WBeauty shampoo recalled as alert expands after bacteria detected

Woolworths announced the voluntary recall on September 1, after quality checks and further analyses. The product had already been removed from shelves in South Africa. The South African National Consumer Commission relayed the information on September 3, identifying the product by the code 6009233284823. Customers who have the product should stop using it and can return it to the store for a full refund, without proof of purchase.

The product has been sold in South Africa since July 2025 and exported to Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Mauritius, Zambia, and Namibia, according to the NCC. The COMESA alert particularly targets Eswatini, Zambia, and Mauritius, while reminding that cross-border purchases can circulate a product beyond officially supplied markets.

The bacteria Pluralibacter gergoviae can be present in humid manufacturing environments. Woolworths assesses that the risk is low for healthy individuals but advises those with weakened immune systems to cease use to avoid potential bacterial infection.

For consumers, the detail to verify is the exact name and format. The recall concerns WBeauty Complete Clarifying Shampoo in 250 ml, associated with the code 6009233284823. The NCC does not require a receipt for returns.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration broadly reminds that cosmetics can be contaminated by microorganisms through water, raw materials, manufacturing conditions, or ineffective preservation systems. It recommends following recall notices and, in the event of an unusual reaction after using a cosmetic, to stop using the product and seek medical advice.

Woolworths has stated that it has removed the shampoo from its shelves. Inquiries related to the recall can be directed to the retailer’s customer service, while the NCC has published the official notice and the code to identify the affected product.