Kleenex-brand Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer is under recall because of microbial contamination.

Health Canada said Thursday that product tests by manufacturer Kimberly-Clark Professional Corporation detected bacteria that may pose health risks to people with weakened immune systems, especially those with cystic fibrosis.

The recalled Kleenex-brand Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer is sold in 1 litre and 1.2 litre containers.The recalled Kleenex-brand Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer is sold in 1 litre and 1.2 litre containers. (Courtesy Kimberly-Clark Professional Corporation )

The product is sold in 1 litre and 1.2 litre containers and is used in large dispensers in public areas and workplaces.

The bacteria in the tested samples were Burkholderia cepacia, which pose little risk to healthy people but can cause serious problems such as pneumonia and blood infections in people with weakened immune systems.

The recall affects about 430 containers that were distributed to retail stores and wholesalers across Canada.

Health Canada said companies or individuals who’ve bought the affected product should remove it from use.

Consumers with compromised immune systems should not use the affected Kleenex sanitizer or any sanitizing product that can't be identified from its dispenser, the regulator advised.

The affected products are:

  • Kleenex Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer (Benzalkonium Chloride,0.1%), 1,000 ml manual cassette (used in manual dispensers) with Drug Identification Number: 02366045; lot number SA1229ANB.
  • Kleenex Luxury Foam Hand Sanitizer (Benzalkonium Chloride, 0.1%), 1,200 ml E-Cassette (used in electronic dispensers) with Drug Identification Number: 02366045; lot number SA1229ANA.

People can get more information about the recall by calling Kimberly-Clark Professional Corp. toll-free at 1-888-346-4652.