Walmart Aromatherapy Spray Lawsuit

Two people died, including a child, after being infected by a rare and deadly bacteria from India in Walmart’s Better Homes and Gardens Aromatherapy Room Spray.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Walmart aromatherapy induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with melioidosis after using Better Homes and Gardens Aromatherapy Room Spray, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Walmart Aromatherapy Spray Linked to Rare & Deadly Infections

On October 22, Walmart recalled about 3,900 bottles of an aromatherapy spray due to a “rare and dangerous” bacteria that caused 2 deaths. The product — Better Homes and Gardens® Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones — was manufactured in India, where the bacteria is commonly found.

Infections Reported in Kansas, Minnesota, Texas and Georgia

Infections were reported in Kansas, Minnesota, Texas and Georgia. Two people died, including a child. They all developed a rare disease called melioidosis, which is caused by a bacteria that is commonly found in countries with tropical or subtropical climates. People can become infected by breathing or swallowing the bacteria.

CDC Finds Deadly Bacteria in Aromatherapy Spray

Bacteria found in bottles of Walmart’s aromatherapy spray matches the strain of bacteria that sickened 4 people, according to the CDC Health Update. The outbreak strain was found in a bottle of “Lavender & Chamomile” scented spray from the home of a Georgia resident who was infected and died.

Was I Exposed?

You were exposed to the dangerous bacteria in this product if you:

were in the room while the product is being sprayed
directly “sniffed” or inhaled from the product bottle
had direct contact with an item (such as pillowcases or other linens) on which the product had been sprayed

Symptoms of Melioidosis

Melioidosis, also called Whitmore’s disease, can cause different symptoms on a case-by-case basis. The following characteristics are typical, depending on the location of the infection:

Local skin infection: Fever, muscle aches, ulcer, nodule, or skin abscess.
Lung infection: High fever, headache, chest pain, loss of appetite and weight loss (anorexia), and general muscle soreness.
Bloodstream infection: Fever, headache, respiratory distress, abdominal discomfort, joint pain, muscle tenderness, or disorientation.
Disseminated infection: Fever, neurological symptoms (e.g., altered mental status, headache, seizure, extremity weakness), muscle or joint pain, weight loss, or stomach or chest pain. Abscesses in the liver, lung, spleen, and prostate are often observed in patients diagnosed with disseminated infections; brain abscesses may also be seen.

Where Was the Recalled Aromatherapy Spray Sold?

The recalled aromatherapy spray was sold for about $4 at about 55 Walmart stores and online between February and October 21, 2021, when Walmart pulled the product out of stores and its website.

The following products are affected by the recall:

84140411420 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lavender & Chamomile
84140411421 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lemon and Mandarin
84140411422 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lavender
84140411423 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Peppermint
84140411424 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Lime & Eucalyptus
84140411425 Better Homes and Gardens (BHG) Gem Room Spray Sandalwood and Vanilla

Aromatherapy Spray Tests Positive for Deadly Bacteria

The recalled aromatherapy spray was made in India, where the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei is far more common. In the U.S., only about a dozen cases of melioidosis are reported every year, mostly among people who have traveled to Southeast Asia or Northern Australia.

Laboratory testing by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identified the bacteria Burkholderia pseutomallei in the aromatherapy spray — the same strain that infected 4 people in the U.S. The spray was found in the home of a person in Georgia who was sickened with melioidosis in late July 2021.

What Should I Do?

Consumers should not use — or even open — the recalled aromatherapy spray. It should NOT be thrown out in the regular trash. Instead, consumers should put on gloves, double-bag the bottles in two zip-top plastic bags, and put the product in a small cardboard box.

Return the double-bagged and boxed spray bottle to Walmart for a refund, plus a $20 Walmart gift card.

Consumers should also try to disinfect their homes. Any surfaces or fabrics that may have been sprayed should be wiped down or washed. Wash sheets or linens using normal laundry detergent and dry completely in a hot dryer. Bleach can be used if desired.

What Should I Do If I Have Symptoms?

If you used the recalled aromatherapy spray within the past 21 days and have fever or other melioidosis symptoms, seek medical care and tell your doctor you were exposed to the spray.

If you do not have symptoms, but you were exposed to the product in the last 7 days, your doctor may recommend that you get antibiotics (post-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent infection.

What is Burkholderia pseudomallei?

Burkholderia pseuromallei is a bacteria that causes melioidosis, also known as Whitmore’s Disease. The disease may cause symptoms like tuberculosis or necrotizing pneumonia.

The disease is endemic in Southeast Asia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, and northern Australia. B. pseudomallei is found in wet soil, vegetation, and water, with more than 75% of cases happening during the rainy season in tropical climates.

B. Pseudomallei Infections Cause Melioidosis Disease

Infections with B. pseudomallei have an incubation period of 1 to 21 days, or an average of 9 days from the time a person is infected with the bacteria until they show symptoms. These symptoms can last for months, causing a condition called “chronic melioidosis.” In the lungs, this disease may look identical to tuberculosis.

Symptoms of Melioidosis Can Last for Months

Chronic melioidosis is usually defined as the presence of symptoms for at least 2 months. These symptoms may include a fever, weight loss, and productive cough (with or without coughing up blood). People with a chronic disease may have nodules or cavities in their lungs that can resemble tuberculosis on a chest radiograph.

Symptoms Can Look Like Tuberculosis, With 20-40% Risk of Death

“Patients may be entirely asymptomatic (i.e., abnormal radiograph only) or present with an illness clinically and radiographically indistinguishable from tuberculosis. … The overall mortality has ranged from 20–40% with higher rates associated with sepsis and [central nervous system] disease,” according to a report in Infectious Diseases (Fourth Edition), 2017.

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