The voluntary recall covers certain 8.5-ounce and 33.8-ounce bottles sold in the United States and Canada.
CINCINNATI, Ohio — Kao USA has recalled select lots of Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo after testing detected Pluralibacter gergoviae bacteria in products sold in the United States and Canada, federal recall records show.
The voluntary recall, announced July 1, affects only specific lots of the luxury hair care product in two bottle sizes, not the full Oribe shampoo line. The company said the bacteria poses little medical risk to healthy people, but people with weakened immune systems or certain health issues may be more likely to develop an infection. The recall has immediate consequences for retailers, salons and consumers who may have affected bottles in stock or at home.
Kao USA said the affected products were manufactured between Feb. 21 and Feb. 26, 2026. The recall includes Oribe Serene Scalp Densifying Shampoo in 8.5-ounce bottles with UPC 840035231242 and lot code YR010556. It also includes 33.8-ounce bottles with UPC 840035231273 and lot codes YR010566 and YR010576. The lot codes are printed in black on the bottom of the bottles and begin with the prefix YR. Kao USA said the recall is limited to those lots while it continues to investigate the scope of the contamination. “Further investigation to confirm the scope of the issue is still ongoing,” the company said in its recall announcement.
The product is part of Oribe’s Serene Scalp line, which is marketed as a shampoo for thinning hair. The recall notice identifies the product type as cosmetics and lists the reason as possible contamination with Pluralibacter gergoviae. The bacterium has been linked to contamination concerns in personal care products because it can survive in some cosmetic environments. Federal recall records do not state that illnesses have been confirmed in connection with the shampoo. The company said the bacteria “pose little medical risk to healthy people,” but it also said those with weakened immune systems may be more susceptible to infection. Kao USA said all affected products should be removed from use, regardless of a person’s health status.
Kao USA said it is working with federal regulators to recall the affected lots from company warehouses. The company also asked retail and salon partners to remove the recalled bottles from use or sale and return them for safe disposal. That step expands the recall beyond home bathrooms and into professional settings, where large bottles of shampoo may be used on multiple clients. The company’s recall covers both the United States and Canada. Retailers and salons were asked to check inventory against the affected UPCs and lot codes, then pull matching products. The recall does not list other Oribe products, other Serene Scalp products or other shampoo lots as affected.
The recall follows the standard process used when a company removes a product because it may present a risk or defect. In this case, the recall was initiated by Kao USA and posted by federal regulators as a public safety notice. The notice says the recall was based on detection of the bacteria, but it does not identify the exact point in production where contamination occurred. It also does not say how many bottles were distributed, how many stores or salons received the lots, or whether all recalled products had already reached consumers. Those details remain unknown as the company’s investigation continues.
Kao USA’s announcement gave consumers a path to report problems and seek a replacement. The company said consumers with affected products may contact the Kao Professional Hair Technical Hotline at 800-333-2442 or email oribecomplaints@kao.com. The company said those contacts may be used to arrange for a replacement or report adverse events tied to use of the product. The recall notice also said the company is coordinating with regulators and salon and retail partners. No hearing, court filing or enforcement action was listed in the recall notice, and no formal penalty was announced with the July 1 recall.
The recall drew attention because Oribe is a high-end hair care brand often sold through salons, beauty retailers and the company’s own sales channels. Public reports noted that the affected 8.5-ounce bottle is priced at about $52, while the larger bottle costs much more. The brand’s premium status helped the recall spread quickly across lifestyle, beauty and local news sites after the federal notice was posted. Still, the recall itself remains narrow. It applies only to the named product, bottle sizes, UPCs and lot codes. Federal records do not describe a broader recall of all Oribe shampoos or all Kao USA hair care products.
The company said its work now centers on removing affected products from circulation and confirming the scope of the problem. Retailers and salons have been asked to return recalled lots for safe disposal, while the company continues to review the issue. As of July 8, the public recall notice remained focused on three lot codes manufactured over six days in February.
Author note: Last updated July 8, 2026.