Woolworths product pulled from shelves in South Africa
Woolworths has pulled a WBeauty shampoo from shelves in South Africa after testing found a bacterium in a limited batch of the product.
The retailer said it was voluntarily recalling WBeauty Complete Clarifying Shampoo, sold in a 250ml bottle, with immediate effect as part of its quality assurance processes.
According to Woolworths, an initial issue was identified with a limited batch, prompting additional testing.
Further tests detected the presence of Pluralibacter gergoviae, a bacterium that can sometimes be found in wet manufacturing environments.
“While the risk to healthy individuals is considered low, customers with weakened immune systems are advised to discontinue use of the product to avoid possible bacterial infection,” Woolworths said.
The retailer has removed the affected shampoo from its stores and is asking customers who purchased the product to return it to their nearest Woolworths store.
“Customers will receive a full refund and do not need to provide proof of purchase,” Woolworths said.
The recalled product is the WBeauty Complete Clarity, also described as a deep-cleansing, clarifying shampoo.
The product is designed to remove product build-up and excess oil, with ingredients including witch hazel, apple cider vinegar, activated charcoal and rose geranium oil.
The shampoo forms part of Woolworths’ WBeauty haircare range, which includes targeted formulas generally priced at about R199.
Woolworths said the WBeauty range is manufactured in accordance with its Good Beauty Principles, which cover areas such as formulation, ingredient sourcing, testing, and manufacturing practices.
The products are formulated without sulphates, parabens, and mineral oil, and the range uses a combination of locally sourced ingredients, African botanicals, and cosmetic ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and peptides.
Woolworths also said that its beauty formulas are assessed by qualified independent toxicologists and accredited laboratories, and dermatologically tested for sensitive skin.
The retailer said its manufacturing practices also adhere to vegan-friendly processing standards and are certified by Beauty Without Cruelty, which requires products to be made without animal testing.
Product safety is critically important
All WBeauty haircare products are locally produced in South Africa.
It prioritises local manufacturing to support regional supply chains and reduce the environmental impact associated with transporting products over long distances.
The recall highlights the importance of quality-control testing for personal-care products, particularly those manufactured in environments where moisture can provide conditions in which certain bacteria may occur.
“Woolworths prides itself on exceptionally high standards, and we go to great lengths to ensure every item we produce is of the quality our customers expect,” the retailer said.
“Product safety is critically important to us, and the well-being of our customers is our first priority.”
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