{
  "id": 7283515,
  "title": "Africa: Comesa Warns Consumers Over Contaminated Woolworths Shampoo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/africa-comesa-warns-consumers-over-contaminated-woolworths-shampoo",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-14T09:04:39.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica Health",
    "slug": "allafrica-health",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202609140174.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Nairobi — The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has issued a warning to consumers throughout the region regarding a recalled batch of Woolworths WBeauty Complete Clarifying Shampoo that may contain harmful bacteria. The South African retailer recalled the 250ml shampoo after detection of Pluralibacter gergoviae, a bacterium commonly found in wet manufacturing environments. Steven Kamukama, the Director of Consumer Welfare and Advocacy at the COMESA Commission, stated that this bacterium could potentially pose a risk of infection to individuals with weakened immune systems. The affected shampoo was distributed in Eswatini, Zambia, and Mauritius, but the Commission cautioned that the product could have entered other COMESA markets via cross-border trade. In accordance with Regulation 66 of the COMESA Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations, 2025, the Commission is urging consumers who may have purchased the contaminated batch to cease use and return the product to the nearest Woolworths store for a full refund. The Commission remains committed to collaborating with Woolworths, regional authorities, and other stakeholders to safeguard consumer safety and ensure the successful execution of the recall. This warning follows Woolworths' recent entry into Kenya's beauty market with the launch of a beauty section at its Sarit Centre store in Nairobi, called The Beauty Pad, which stocks premium brands such as Fenty Beauty, Chanel fragrances, The Ordinary, and Laneige.",
  "summary": "[Capital FM] Nairobi -- The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has warned consumers across the region about a recalled batch of Woolworths' WBeauty Complete Clarifying Shampoo over possible bacterial contamination.",
  "key_points": [
    "COMESA warns consumers about contaminated Woolworths shampoo",
    "Pluralibacter gergoviae bacterium detected in recalled batch",
    "Consumers advised to return product for full refund"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}