Body artists, take note: FDA warns of bacterial contamination in tattoo ink
Two kinds of tattoo inks are the subject of an FDA advisory after agency testing found they were “contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms.”
Those inks are lot No. RB0624, best by June 28, 2027, of Sacred Tattoo Ink’s Raven Black, and lot No. SD1124, best by Nov. 1, 2027, of Sacred Tattoo Ink’s Sunny Daze.
The bacterial contamination could include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a bacteria the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says “can be resistant to antibiotics.”
“Tattoo inks contaminated with pathogenic microorganisms can cause infections and lead to serious health injuries when injected into the skin during a tattooing procedure, since there is an increased risk of infection any time the skin barrier is broken,” the FDA advisory says.
“Commonly reported symptoms of tattoo-ink-associated infections include the appearance of rashes or lesions consisting of red papules in areas where the contaminated ink has been applied.”
What should you do?
If you’re getting a tat, ask the artist what ink they’re using. If they’re using either of the above lots of Sacred Tattoo Raven Black or Sunny Daze, demand another ink or walk away.
If you’re a tat artists or sell tat ink, don’t use or sell these inks.
If you’re a medical professional or customer, report any health issues from these through the FDA’s MedWatch Program.
This story was originally published May 8, 2025 at 3:01 PM with the headline "Body artists, take note: FDA warns of bacterial contamination in tattoo ink."
