With a product recall currently hitting the headlines, we have important advice to safeguard your brand from similar repercussions. To minimise the risk of product recalls and enhance your brand protection, it’s crucial to include these two supplementary organisms in your challenge testing: Pluralibacter gergoviae and Burkholderia cepacia.

While regulations list P. gergoviae and B. cepacia as optional, we strongly recommend their inclusion. Indeed, recent product recalls across Europe highlight the importance of testing against them too.

1. gergoviae is a gram-negative bacterium, increasingly significant within the cosmetics industry and currently implicated in a recall due to microbiological contamination. In the past, it has been linked to recalls of eye creams, shampoos, skin creams, hand cleaning pastes,and cleansing wipes. This organism is known for its resistance to common preservatives and can cause infection for children and people with weakened immune systems.
2. cepacia is a formidable, antibiotic-resistant bacterium known for its ability to thrive in unfavourable environments. This resilient organism has led to numerous recalls, particularly in water-based products like sanitisers, mouthwashes, skin creams, wipes, and baby products. Its resistance to preservatives makes it a significant threat, capable of causing a range of illnesses from asymptomatic infections to severe respiratory issues, particularly in individuals with cystic fibrosis or chronic lung disease. In severe cases, B. cepacia can be fatal.

Despite not being mandatory, both P. gergoviae and B. cepacia should be included in challenge testing due to their resistance to preservatives. By incorporating these specific organisms into your testing protocols, you can identify and address potential contamination issues early, significantly reduce the likelihood of costly recalls, and protect your brand’s reputation.

To ensure your products are free from P. gergoviae and B. cepacia, please contact us.