Clorox Bleaches $14 Million: Giant Fined Over Safety Snafus
Published Date: 1/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The Clorox Company agreed to pay a $14.15 million fine to settle safety concerns raised by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This deal affects Clorox and aims to make sure their products meet safety rules. People can share their thoughts on this agreement until February 11, 2026.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Clorox Pays $14.15M Civil Penalty
The Clorox Company agreed to pay a civil penalty of $14,150,000.00. That payment must be made within thirty (30) calendar days after service of the Commission's final Order accepting the Agreement, and unpaid amounts will accrue interest at the federal legal rate under 28 U.S.C. 1961(a) and (b) and may be collected by the United States.
Pine Sol Products May Contain Pseudomonas
The settlement describes that Pine Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners (about 440 million units distributed between 2009 and 2022, including about 37 million units produced January 2021–September 2022) may contain bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and that exposure can pose a risk of serious infection to people with weakened immune systems or external medical devices. A voluntary recall of the Subject Products was jointly announced on October 25, 2022.
New Compliance, Testing, and Reporting Rules
Clorox must implement and maintain a written compliance program with specific elements, including protocols to prevent, detect, remediate, and report bacterial contamination in Pine Sol Scented Multi-Surface Cleaners; an annual internal audit; and retention of CPSA compliance records for at least five (5) years. Clorox must also submit sworn Section 16(b) reports annually for three (3) years (first report due 30 days after the close of the first 12-month reporting period that begins on the date of the Commission's Final Order) and provide quarterly documentation of any changes during the reporting period.
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