It's a favorite among consumers as well as stylists, but the company has acknowledged it may harbor a contaminant that can lead to infection in some cases.
More Than 900,000 Bottles of a Popular Shampoo Brand Recalled in 31 States
Published on Jan. 10, 2025
There are so many haircare brands on the market that it takes something special for one to break out and establish itself as a favorite among consumers and professionals. One that’s been billed in the beauty industry as “a fun, accessible and affordable-luxury haircare brand” is navigating a high-volume recall, with the company revealing that some customers have reported undesirable reactions.
The recall, first announced by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in December 2024 and reposted on this week’s most recent FDA recall update report, affects “all sizes, all lots purchased in 2023 or 2024” of amika brand Mirrorball High Shine + Protect Antioxidant Shampoo. It’s possible these products are still in consumers’ use.
It’s reported the affected shampoos—reportedly 982,816 units in total—were sold in 31 states: Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, Mississippi, Illinois, Virginia, New Jersey, Washington, Delaware, Texas, Indiana, Ohio, California, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arizona, Nevada, Georgia, Missouri, Wisconsin, Florida, Minnesota, South Carolina, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Michigan, Alaska, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Utah. Walmart, Sephora, Amazon, and TJ Maxx, and Kohl’s are just a few popular retailers that have been known to carry amika, and the brand is also sold at some salons.
According to a statement on the company’s website, amika voluntarily launched the recall when the shampoo products were discovered to be contaminated. “We initiated this recall after determining that various production batches at our third-party manufacturing site do not meet our stringent quality standards, due to the presence or potential presence of a bacterium called P. Gergoviae,” they stated. “We have been monitoring recent feedback citing change in odor and in rare cases, temporary irritation,” the company has stated.
In a 2022 report, infectious disease researchers at Boston’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital explained that Pluralibacter Gergoviae is a bacteria that can be particularly problematic for personal care brands due to its resistance to antimicrobial agents and other preservatives added to cosmetic products. It’s been found that in some cases, exposure to P. Gergoviae can cause infection, perhaps especially in individuals with a weakened immune system or broken skin. (Broken skin on the scalp can occur due to dermatological conditions such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, which is a common condition that presents with symptoms that can be perceived as dandruff.)
However, the amika website notes that to date, there have been no reports of serious adverse health effects associated with the incident. “After consultation with an independent toxicology group, we are confident the use of this product does not pose a serious health or safety risk to healthy people,” they state.
The products were distributed by AMIKA LLC, a Brooklyn, New York-based company. They were sold in bottles with screw caps and bottles with flip tops, as well as foil pouches.
The risk level of the products have not yet been classified, but both the company and the FDA urge consumers not to use them—“even if the product does not appear to have a change in odor or quality issue,” amika’s team writes. They add that while no other amika products are directly affected by the recall, they recognize that the affected shampoos were sometimes sold alongside the Mirrorball High Shine + Protect Antioxidant Conditioner. “These two items may have been purchased together as a set, and we will gladly refund you for both products if desired,” they note.
As a remedy, the company says you may return the items with proof of purchase where you bought them, or visit the retailer website for instructions on how to return them for a full refund.
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