Potential contamination: Hawai‘i residents alerted to national cotton swab recall

The Hawai‘i Department of Health Food and Drug Branch is alerting residents to a recall issued by Church & Dwight Co., Inc. of its Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs, Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs and Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs because of potential microbial contamination in the cotton swab components.

The recalled products were distributed nationwide, including supermarkets and drug stores in Hawai‘i. The recalled product information is as follows:

• Zicam® Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs; UPC 732216301205; All Lots
• Zicam® Nasal AllClear Swabs; UPC 732216301656; All Lots
• Orajel™ Baby Teething Swabs; UPC 310310400002; All Lots

This recall is limited exclusively to the Zicam® and Orajel™ swab products. No other Zicam® or Orajel™ products are affected by this recall. The Food and Drug Branch is following up with local stores to ensure that the recalled products are no longer available for sale.

Swabs containing microbial contamination may potentially present a significant risk to the health and safety of consumers, including serious and life-threatening blood infections in users whose nasal mucosa may be compromised due to inflammation and/or injury. The risk is potentially severe or life-threatening among children and individuals with compromised immune systems or other underlying medical conditions. Symptoms may include fever, nasal congestion, headache, one-sided facial swelling and/or face pain. Please contact your healthcare provider immediately if you are experiencing any unusual issues or symptoms after having recently used any of the recalled products.

To date, there have been no reports of illness or adverse events attributed to the recalled products. The Food and Drug Branch advises consumers to verify if they purchased the recalled products based on the UPC markings printed on the box (located with the bar code). If verified, consumers should stop using the product immediately and contact Church & Dwight Co., Inc. for a full refund here or by calling its Consumer Relations team at 800-981-4710. Consumers may also call the Consumer Relations team for additional information Monday through Friday from 3-11 a.m. Hawai‘i time.