Kao USA issued an Oribe shampoo FDA recall on July 1 after finding Pluralibacter gergoviae in specific lots of Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo. The voluntary recall covers bottles sold in the United States and Canada, and the company said consumers should stop using the shampoo immediately.
The recall applies to both the 8.5-ounce and 33.8-ounce sizes. Kao USA said the shampoo was manufactured between February 21, 2026, and February 26, 2026, and that lot codes are printed on the bottom of the bottle.
Kao USA and Oribe
Kao USA posted the recall on the Food and Drug Administration website on July 1 and asked salons and retailers to return the shampoo for disposal. The company also said it is clearing its warehouses of the affected products.
That leaves customers with a practical check to make before they use the bottle again: size, lot code, and where it was sold. A bottle from the recalled sizes can be identified by looking at the bottom, where the lot code is printed.
Pluralibacter gergoviae
The recall centers on Pluralibacter gergoviae, a bacterium linked to respiratory diseases, urinary tract infections, eye infections, and sepsis. Kao USA said it rarely causes illness in healthy people, but it can make immunocompromised people, people with weakened immune systems, or people undergoing a surgical procedure sick.
That is why Kao USA told all users to stop using the shampoo now, even as the contamination scope remains under investigation. The company is taking complaints, questions, and replacement requests through 800-333-2442.
For anyone with one of the affected bottles, the immediate step is simple: stop using it, check the bottom for the lot code, and follow the recall instructions through the company’s contact line while the investigation continues.
