Neutrogena Recalls Makeup Remover Wipes Over Bacterial Contamination

Kenvue Brands LLC has recalled 1,312 cases of Neutrogena makeup remover wipes after the product tested positive for a potentially harmful bacterium, according to the FDA.

Rudy Blalock

Published: 10/26/2025, 8:58:44 PM EDT

Neutrogena Recalls Makeup Remover Wipes Over Bacterial Contamination — A Neutrogena sign on a store shelf in San Jose, Calif., in July 2021. (Shutterstock)

Kenvue Brands LLC has recalled 1,312 cases of Neutrogena makeup remover wipes after the product tested positive for a potentially harmful bacterium, according to the FDA.

The recall affects Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes 50-count, sold in two packages of 25, that are plant-based compostable towelettes. Each case contains 12 units of the 50-count packages. The affected product bears lot number 1835U6325A and was distributed for sale in Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

The New Jersey-based company initiated the voluntary recall on Sept. 19 after an internal investigation discovered that the product tested positive for the bacterium Pluralibacter gergoviae. The FDA classified the recall as Class II on Oct. 3 and the recall remains ongoing.

According to the FDA, a Class II recall involves "a situation in which use of or exposure to a violative product may cause temporary or medically reversible adverse health consequences or where the probability of serious adverse health consequences is remote."

Pluralibacter gergoviae, formerly known as Enterobacter gergoviae, presents particular challenges for the cosmetics industry due to its resistance to many standard preservatives, according to Melbec Microbiology, a United Kingdom-based testing laboratory.

While infections in healthy individuals are uncommon, the bacterium can cause severe health problems in people with weakened immune systems, chronic illnesses, or those recovering from surgery. The organism has been associated with respiratory diseases, urinary tract infections, eye infections, and sepsis.

Pluralibacter gergoviae has led to multiple product recalls across Europe, Melbec Microbiology reported. Safety Gate, Europe's rapid alert system for consumer products, has documented several cases where skin creams, makeup, and shampoos were contaminated with the bacterium, posing dangers for people with weakened immune systems.

Britain's Office for Product Safety and Standards recently recalled a shampoo that didn't meet safety rules under the Cosmetic Products Enforcement Regulations 2013, because it contained or potentially contained the same bacterium.

Although standard safety tests for cosmetics don't specifically look for Pluralibacter gergoviae, experts say the bacterium should be treated as dangerous and kept out of beauty products completely. Companies need to regularly test cosmetic products, ingredients, and factories for the presence of this bacterium.

At In-Cosmetics Global 2025, which took place in Amsterdam in April, experts addressed the growing threat posed by Pluralibacter gergoviae and similar bacteria that can survive preservatives, according to Thor Group, a chemical manufacturer.

These bacteria are causing more product recalls and safety problems because they can survive the chemicals meant to kill germs and create sticky films that are hard to remove, especially in products that use only natural acids as preservatives.

Common industry safety tests often miss tough bacteria like Pluralibacter gergoviae because labs don't always check for the specific germ, which means contaminated products can be approved for sale without anyone knowing they contain harmful bacteria.

Kenvue Brands, formerly Johnson & Johnson's Consumer Health division, did not issue a press release for this recall, according to the FDA report.