Over 1,000 shampoo bottles recalled for containing deadly bacteria
More than 1,000 bottles of a popular imported shampoo have been recalled for having a bacteria that can be deadly.
Henkel recalled 1,068 units of its Tec Italy branded shampoo conditioner for dry and damaged hair after it tested positive for contamination by the Klebsiella oxytoca bacteria.
Klebsiella oxytoca is found naturally in the intestinal tract, nose and mouth and are considered healthy, but outside of the gut can lead to serious infections, according to Healthline. A study of patients very ill from the bacteria found a 21% mortality rate at 14 days, Medscape reported.
The company based in Germany sent the affected 33.81-ounce bottles to three distributors in the US – C & R Beauty, Caesar’s Professional Products Inc and Vero Beauty Distributors, according to a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcement.
Those distributors then provided them to salons that sold them to customers.
‘Firm is working with 3 importer/distributors to obtain downstream customer sales info,’ wrote the FDA.
Henkel issued the voluntary recall on February 12 and the FDA on Thursday gave it Class II designation, indicating that consumers in contact with the product can experience temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences.
Affected products were shipped from the company’s facility in Huisquilucan, Mexico. The brand is sold by retailers including Walmart, Target and Amazon.
They have the universal product code 7501438375850, lot code 1G27542266 and expiration date of May 27, 2027.
Tec Italy states on its website: ‘We dreamed, developed and created a strong brand on a highly competitive industry.
‘Through innovative strategies and total support to our clients, we achieved a dynamic and different hair care line that combines the highest technology and best value.’
The announcement comes just weeks after L’Oreal recalled its Effaclar Duo acne treatment cream and cleanser sold under the La Roche-Posay brand, for possibly containing benzoyl peroxide, which can break down into benzene. Benzene can cause cancer and high levels of exposure for long periods of time can lead to leukemia.
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