Comesa Warns Consumers Over Contaminated Woolworths Shampoo

The COMESA Competition and Consumer Commission has issued an urgent regional consumer alert warning citizens across member states, including Zambia, to exercise caution regarding a recalled batch of Woolworths’ WBeauty Complete Clarifying Shampoo. The voluntary product recall was triggered following routine internal quality assurance assessments by the South African retail giant, which detected the presence of Pluralibacter gergoviae—an opportunistic bacterium typically thriving in wet manufacturing environments. While the 250ml clarifying shampoo bottles were primarily distributed to select markets including Eswatini, Mauritius, and Zambia, regulatory authorities have emphasized that cross-border trade may have inadvertently facilitated wider circulation within the broader Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) trade bloc. Consequently, the regional commission invoked its regulatory powers under consumer protection frameworks to ensure proactive market surveillance and public safety compliance. Health experts note that while healthy individuals face minimal risk from Pluralibacter gergoviae, the bacterium can pose significant infection hazards for vulnerable consumers, particularly those with weakened immune systems, underlying medical conditions, or broken skin barriers. Symptoms or complications can range from localized skin irritations to more severe opportunistic infections if exposed. In response to these risks, regulatory bodies are strongly advising anyone currently possessing the specified batch to immediately discontinue use. Zambian consumers who purchased the impacted WBeauty shampoo variant have been directed to return the item to their nearest Woolworths retail outlet. In alignment with corporate recall guidelines, affected customers are entitled to a full refund, and retailers have confirmed that proof of purchase or till slips will not be mandatory to process the returns. Local consumer protection advocates have welcomed the swift