Better Homes & Garden aromatherapy spray linked to 4 cases of illness and 2 deaths

Testing at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has determined that the bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei was in an aromatherapy room spray used in the home of a Georgia resident, a child, who was infected with and died from a Burkholderia pseudomallei infection called melioidosis in July 2021. This Georgia patient was the fourth melioidosis case since March 2021. The other cases were in Kansas, Minnesota, and Texas.

Based on genomic analysis, the four cases in Georgia, Kansas, Minnesota, and Texas closely match, indicating they all most likely share a common source of exposure, grouped closely with strains from South Asia. None of the people with the infection had traveled outside of the continental United States.

The first case, which was fatal, was identified in March 2021 in Kansas. The second and third cases, identified in May 2021 in Minnesota and Texas, were hospitalized for extended periods before being discharged to transitional care facilities. In the July 2021 case in Georgia, the patient died in the hospital, with melioidosis identified as a cause of death in post-mortem testing.

Initial symptoms for these four cases ranged from cough and shortness of breath to weakness, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, intermittent fever, and rash on the trunk, abdomen, and face. Symptoms of melioidosis may include pneumonia, abscess formation, blood infections, and neurological involvement. Due to its nonspecific symptoms, melioidosis can initially be mistaken for other diseases.

The contaminated product was identified, by positive polymerase chain reaction ("PCR") assay, is the Better Homes and Gardens brand Essential Oil Infused Aromatherapy Room Spray with Gemstones “Lavender & Chamomile” scent, manufactured in India.

The spray was sold at a limitied number of Walmart stores and online marketplaces between February and October 21, 2021. This product was removed from stores and online marketplaces on October 21, 2021. The five other scents under the same brand were removed from Walmart marketplaces, as well. The other scents are Lemon & Mandarin, Lavender, Peppermint, Lime & Eucalyptus and Sandalwood & Vanilla). Testing will be conducted on these additional scents as well.

Recommendations for Consumers

People who have the Better Homes & Gardens Aromatherapy Room Spray “Lavender & Chamomile” with Gemstones product, or any of the other recalled scents with Gemstones (including Lemon & Mandarin, Lavender, Peppermint, Lime & Eucalyptus, and Sandalwood & Vanilla) in their homes should take the following precautions:

Stop using this product immediately.
Do not open the bottle.
Do not throw away or dispose of the bottle in the regular trash.
Double bag the bottle in clean, clear zip-top bags and place in a cardboard box.
Return the bagged and boxed product to a Walmart store.
Wash sheets or linens that the product may have been sprayed on using normal laundry detergent and dry completely in a hot dryer; bleach can be used if desired.
Wipe down counters and surfaces that might have the spray on them with undiluted PineSol or a similar disinfectant.
Limit direct handling of the spray bottle and wash hands thoroughly after touching the bottle or linens. If gloves were used, wash hands afterward.
If you used the product within the past 21 days and develop a fever or other melioidosis symptoms, you should seek medical care and inform your doctor about your exposure to the spray. If you do not have symptoms but were exposed to the product in the last 7 days, your doctor may recommend that you get antibiotics to prevent infection.