Henkel, the German company behind Tec Italy hair products, has issued an immediate recall of 1,068 bottles of Tec Italy Shampoo for Dry and Damaged Hair after discovering contamination with Klebsiella oxytoca, a bacterium that can cause serious infections if it spreads beyond the digestive system. While it’s usually harmless, in certain cases it can lead to pneumonia, sepsis, or UTIs, with bloodstream infections showing a 10 to 20% fatality rate.
The affected bottles belong to Lot Code 1G27542266 with an expiration date of May 27, 2027, and were distributed to salons in the U.S. through selected distributors. No illnesses have been reported yet, but consumers are urged to stop using the product, verify the lot number, and request a refund through their distributor.
The recall has been classified as Class II, which means it poses a moderate health risk, particularly for individuals with compromised immune systems. Notably, this isn’t Tec Italy’s first brush with contamination, the brand also recalled its Tonico Shampoo in January 2025 due to the presence of E. coli. Consumers are encouraged to stay updated through FDA recall alerts.
