Recall issued for Zicam, Orajel swabs over fungal contamination

Church & Dwight Co., Inc. has voluntarily recalled all in-date lots of Orajel Baby Teething Swabs, Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs and Zicam Nasal AllClear Swabs distributed in the US and Puerto Rico. The recall was announced after the identification of fungal contamination in the cotton swab components used in these products.

The FDA sent out a Zicam Orajel swabs recall alert via email to the subscribers of its MedWatch newsletter. MedWatch is part of the agency’s safety and adverse event reporting program. US and Global News is a subscriber.

According to the company announcement, use of swabs containing fungal contamination may pose serious health risks, particularly to individuals whose nasal mucosa may be affected by injury or inflammation.

The writer of this article has previously dealt with nasal congestion and understands the increased sensitivity such conditions can involve.

Children, people with suppressed immune function and individuals with existing health issues are considered especially vulnerable if exposed. No reports of serious harm linked to the recalled swabs have been submitted so far.

Products Covered by the Recall:

• Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs: Marketed as a zinc-free homeopathic product intended to reduce cold duration.
  
• Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs: A nasal hygiene product discontinued in December 2024.
  
• Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs: Moist swabs intended to ease teething discomfort in infants and toddlers.

This action does not include other items under the Zicam® or Orajel™ brands. Products such as Zicam® RapidMelts remain unaffected.

Instruction for Consumers:
Customers in possession of the recalled items can contact Church & Dwight for a full refund by visiting www.churchdwightrecall.com or calling 1-800-981-4710 during regular business hours.

Health professionals and consumers can report any medical issues related to these products through the FDA’s MedWatch system, available online, by fax (1-800-FDA-0178) or by mail (pre-addressed form download).

Featured image is a cropped version of the Orajel Baby Teething Swabs product image provided with the official company announcement as published on the FDA’s website.