Popular cold and teething swabs recalled over safety concerns—here’s what you need to know
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Sometimes, it's the most familiar names that catch us off guard.
Items that many families have relied on for years are now at the center of an unexpected safety concern.
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are being urged to double-check their medicine cabinets—especially if they’ve used swab-style remedies for teething pain or colds.
A quiet but sweeping recall may be affecting more homes than expected.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. has announced a voluntary recall of several products under its well-known brands due to potential microbial contamination—specifically, fungi found in the cotton swab components.
The recalled products include:
According to the company, swabs contaminated with certain types of fungi can pose serious health risks, especially to those with weakened immune systems, nasal injuries, or inflammation.
The risk is especially high in children—including infants and toddlers—as well as individuals with underlying health conditions. While no severe adverse reactions have been reported at this time, Church & Dwight is urging consumers to stop using the affected swabs immediately.
For those who’ve already used the products without issue, the company still advises erring on the side of caution.
Even if symptoms don’t appear right away, fungal infections introduced through the nose or mouth can escalate quickly for vulnerable individuals. In rare cases, this kind of contamination could lead to life-threatening blood infections.
To help prevent harm, Church & Dwight acted voluntarily, issuing this recall with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration.
The company notes that other Zicam and Orajel products—like Zicam RapidMelts—are not affected by this recall and remain safe for use.
If you’re unsure whether your product is part of the recall, look for the UPC codes listed above or contact the company directly.
Also read: Claim your piece of a $6M settlement—find out if your cold medicine purchase qualifies!
Here’s what you should do if any of these items are in your home:
Church & Dwight’s decision to act swiftly, before widespread harm was reported, reflects what health advocates often look for in responsible manufacturers.
While microbial contamination is rare, it can occur during various stages like production, packaging, or storage, especially in items that make direct contact with delicate tissue areas such as the nose or gums.
Also read: Is your medicine cabinet hiding dangerous items? Find out what to toss—and how to do it safely!
To help you stay ahead of potential safety concerns in your home, follow these simple steps:
With many seniors often serving as caretakers or babysitters, awareness is key. Sharing this information with family and neighbors could prevent a harmful mistake.
If you’ve been through a recall before, your story might help others in our community. Let’s look out for each other.
Read next: Trump’s surgeon general pick raises questions—what’s being asked and why
Have you ever relied on one of these products—or experienced a recall that caught you by surprise? How did you handle it, and what would you want others to know? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
Items that many families have relied on for years are now at the center of an unexpected safety concern.
Parents, grandparents, and caregivers are being urged to double-check their medicine cabinets—especially if they’ve used swab-style remedies for teething pain or colds.
A quiet but sweeping recall may be affecting more homes than expected.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. has announced a voluntary recall of several products under its well-known brands due to potential microbial contamination—specifically, fungi found in the cotton swab components.
The recalled products include:
- Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs (UPC 732216301205)
- Zicam Nasal AllClear Swabs (UPC 732216301656)
- Orajel Baby Teething Swabs (UPC 310310400002)
Popular cold and teething swabs recalled over safety concerns. Image Source: Zicam Cold Remedy / Walmart
According to the company, swabs contaminated with certain types of fungi can pose serious health risks, especially to those with weakened immune systems, nasal injuries, or inflammation.
The risk is especially high in children—including infants and toddlers—as well as individuals with underlying health conditions. While no severe adverse reactions have been reported at this time, Church & Dwight is urging consumers to stop using the affected swabs immediately.
For those who’ve already used the products without issue, the company still advises erring on the side of caution.
Even if symptoms don’t appear right away, fungal infections introduced through the nose or mouth can escalate quickly for vulnerable individuals. In rare cases, this kind of contamination could lead to life-threatening blood infections.
To help prevent harm, Church & Dwight acted voluntarily, issuing this recall with the knowledge of the US Food and Drug Administration.
The company notes that other Zicam and Orajel products—like Zicam RapidMelts—are not affected by this recall and remain safe for use.
If you’re unsure whether your product is part of the recall, look for the UPC codes listed above or contact the company directly.
Also read: Claim your piece of a $6M settlement—find out if your cold medicine purchase qualifies!
Here’s what you should do if any of these items are in your home:
- Stop using the product right away, even if it seemed to work fine before.
- Visit www.churchdwightrecall.com or call (800) 981-4710, available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, to request a full refund.
- Report any side effects or unusual symptoms to the FDA through its MedWatch program. Reports can be submitted online, by mail, or fax.
Church & Dwight’s decision to act swiftly, before widespread harm was reported, reflects what health advocates often look for in responsible manufacturers.
While microbial contamination is rare, it can occur during various stages like production, packaging, or storage, especially in items that make direct contact with delicate tissue areas such as the nose or gums.
Also read: Is your medicine cabinet hiding dangerous items? Find out what to toss—and how to do it safely!
To help you stay ahead of potential safety concerns in your home, follow these simple steps:
- Routinely check your medicine cabinet. Discard expired or questionable items.
- Sign up for email alerts from the FDA to stay informed about product recalls.
- Store products in cool, dry areas and read labels for specific storage instructions.
- Ask your pharmacist or doctor about any unfamiliar items or changes to trusted products.
With many seniors often serving as caretakers or babysitters, awareness is key. Sharing this information with family and neighbors could prevent a harmful mistake.
If you’ve been through a recall before, your story might help others in our community. Let’s look out for each other.
Read next: Trump’s surgeon general pick raises questions—what’s being asked and why
Have you ever relied on one of these products—or experienced a recall that caught you by surprise? How did you handle it, and what would you want others to know? Drop your thoughts in the comments below.
