Art World
Paint Manufacturer Sargent Art Recalls 2.8 Million Units in Contamination Scare
The company discovered heightened levels of bacteria.
The paint manufacturer Sargent Art is recalling over 2.8 million units of its products in the United States over fears of bacterial contamination. The contamination may also affect an additional 20,000 units in Canada.
Sargent Art indicated that “a routine quality control inspection” revealed “elevated levels of bacteria in certain products.” On Tuesday the Pennsylvania-based company issued a recall over health concerns associated with some of their paints.
According to the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission the contamination affects 13 types of Sargent’s Art Tempera and Finger Paints in a variety of different colors and sizes, all of which were manufactured and distributed between May 2015, and June 10, 2016.
In a recall statement published on its website, Sargent Art wrote, “The paint can contain harmful bacteria. Exposure to certain bacteria can have adverse health effects in immunocompromised individuals, posing a risk of serious illness including a bacterial infection. Consumers with healthy immune systems are not generally affected by the bacteria.”
The recall statement advises consumers to stop using affected products immediately, and to contact the company for a full refund. According to the company’s website, there have been no reported incidents or injuries so far.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission emphasized that the recall was conducted voluntarily by the company.
Sargent Art is primarily known as a supplier of inexpensive children’s and classroom art supplies, which means the recall is unlikely to have a significant effect on the fine artists whose work we see in art galleries in New York, Los Angeles London, Berlin, and other global art capitals.
Go to Sargent Art’s website to see the list of affected products.
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