidwiperecall.com. The website requests that consumers send a photo of their product that includes a signature and the date written on the container. A full refund will be issued via U.S. mail in the form of a check.

A spokesperson for Bausch + Lomb said Wednesday that the company takes "consumer and pet safety seriously" and directed Newsweek to the CPSC release regarding the recall.

The recall notice from Bausch + Lomb, which was issued Thursday, comes the same week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recalled 29 different Palmer Candy Company products over fears that the candy may be contaminated with salmonella, which is the most common cause of food poisoning in the United States.

According to the FDA, Palmer Candy was warned by its supplier that it uses for the liquid coating on its white-coated items about the risk of salmonella. The products were sold in stores—including Walmart, HyVee, Target and Dollar General—in 17 states. A map of the states that have an active recall can be found here.

Nearly a dozen cheese products produced by HyVee and Schnucks were also recalled this week over fears that the items could contain salmonella. A total of nine states have an active recall in place over the products, which have been removed from store shelves.

Update 05/08/24, 6:09 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional comment from Bausch + Lomb.