Thursday, July 02, 2009

Bring Back My Equate Medicated Acne Gel!

Pardon the personal and embarrassing nature of this post. For years, I have used Equate: Medicated Acne Gel (10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Cream) which I purchase at Wal-Mart for about $1.86 and came in a 1 oz. tube with a pink label. For the last few months, I haven't been able to buy it at any Wal-Mart stores as it is always out of stock. After months of searching Wal-Mart stores, I found out that the product has been recalled due to a bacteria-tainted sample. Equate: Medicated Acne Gel, which is manufactured by CSI USA, Inc. of Gallatin, TN, and sold at Wal-Mart, Dollar General, and Kroger stores, was found to have the "Burkholderia Cepacia bacteria, which is also known as Pseudomonas Cepacia." Yikes! Apparently I'm not the only one who loves this product, and can't find it anymore. I'm glad CSI USA, Inc. has issued the recall on themselves, but I hope that they clean it up and get it back on the shelf soon before I get mistaken for a 13 year-old. (What? I have an oily T-zone, OK?)

Here is the content of the recall from the FDA's site:

PRODUCT
10% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel marketed under the following brand labels: 1) Equate Maximum Strength, 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Gel, 28g (Net Wt 1 oz); 2) Kroger Acne Gel, 10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Medication, Net Wt 1 oz (28g); 3) DG Maximum strength, Acne Medicated Gel, 10% Benzoyl Peroxide, Net Wt 1oz (28g); and 4) Hill Country Essentials, Medicated Acne Gel,10% Benzoyl Peroxide Acne Medication, Net Wt 1 oz (28g); Recall # D-129-2009
CODE
All lots
RECALLING FIRM/MANUFACTURER
CSI USA, Inc., Gallatin, TN, by letters on October 31, 2008 and November 13, 2008 and by press release on November 13, 2008. Firm initiated recall is ongoing.
REASON
Product may contain the bacteria Burkholderia cepacia.
VOLUME OF PRODUCT IN COMMERCE
741,314 units
DISTRIBUTION
Nationwide

(Sources: Aboutlawsuits, Acne.org, FDA)

18 comments:

  1. Guess you'll have to go for the name brand stuff.

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  2. I bought some name-brand stuff, but it wasn't the same, and didn't help.

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  3. I found a product called Zapzyt (nice name), that I'm going to try. It's a 10% Benzoyl Peroxide gel that could do quite well.

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  4. My husband went to 4 walmart stores trying to find the gel for me..Of course I was out of luck so I bought a name brand that not only doesn't work but, costs more and the tube was smaller..When are they bringing the Equate brand back? Has anyone else found something that works? Oxy brand does not work for me even though it has 10%bp...

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  5. ok thanxx for this information because i was looking for their acne gel and coulndt find it. i thought it was just at the wal-mart i shop at, but apparently not. anywho its good they took it off the shelves, but it sucks too because this seems to be the only product that works for me[even tho i have to use it everyday], so i hope they bring it back soon!!
    im already starting to break out again

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  6. I've had great luck with "Zapzyt". It's just as good, if not better than, the Equate acne gel. You can usually buy it at Wal-Mart in the same section. It's not as cheap as the Equate acne gel, but it certainly does the job!

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  7. OMG!!! YOU GUYS USE THE ACNE MEDICATED GEL TOO!!!! I HAVE USED IT FOREVER AND I LOVE IT. IT'S SO CHEAP AND IT WORKS WONDERS. I WOULD PUT IT ON EVERY NIGHT. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND FOR A MONTHNOW. I DECIDED TO GOOGLE IT AND THOUGHT I MIGHT COULD ALSO GET IT AT WALMART.COM. LITTLE DID I KNOW IT HAD BEEN RECALLED!!!!! I'M SO GLAD I KNOW NOW. I HOPE THEY BRING I BACK AND DON'T DISCONTINUE IT. THEY'LL PROBALLY BRING IT BACK IN A WHOLE NEW PACKAGE AND GIE IT A WHOLE NEW LOOK. WE CAN ONLY WONDER. IF IT DOES COME BACK, I WILL BE STOCKING UP ON IT.

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  8. Thanks for the info. I have been searching for it in the stores everywhere for the last few months with no luck. I hope Wal-Mart brings the product back. It was the best for skin care!

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  9. I've been wondering what happened to the gel for months. I asked in the store and the lady had no idea, even after checking with her scanner. My son and I use it a lot! I probably had 6 bottles at home when they were taken off the selves, and we are just now out. Our local kmart has what seems like the identical product for $3.28. On the bottle it says made for kmart, so I'm not sure who manufactures it. Also, isn't benzoyl peroxide supposed to kill bacteria. I wonder what harm that bacteria does and is/was there any danger using the bottles we had already purchased. I never saw any notice at Wal Mart. Thank you for posting this info.

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  10. Yeah, $1.86. I too depended on the stuff for years. I hope those wonderful days return. So far, I paid around $5.00 at Walmart for the "AcneFree Acne and Blackhead Terminator" and have had about 5 zits when I wasn't having any with the cheap Equate stuff. I'll probably try the Zapzyt next, but I sure Walmart gets the old stuff back. Thanks for info.

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  11. I went to Wallyworld today and bought 4 boxes - they're $1.97 now, but still a bargain. They're back!!!!

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  12. no wonder i didn't find it at wal-mart
    why do they discontinue the stuff the actually works!?

    BRING THE EQUATE ACNE GEL BACK!

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  13. wow,what a small world! I have been looking for the equate brand for months now and have been paying almost 6 bucks for a ( now ) smaller tube of the name brand oxy which doesnt work near as good as the much cheaper equate. Hoping its back around here soon.

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  14. I too depend on equate acne CREAM. It is the only one that doen't burn my face. I keep looking at walmart with no luck. Sure wish they would bring it back.

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  15. It's been back in Walmart for about 4-5 months now...you should be able to find it.

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  16. WOW! I thought I was the only one. I've been looking for it for more than half a year. Seems i should find a wallyworld

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  17. OMG! i just started using this a few months ago and it worked so well. whenever i got a zit, i would put it on and it was gone quickly; i hardley ever had a noticeable pimple on my face. since i cannot find it any more, i have bought other products and none have worked as well as this one and i have been getting more acne on my forehead and nose. i hate it :(

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  18. Well, uhm, it's available now, so you should be able to find it at Walmart.

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