Recall: Tattoo Pigment Sold on Amazon Contaminated with Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria
A recall has been issued for tattoo pigment sold nationwide, including Indiana & Kentucky, through mega-online retailer, Amazon after is was found to be contaminated with "high concentrations of microorganisms which present a health concern to consumers."
A company out of Carson City, Nevada, by the name of Sierra Stain LLC, has issued a recall for three of its water-based tattoo pigments. The recalled products are contaminated with eight different microorganisms that can cause a whole host of issues.
Commonly reported symptoms of tattoo ink associated infections include the appearance of rashes or lesions consisting of red papules solely in areas where the contaminated ink has been applied. Some tattoo infections can result in permanent scarring. Symptoms can be difficult to recognize, as other conditions (e.g. allergic reactions) may also present with similar findings.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, these products should not be sold or used. In fact, the FDA says the recalled products should be disposed of in a sharps container or other biohazard container.
The recalled products which include water-based pigments in "Carolina Blue," All Purpose Black," UV China Pink" were sold online under the brand name "Bloodline Inks." The products were manufactured in June and July of 2023 and are marked with the following manufacturing codes:
- Batch #1 Lot BL23
- Batch #1 LotSC23
The FDA says the products are contaminated with the following microorganisms:
- Citrobacter braakii - a gram-negative (drug resistant) bacteria
- Citrobacter farmeri - a gram-negative (drug resistant) bacteria
- Pseudomonas fluorescens - a gram-negative (drug resistant) bacteria
- Achromobacter xylosoxidans - a gram-negative (drug resistant) bacteria
- Ochrobactrum anthropic - a gram-negative (drug resistant) bacteria
- Cupriavidus pauculus - a gram-negative (drug resistant) bacteria
- Acetobacter senegalensis - a gram-negative (drug resistant) bacteria
- Curtobacterium citreum/pusillum - a gram-positive bacteria
Seven of the eight identified microorganism detected in the products are gram-negative bacteria, meaning that they are resistant to antibiotic treatments.
If you have received a tattoo using any of these recalled pigments, you should consider reporting your injury to MedWatch: FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program. The FDA says that consumers with questions regarding product safety should submit an inquiry, or to visit www.fda.gov/fcic for more information.
Bloodline Inks and Sierra Stain LLC are no longer in operation and are no longer manufacturing tattoo ink products. Consumers who have questions may try contacting them at sierrastain@gmail.com.
[Source: FDA]
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