The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has yanked Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Cleansing Towelettes from shelves, fearing they harbor a preservative-proof bacterium that’s more stubborn than a bad first-date story.
The recall, announced on October 3, is a Class II affair—FDA lingo for “oops, this might cause temporary woes, but nothing that’ll land you in a plot hole.”
This tiny troublemaker tested positive in the lot, turning what should be a gentle wipe into a potential microbial meet-and-greet. Who knew your post-party cleanup could double as an unintended petri dish party?
The affected culprits? A modest 1,312 units of the 50-count packs, all stamped with lot code LOT 1835U6325A. They’re not globetrotters, though—confined to beauty aisles in Texas, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, like bacterial spring breakers who overstayed their welcome.
Class II status means the risks are reversible, thank goodness—no permanent plot armor needed. But the FDA isn’t mincing words: Ditch those wipes faster than you’d ghost a bad blind date, either by tossing them or schlepping back to the store for a refund.
Neutrogena, ever the poised pro in the beauty biz, launched the internal investigation that sniffed out this sneaky invader. It’s a reminder that even ultra-soft promises can harbor ultra-annoying surprises, like finding glitter in your laundry after one too many festivals.
Consumers in those sunny states might be chuckling nervously now, wondering if their glow-up routine just got a gritty sequel. “I thought these wipes were my clean slate,” one imagined user laments, “not a bacterial blank canvas.”
These towelettes are designed to battle makeup smudges with surgical precision, yet they couldn’t outsmart a germ that’s preservative-proof. It’s like arming yourself with a feather duster against a feather hurricane—adorably futile.
FDA guidance is crystal clear: Stop swiping, start disposing. No half-measures here; think of it as giving your skin the break it deserves, minus the microscopic moochers.
For those unaffected lots, breathe easy—your routine remains untainted. But this recall serves as a cheeky nudge: In the world of beauty, even the softest touch can reveal a gritty underbelly.
Experts note Pluralibacter gergoviae isn’t your garden-variety villain; it’s a rare resistor, popping up in cosmetics like an uninvited plus-one at a gala. Neutrogena’s quick recall? A masterclass in damage control, proving they’re as swift off the shelf as they aim to be on your face.
As the dust settles—or rather, the bacteria disperses—beauty lovers everywhere are left pondering life’s little exfoliations. Who needs drama when your daily wipe can deliver it gratis?
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