COMESA warns consumers over contaminated Woolworths shampoo
Woolworths, a South African retailer, recalled the 250ml shampoo after it was found to be potentially contaminated with Pluralibacter gergoviae, a bacterium that can occur in wet manufacturing environments.
Nairobi, Kenya - The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a warning to consumers across the region regarding a recalled batch of Woolworths’ WBeauty Complete Clarifying Shampoo due to potential bacterial contamination. The South African retailer pulled the 250ml shampoo from shelves after it was found to possibly contain Pluralibacter gergoviae, a bacterium that thrives in damp manufacturing environments.
Steven Kamukama, COMESA's Director of Consumer Welfare and Advocacy, stated that the bacterium could pose a risk of infection to individuals with compromised or weakened immune systems. The affected batch was sold in Eswatini, Zambia, and Mauritius, though the Commission cautioned that the product might have entered other COMESA markets through cross-border trade.
In response, COMESA has urged consumers who may have purchased the recalled shampoo to cease use immediately and return it to the nearest Woolworths store for a full refund, as per the retailer's recall guidelines. The Commission will continue to collaborate with Woolworths, local authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure consumer safety and the successful execution of the recall.
This warning follows Woolworths' recent entry into Kenya's beauty market with the launch of The Beauty Pad at its Sarit Centre store in Nairobi, featuring premium brands such as Fenty Beauty, Chanel, The Ordinary, and Laneige.
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