FDA warns of contaminated tattoo ink

Contaminated tattoo ink that was recalled in July may have reached distributors and poses the potential for skin infections and other health problems, the Food and Drug Administration has warned.

Tattoo kits marketed by White and Blue Lion were recalled July 11 due to contamination but may have reached distributors. The tattoo ink packaging is marked with a dragon logo but lack the name and address of the manufacturer, the FDA states. The ink had been sold in single units and in kits with as few as five and as many as 54 bottles of ink of various colors. Containers were marked with “Lotch” (sic) and Batch numbers, as well as “Date produced” and “Best if used by” dates.

The recalls were issued after the FDA tested samples of the inks and kits and found they contained bacteria that could cause serious infections. There has been one confirmed case of skin infection in a consumer who used the affected White and Blue Lion tattoo products.

The FDA advises anyone who has recently gotten a tattoo and is experiencing redness, swelling, blemishes, weeping wounds or excessive pain at the tattoo site to seek medical care immediately.